'Your privilege need not make you glib, condescending, smug': Sona Mohapatra hits back at Zoya Akhtar over nepotism debate

In a recent interview with India Today, Zoya said, "It took me 7 years to make a movie and I was born in the lap of the industry. The outsiders like Reema Kagti, Anurag Kashyap all made movies before me, so everybody's journey is different..."

On the insider versus outsider debate, she added, "This is playing out in the industry because this is a soft target. It's not about making movies on getting a break, you want to be a star, you want to be invited to that party, and nobody can help you with that.

"And all I want to say is, no matter what anybody says I am not going to change my parents or my career, so now live with it."

Hitting back at the 'Gully Boy' filmmaker, Sona tweeted, "Your privilege need not be ur guilt but it need not make you so glib,condescending & smug.Of course u cannot ‘change’ ur parents.But what u can do is recognise the fortune,opportunities u were born into.Use ur privilege to bring fairness & balance?No. “Will not share MY cake.”

In a separate tweet, the singer, who had earned praises for singing 'Ambarsariya' in the movie 'Fukrey', said the government need not need to look into the nepotism debate but the "monopolistic practices in the industry".

She tweeted, "The bigger issue that must be addressed is not nepotism; that parents prop up kids is universal desi culture. What the GOI must look into are issues like Monopolistic practices in the industry, practices of systemic bullying & exclusion, all limit the expansion of the ‘pie’ too."

Sushant's suicide has triggered the nepotism debate with several film personalities like actress Kangana Ranaut calling out Bollywood biggies including Karan Johar, Mahesh Bhatt for encouraging favouritism in the industry allegedly leading the onscreen Mahendra Singh Dhoni to take the extreme step.

(Images: Sona Mohapatra Facebook and Wikipedia)