Nepotism exists, it's not good: Varun Dhawan

Actor Varun Dhawan, who once faced criticism for his "Nepotism rocks!" remark during the debate over nepotism in Bollywood, has acknowledged that nepotism exists in the film industry and said more outsiders should be given opportunities.

"Nepotism exists. It's a part of our industry. It's not good. More people from outside the industry should be given a chance. And why not? My father came in that way," Varun said in an interview for the September 2018 issue of GQ India.

The actor, son of filmmaker David Dhawan, said people often make assumptions about star kids without knowing the struggles their parents faced before establishing themselves in the industry.

"My dad was born in Agartala. When he lived in Bombay, he shared his house with four people. When I was born, my family lived in a 1BHK at Carter Road," Varun said.

He recalled that his father's first car was a second-hand Ambassador taxi, which he painted to make it look like a regular car.

"My father's first car was a taxi, a second-hand Ambassador that he painted into a normal car. His achievements are tremendous, (as are) the sacrifices he has made to put the family on the map. He's my star, my hero, my superhero," he said.

Varun, the younger of David Dhawan's two sons, said he always wanted to become an entertainer but had to make his own way in the industry.

Recalling an incident from his school days, Varun said he had asked his father to help him secure admission to Dhirubhai Ambani School, but his father refused to intervene.

"I remember telling (dad), 'I want to apply for this, can you make a call?' The results came, and I didn't get in. I asked him, 'Did you make the call?' He said, 'No. You weren't supposed to get it'."

Varun said the incident taught him that his family would support him but would not use its influence to secure opportunities for him.

Since making his debut with "Student Of The Year", Varun has played both conventional Bollywood hero roles and more grounded characters.

His upcoming film "Sui Dhaaga - Made In India" features him as an entrepreneurial tailor from a small town.

"I want to make films for everyone," he said.

Varun added that his cinematic interests were broad, saying he enjoyed both Will Ferrell's films and Christian Bale's work, reflecting what he described as the varied tastes of his generation.