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Updated 23 Jun, 2020 01:27pm

Abhay Deol talks about lobbying and toxic Bollywood culture

After the death of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput, a debate about toxic Bollywood culture has stirred. Actor Kangna Ranaut and celebrity hairstylist Sapna Bhavnani alleged that Singh committed suicide because of constant bullying by the industry's prominent names with former going as far as to call it a "planned murder".

Now more celebrities are coming out with their own stories of being 'sidelined' by Bollywood bigshots. Zindagi Na Mile Gi Dobara famed actor Abhay Deol is the latest celebrity to raise concerns about nepotism in the Indian film industry. Deol took to Instagram to share his story.

The actor shared a still from the movie Zindagi Na Mile Gi Dobara and wrote:

"Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, released in 2011. [I] need to chant this title to myself every day nowadays! Also, a great watch when anxious or stressed," Deol shared and added, "I would like to mention that almost all the award functions demoted me and Farhan from main leads, and nominated us as “supporting actors”. Hrithik and Katrina were nominated as “actors in a leading role”. So by the industry’s own logic, this was a film about a man and a woman falling in love, with the man supported by his friends for whatever decisions he takes."

 

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“Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara”, released in 2011. Need to chant this title to myself everyday nowadays! Also a great watch when anxious or stressed. I would like to mention that almost all the award functions demoted me and Farhan from main leads, and nominated us as “supporting actors”. Hrithik and Katrina were nominated as “actors in a leading role”. So by the industry’s own logic, this was a film about a man and a woman falling in love, with the man supported by his friends for whatever decisions he takes. There are many covert and overt ways in which people in the industry lobby against you. In this case it was shamelessly overt. I of course boycotted the awards but Farhan was ok with it. #familyfareawards Very creative artwork @kalakkii

A post shared by Abhay Deol (@abhaydeol) on

He concluded the post by saying:

"...There are many covert and overt ways in which people in the industry lobby against you. In this case, it was shamelessly overt. I, of course, boycotted the awards but Farhan was ok with it."

Rabia Amin, the mother of late actress Jiah Khan, also alleged that Salman Khan had influenced the probe into her daughter's death to protect Sooraj Panchali.

"What happened with Sushant, has reminded me of 2015 when I went to meet CBI officer who had called me down from London. He said please come, we have found some incriminating evidence. I land up over there, and he says, 'Oh, by the way, Salman Khan calls me every day and says he has invested a lot of money, please don't harass the boy, please don't interrogate him, don't touch him. So what can we do, madam?' He was annoyed, he looked frustrated," Rabia said in a video and added, "My condolences to Sushant Singh's family. It is very heartbreaking, it is not a joke. Bollywood has to change, Bollywood has to wake up. Bollywood has to completely demolish bullying. I have to say bullying is also kind of killing somebody."

Actor Jiah Khan had committed suicide in 2013 and her boyfriend Sooraj Panchali was charged with abetment to her suicide.

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