In the family way

Dynasty pervades all aspects of Indian culture

Two similar controversies in Bollywood and national politics unwittingly underlined a malaise afflicting the country’s socio-political culture. The first involved a forthright statement by Kangana Ranaut, one of India’s highest paid actors, on film-maker Karan Johar's signature TV talk show about rampant nepotism in the film industry. Mr Johar, son of a famous film producer, was “the flag-bearer of nepotism,” she said, sparking off a debate that went viral. Later, Karti Chidambaram, son of former Union minister P Chidambaram, equated the Congress and the two principal Tamil Nadu-based parties — Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra