Aadar Jain had to look up what nepotism meant

The Kapoor name sits lightly on this new kid on the block. Aadar Jain, who is Raj Kapoor’s daughter’s son, feels lucky to be launched by Aditya Chopra and Yash Raj Films.

 “I have a three-film deal with Yash Raj — I bagged it on my own. Only my parents, my elder brother Armaan and my naani (maternal grandmother Krishna Raj Kapoor) knew that I was auditioning for the role. When I was zeroed in on, I broke the news to the rest of the family,” divulges Aadar.

The youngster, who has been gearing up for the release of his debut film this month, was shocked when on the morning after the launch event where he and his co-star Anya Singh were introduced, reports of “nepotism” broke out all over the internet.

The affable Aadar takes a deep breath, “First of all, I didn’t know what ‘nepotism’ meant. I had to look it up. But how was I a product of nepotism? I was not being launched by my family. I was being launched by Yash Raj Films and Aditya Chopra. I am not related to them. I guess I’ve learned early in my career that I will be mercilessly trolled for no fault of mine. I might as well be prepared for it from now.”

Nepotism isn’t the only controversy that Aadar finds himself in. It’s being said that Qaidi Band bears an uncanny resemblance to another upcoming film Lucknow Central. Not one to mince words, Aadar explains, “I had no clue about any other film being made. I have been consumed by my own film that I couldn’t think of anything else. But then eventually I saw the trailer of Lucknow Central and noticed that the film too is about a musical band in jail and a jailbreak. I don’t know how or where the similarity came from!” he justifies, adding, “But I will say this — no two films can be the same even if they are based on the same plot.  It’s like my favourite dish Junglee Mutton. All of us Kapoors love it. But everyone makes it differently although the ingredients used are the same.”

As Aadar awaits his first film’s release, he is aware that films are not doing well. “But I also know that content is king. We have a strong story to narrate in Qaidi Band. We can’t go wrong….can we?”