The conversation around nepotism is not new, but the scrutiny around Bollywood's youngest star children has become harsher, sharper and far more relentless. If the earlier generation of star kids entered a world that tolerated their mistakes, this new generation is walking into an audience that has already made up its mind.

The truth is not pretty. The new nepo kids are not loved. They are not automatically adored, not automatically forgiven and not easily accepted. And no amount of public relations work or glossy social media filters can change that.

Look at Ibrahim Ali Khan. The internet has dismissed him as only his father's lookalike. His debut has been criticised before even releasing. Every gym sighting and airport moment turns into a debate about privilege. The charm that once made Saif a heartthrob is now treated as inherited luck and not as promise.

Sara Ali Khan, once loved for her sincerity, is now one of the most trolled actors in the country. Her interviews are mocked, her scripts questioned and her entire personality turned into an online punchline. She is the perfect example of how quickly admiration turns into fatigue.

Khushi Kapoor is judged before she speaks. The comparisons to Janhvi Kapoor, to Sridevi and to the ghosts of legacy are constant. Her work is not judged as the work of a young actor who is learning. It is judged as the work of someone who carries the weight of an entire bloodline.

Shanaya Kapoor trends not for her performances but for her parties. Ahaan Shetty is not given the curiosity that newcomers deserve. Agastya Nanda is treated as an heir, not a learner. Aryan Khan is judged as if he has already delivered films, even though he has not released a project yet.

This is the new reality. A magazine cover does not guarantee acceptance. A glamorous debut does not guarantee goodwill. A famous surname does not guarantee admiration.

The audience has changed. They have seen too many star children enter the industry with confidence but without convincing skill. They are no longer patient with average performances or arrogant personalities. They want sincerity. They want growth. They want talent.

And they decide within seconds.

The nepo kids who did succeed in the past did so after proving themselves again and again. Alia Bhatt did not survive because of her surname. She survived because she delivered. Janhvi Kapoor slowly earned respect because she kept trying. Ranbir Kapoor won hearts because he matched charm with commitment.

This generation will have to do the same, except the pressure is greater and the internet is unforgiving. One awkward interview becomes a joke. One flat performance becomes a headline. One privileged comment becomes a permanent label.

The irony is that being a nepo kid today is much harder than it was ten years ago. They are entering an industry during a time when audiences celebrate outsiders who feel authentic. They are entering during a time when viewers want vulnerability, not vanity. Hunger, not entitlement.

The new nepo kids are not villains. They are not automatically guilty. They are simply young actors trying to find their place in a world that has already judged them. But they are also not victims. They carry doors that others cannot access and opportunities that others will never be offered.

If they want to win this audience, they have only one possible path. They have to earn it. Earn the admiration. Earn the applause. Earn the place they believe they deserve.

Because today, a surname can open the door, but only the audience decides who gets to stay inside.

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