Watch: When Karan Johar admitted existence of nepotism in Bollywood

Much has been said, a lot more debated ever since Bollywood star Kangana Ranaut accused Bollywood of practicing nepotism on the talk show, Koffee with Karan. Kangana had called the host and filmmaker Karan Johar, “the flag-bearer of nepotism” in Bollywood. KJo was rather defensive in his response and claimed that perhaps the Rangoon star did not know what nepotism means. While most of Bollywood decided to side with Karan, a few, including Manoj Bajpayee and Vidya Balan, extended their support to Kangana.

An old video from May 2014 has now emerged that shows Karan accepting the existence of nepotism in the industry.

The video looks like a snippet from the chat show hosted by Anupama Chopra - The Front Row with Anupama Chopra. Karan says in the video, “I picked up a chubby girl, I saw something...And maybe the fact - I can’t lie - maybe the fact that she was Mahesh Bhatt’s daughter also excited me. I don’t know. Right now, I want to say no, but at that point it may have been a very strong fact. If that is nepotism, then definitely, I am guilty. Would I have cast Varun Dhawan had he not been David Dhawan’s son? Because he was David’s son, he was on the sets as an AD (assistant director) and spent enough time for me to understand that he can be a movie star. A lot of factors determine movie stardom in our country and I think true talent is the least of them.”

“It is truly tragic. Would I have been a filmmaker? I am a producer’s son; I had no experience and had assisted on just one film. My father had the platform to give me, therefore I am a filmmaker. So if I go through any struggle in my career, I deserve it,” he adds.

During her visit to Karan’s show to promote her film Rangoon, Kangana had said, “In my biopic, if it is ever made, you will play the stereotypical villain. One who is intolerant of outsiders, the flag-bearer of nepotism in Bollywood and movie mafia.”