Alia Bhatt, Ananya Panday's Co-Star Seema Pahwa Refuses To Teach Acting To Nepo Kids: 'Why Not Use Trained Actors?'

News18

28-04-2025

Seema Pahwa isn't against nepotism; rather, she argued that there should be a balance of investment when it comes to star kids.
Actress and filmmaker Seema Pahwa has spent nearly 40 years in the Indian film industry. She has been a part of films like Gangubai Kathiawadi, Dream Girl 2, Badhaai Do and Zubeidaa among others. As a reputed actress and director, Seema believes that Bollywood today has become a business about selling faces, rather than telling stories. As such, Seema revealed that she won't be training nepo kids who lack talent just so they can be launched.
Speaking to Bollywood Thikana, Seema revealed that despite being acting graduates and theatre-trained actors, her kids haven't gotten a chance in Bollywood. Seema said, 'They believe their decision is wrong. They say nothing that we've taught them has any value in the present system. They rue the fact that we made them actors, and not stars… We asked them to train more, do theatre more, and even though they are doing all of it, they are nowhere."
Seema isn't against nepotism; rather, she argued that there should be a balance of investment when it comes to star kids. 'Why would I say star kids shouldn't come to cinema. Just like how I want my kids to move ahead, even others would have similar expectations, right?" asked Seema.
She elaborated, 'There are so many actors who are trained from FTII or NSD, etc, why aren't they getting cast in any film. I know of someone who is an acting graduate and a theatre artist, who quit acting and left the city because of lack of offers."
'Earlier, directors and producers had the say, and that's why you had talent coming in from all over. Now, it is more of a package system that is brought into place to launch someone into films. In fact, some filmmakers reach out to me to train an actor, and do workshops with them. But I flatly refuse to do so," Seema said.
Seema continued, 'Why not just use trained actors instead of bringing untrained people on board, and then teaching them acting. Give the deserving a chance. What new are these untrained actors going to bring to cinema? Why waste that money and investment?" She added, 'Of course, those who are really talented and have gone through the grind wouldn't have the resources to spend on grooming. They might not be beautiful, but they are definitely talented."
'They are here after a lot of struggle, and parents spend money on them too. They are rattled by guilt and pick up some non-acting jobs, but the actor in them is never dead. But yeah, there is no point beating around the bush. Our industry is not about art anymore. It is all about business," the actress concluded.
First Published: