Nepotism and Outsider Casting in 2025 Bollywood: Dharma, Naagzilla and Dhurandhar

Nepotism debates flare again in 2025 Bollywood as Dharma faces insider whispers, even as outsiders land high-profile gigs ^[1]. A post asking 'What's Dharma upto now?' kicks off a burst of opinions on gatekeeping, PR cycles, and what counts as 'legitimate' opportunity in the industry ^[1].

Outsider move: Pratibha Ranta is reported to join Kartik Aaryan in Naagzilla. The piece pins Sanya Malhotra as the originally preferred choice, with Pratibha in serious talks, fueling the outsider-versus-nepo chatter ^[2]. Commenters hash out onscreen age gaps and whether the pairing reads as fresh or recycled, underscoring how audiences parse chemistry versus pedigree ^[2]. This is the kind of moment fans say will reveal whether open casting actually matters, or if legacy connections still steer the spotlight ^[2].

On Dhurandhar, a character poster featuring Arjun Rampal surfaced, feeding chatter about evolving casts and who gets a shot at marquee roles. The exchange threads hint at broader shifts in gatekeeping and the appetite for different kinds of star power in 2025 ^[3].

Taken together, these threads show fans toggling between cheering outsiders and scrutinizing traditional gatekeeping at studios. The talk signals a year of redefining who gets a breakthrough in Indian cinema.

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