People Need To Accept That I’m A Different Person From My Mother: Janhvi Kapoor Reacts On Constant Comparisons With Sridevi
Image: sridevi.kapoor / Instagram
Bollywood has seen many star kids over the years. While a few of these kids do not pursue acting, most of them do. It is easy for star kids to get launched in the industry due to nepotism. But it is safe to say that even with star parents and access to an easy launch, without talent and hard work, it is difficult to sustain the stardom. Alia Bhatt is an actress who is not a stranger to the industry but we’ve seen her growth as an actress ever since her debut movie Student Of The Year. Alia has delivered incredible performances in movies like Highway, Udta Punjab, Raazi, and Dear Zindagi since then. Meanwhile, actor Abhishek Bachchan is not seen in the forefront even though he is the son of the legendary actor, Amitabh Bachchan. So, while nepotism might help actors step into Bollywood, it is not enough to keep them there
In 2018, Janhvi Kapoor made her debut in Bollywood with the romantic drama Dhadak which was a huge commercial success. She even won the Zee Cine Award for Best Female Debut. However, being born to veteran actor, Sridevi and producer Boney Kapoor, it is not an easy segue for Janhvi Kapoor. Even before the release of Dhadak, Jahnvi was compared to her late mother Sridevi; right from her fashion choices to her acting chops. She is under constant pressure to fill her parent’s shoes and her acting has to be on point which is difficult for any actor who is beginning their career.
Recently in an interview, the actress answered the question that she has been asked all her life. She was asked if she feels the pressure to match up to her late mother, Sridevi’s phenomenal acting ability and status in the industry, to which she said, “I think people need to accept that I’m a different person from my mother. There’s a section of society which has been able to do that with Dhadak, but there are people who couldn’t make that differentiation and they still look for Sridevi in me. Maybe after more of my work comes out, they’ll understand I’m a different type of actor and I’ll make different choices.”
Janhvi Kapoor, Daughter Of…
As a star kid, Janhvi Kapoor goes through the same pressure as anyone else in her place. No matter how great her acting is, she will be compared to her mother Sridevi. If she does well in acting, people will credit her talent to her family because of her parents’ stardom and if she does not perform well, people will imply that she has caused shame to a family of legendary actors. It is unfair, but this is the plight of every star kid. In 2019, Aryan, son of Bollywood’s Badshah Shahrukh Khan, said that he does want to be an actor for this very reason and every star kid relates to this reality.
On February 24, 2018, the sudden death of legendary actress Sridevi shocked the whole nation, leaving fans heartbroken. She was found dead in a guest room bathtub in Dubai and the cause of her death was reported as accidental drowning. Ever since, fans have been trying to find a reflection of the late actress in her daughter Janhvi Kapoor. In an interview, the actress was asked if she is planning to remake her mother’s films and she said that there is no point in redoing something that has already been done so well.
Never Ending Nepotism
In the past couple of years, the star actress has reminded us of her late mother, Sridevi, with different looks. She has donned her mother’s sarees and looked gorgeous on many occasions. At the 65th National Film Awards, Janhvi wore her mother’s cream and pink silk saree and looked beautiful. Sridevi was seen wearing the same saree at actor Ram Charan’s wedding in 2013. During the Umang Mumbai Police Show 2020, Janhvi Kapoor wore a rich red embroidered saree with intricate sequins work. Not only did she look drop dead gorgeous but it made fans reminisce about Sridevi when she attended an award show wearing a similar red saree.
Janhvi Kapoor was asked about nepotism, which has been a hot topic in Bollywood. She said that it does exist and is a reality in Bollywood, just like any other industry. The actress revealed that it was easy to get work and recognition because she was from the industry and she understands that someone outside the industry would have gone through a struggle for the opportunity. But that being said, the actress also said that she plans to work hard and make it worthwhile for herself and her fans. Janhvi has two movies lined up for this year, and one for 2021. Roohi Afzana and Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl are both set to be released in April this year while Karan Johar’s Takht is scheduled to be released in 2021. Are you excited to see Janhvi Kapoor on the silver screen again? Comment below and let us know.
