Farzi fame Saqib Ayub, who comes from a non-filmy background and has steadily built his own space in the entertainment industry, recently shared an unfiltered and surprisingly balanced take on the ongoing nepotism debate in Bollywood. During a media interaction, the actor reflected on privilege, outsider struggles, resilience, and why he believes frustration over nepotism ultimately leads nowhere.
Speaking openly about the subject, Saqib made it clear that nepotism is not a new phenomenon and has always existed in the industry. He said, “Nepotism has always existed—look, it didn't just pop up during the COVID era. I mean... Nepotism has been there since forever—you know, right from the actors of the 60s. After Sunil Dutt, Sanjay Dutt came along, for instance. So, it has always been a reality. Obviously, it is a bit easier for them to land their first break compared to us. You know, as Sid once said: ‘Where our dreams begin, their struggles end.’ Something along those lines, right? And that is actually quite true.”
Superboys Of Malegaon actor Saqib continued by comparing Bollywood families to other professions where children often follow in their parents’ footsteps. “They are handed a ‘silver spoon’ on a platter thanks to their families and connections—and there is absolutely nothing we can do about it. It’s quite normal, really. I mean, a doctor's son often becomes a doctor, doesn't he? He, too, might use his connections to secure admission into medical school, right? An engineer's son becomes an engineer; whatever the profession may be, the children often follow in their parents' footsteps. So, that is just how it is, and that reality isn't going anywhere.”
However, the actor also strongly pushed back against the idea that outsiders cannot succeed. Saqib pointed toward several successful actors who entered the industry without film backgrounds and carved their own identities through talent and persistence. “If they were stopping us, then people like Vijay Varma, Jaideep Sir, Manoj Sir, and Shah Rukh Khan himself wouldn't be here today. Correct. They wouldn't be a part of this industry right now. Who is the one ruling the industry today? It is an ‘outsider’ who is ruling it. Period. True. That answers everything.”
Saqib emphasized that instead of feeding jealousy or resentment, actors should focus on finding their own path and building resilience. “I think the people who have a problem with it are simply frustrated. Because, look—it exists, and it will continue to exist; there is nothing you can do to change that. So, there is absolutely no point in letting it breed jealousy within you. Envy, insecurity—none of these negative emotions will help you in the slightest. So, just accept it for what it is. And go find your own path! They aren't stopping you.”
He ended his thoughts by speaking about the importance of emotional strength in the entertainment industry. “It’s also essential to develop a bit of a thick skin. I feel that in this industry, you really need that resilience to get ahead. Right? If you take everything to heart, it’s going to be a problem. It just won't work out. In fact, you’ll probably just end up having a heart attack!”
Saqib Ayub’s comments have already sparked discussion online, with many praising his practical and honest perspective on one of Bollywood’s most controversial topics. Rather than denying privilege or dismissing outsider struggles, the actor acknowledged both realities while stressing that perseverance and resilience still matter in the long run.