Aditya Pancholi has once again stirred conversation in Bollywood circles with a social media post that many believe takes a veiled dig at actor Anil Kapoor. Pancholi, known for his outspoken nature, claimed that he was the original choice for the 1988 blockbuster Tezaab but was replaced at the last minute due to industry “influence” — specifically from an actor’s powerful brother. Fans quickly connected the dots, assuming the actor in question to be Anil Kapoor, whose brother Boney Kapoor was already an influential producer at the time.
On X (formerly Twitter), Pancholi wrote, “I was the original choice for Tezaab (1988), opposite @MadhuriDixit. Director N. Chandra, still very much around, can confirm this. Unfortunately, an actor, through his elder brother (who remains active in the industry), influenced the director to replace me. The rest, as they say, is history.”
The remark immediately set social media abuzz. Fans began tagging Anil Kapoor and digging up old interviews, trying to verify Pancholi’s claim. The actor’s use of phrases like “elder brother” and “still active in the industry” only added fuel to the speculation that he was referring to Boney Kapoor.
Pancholi went on to share another pointed observation. “Recently, I saw an #Actor speak about nepotism while promoting his new release. Let me say this clearly: Politics in the film industry runs deeper than #Nepotism. Favouritism, manipulation, and power games shape careers more than family ties ever could.”
The post seemed to reference Harshvardhan Rane’s recent comments about nepotism, but Pancholi’s tone suggested that what he was talking about went far beyond simple family connections. He appeared to imply that unseen power structures, rather than sheer talent, often determine who thrives in Bollywood.
When followers pressed him for more details, Pancholi chose his words carefully but didn’t hold back entirely. One fan commented, “But you two eventually worked together in Musafir. Was there any animosity on set, sir? There was the whole Trimurti fiasco also. And I’ve also heard he wanted to have you in Virasat. Is that true?”
Pancholi replied tersely, “I will write about Trimurti another time. Thanks.”
Another user praised his candor, writing, “People often talk about nepotism, but the real story is how power, influence, and silent politics decide who gets a shot. Respect for speaking the truth with grace.” To this, Pancholi responded, “Thank you, Hemant. We should have courage to call spade a spade.”
Tezaab, directed by N. Chandra, went on to become a cult hit, launching Madhuri Dixit into superstardom and cementing Anil Kapoor’s status as a leading man of the late 1980s. Pancholi’s revelation — more than three decades later — revives one of Bollywood’s oldest debates: who gets opportunities and who gets sidelined by influence.
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