Ananya Panday

Her grandfather, Sharad Pandey—yeah, that guy—wasn’t just any doctor. He basically made history at KEM Hospital by pulling off India’s very first heart transplant. Like, that’s the kind of thing you read about in textbooks, not just family stories over chai. And get this: it wasn’t just random people lining up to see him. Celebrities, the actual A-listers of the time, trusted him with their hearts—literally. Imagine being so good at your job that Bollywood stars and all sorts of VIPs are waiting for your appointment. There’s a certain swagger to that, right? He was the real MVP in the Indian medical field, breaking ground when most folks couldn’t even dream about it. Family dinners must’ve had some wild stories, because how many people can say their granddad rewrote medical history and rubbed shoulders with the country’s biggest names? That kind of legacy? Unbeatable.

Let’s be real, breaking into any industry—Bollywood or otherwise—isn’t just about who you know. Sure, connections help, but if you don’t have the chops, nobody’s gonna throw stacks of cash your way just because you’re someone’s cousin. People love to talk like it’s all glitz and luck, but that’s not even half the story. Yeah, nepotism is alive and kicking, and it’s not only in Bollywood. It’s everywhere—corporate gigs, tech startups, even your local café if you squint hard enough. But at the end of the day, talent’s what keeps you in the game. People are quick to judge, but honestly, the pressure’s on from every angle, and if you can’t deliver, the doors close fast, no matter who your uncle is. It’s a tough world, and nobody’s handing out free rides.