Seema Pahwa refuses to train 'nepo kids' when asked to do so; says Hindi cinema is selling faces, not story: 'Why not get trained actors?'

Time of India

28-04-2025

Seema Pahwa
known for her iconic television show 'Hum Log' and being such a known face in
Hindi cinema
with recent movies like 'Badhaai Do', 'Bareily Ki Barfi' among others is a theatre artiste. She and her husband Manoj Pahwa who is also a known actor, have largely begun concentrating on plays. In a recent interview, Seema opened up on the current trend within the industry of launching
star kids
who don't really know anything. She revealed she is often asked to train them but refuses to do so.
Seema revealed that she has told her own children to train themselves in acting before they even decide to be a part of any movie. Her children are now training with theatre. "They believe their decision is wrong. They say nothing that we've taught them has any value in the present system. They rue the fact that we made them actors, and not stars," she said.
Further talking about star kids, she said, "Why would I say star kids shouldn't come to cinema. Just like how I want my kids to move ahead, even others would have similar expectations, right? There are so many actors who are trained from FTII or NSD, etc… why aren't they getting cast in any film. I know of someone who is an acting graduate and a
theatre artist
, who quit acting and left the city because of lack of offers."
She further added how film-makers have reached out to her to train star kids but she has refused. "Earlier, directors and producers had the say, and that's why you had talent coming in from all over. Now, it is more of a package system that is brought into place to launch someone into films. In fact, some filmmakers reach out to me to train an actor, and do workshops with them. But I flatly refuse to do so," she said.
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Further revealing the reason for it, she revealed, "Why not just use trained actors instead of bringing untrained people on board, and then teaching them acting. Give the deserving a chance. What new are these untrained actors going to bring to cinema? Why waste that money and investment." She also said that Hindi cinema is now selling a face, not a story.