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Actor Aditya Pancholi, who has been part of the Hindi film industry for over three decades, has made a shocking revelation about the politics and favouritism that, he claims, have long shaped Bollywood. In his latest social media post, Pancholi opened up about losing a major role in the 1988 blockbuster Tezaab, opposite Madhuri Dixit, due to what he describes as “influence and manipulation.” Taking to his X handle, Pancholi shared a throwback picture from the sets and wrote, “I was the original choice for Tezaab (1988), opposite @MadhuriDixit. Director N. Chandra, still very much around can confirm this.” He further added, “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.” Though Pancholi didn’t mention any names directly, his remarks are being widely interpreted as a veiled reference to Tezaab’s lead actor, Anil Kapoor. His mention of an “elder brother” has also raised eyebrows, with many speculating that he was alluding to producer Boney Kapoor even though Boney was not associated with Tezaab at the time. Pancholi, known for his outspoken nature, went on to add, “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.” One user wrote, “The actor you meant has always lobbied for roles and has been known to edit out other actors’ parts if they were better than his. He didn’t want Naseer sahab in Parinda. This is just one example of how insecure he has been throughout his career.” Pancholi responded, “Khuch baatein ankahi rehne dein.” Interestingly, Parinda featured Anil Kapoor and Madhuri Dixit in lead roles. Another follower 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 also true?” To this, Pancholi replied, “I will write about Trimurti another time. Thanks.” ‘Politics Runs Deeper Than Nepotism’ His statement, particularly the line about “power games shaping careers,” has sparked debate online, with several fans and film enthusiasts weighing in on the issue. The Bodyguard actor’s tweet quickly gained traction, drawing reactions from users who recalled how Tezaab became a cult classic. The film, directed and produced by N. Chandra, starred Anil Kapoor and Madhuri Dixit in lead roles and went on to become one of the biggest hits of the late 1980s. It ran in cinemas for over 50 weeks and catapulted Madhuri Dixit to superstardom, thanks to its iconic song “Ek Do Teen.” Although Pancholi has been less active in films in recent years, he continues to connect with fans online, often sharing lesser-known stories from his career. Just days before his Tezaab revelation, he claimed that he dubbed for Rahul Roy’s character in Mahesh Bhatt’s 1990 musical romance Aashiqui. “It was my voice behind Rahul Roy’s character at the request of Mahesh Bhatt,” Pancholi wrote, giving fans another peek into Bollywood’s behind-the-scenes history. Last seen in Mumbai Can Dance Saala (2015), Pancholi may be away from the spotlight, but his candid posts keep resurfacing old conversations about the power structures that continue to shape Hindi cinema.
