Bollywood’s nepo kids often ride waves of privilege, but Vivaan Shah’s story flips the script. The pressure of living up to Naseeruddin Shah and Ratna Pathak Shah’s legacy ignited a firestorm of ambition that almost consumed him. What began as youthful drive morphed into toxic greed, shaking his fledgling career to its core.
Early successes like ‘Happy New Year’ fueled overconfidence. Vivaan sought A-list status, rejecting mid-tier projects and pushing for lead roles sans experience. Industry veterans recall his ‘starry demands’—higher pay, script changes, top credits. This hubris backfired spectacularly. Post-‘Shaandaar,’ work vanished. He partied through rejections, spiraling into what friends called a ‘stardom delusion.’
The wake-up call came via parental intervention. In 2019, Naseeruddin and Ratna orchestrated a reality check. Over family dinners turned therapy sessions, they unpacked his flaws. ‘Career isn’t a sprint; it’s a marathon of integrity,’ Naseeruddin preached, drawing from decades of principled choices. Ratna focused on emotional grounding: ‘Fame fades; character lasts.’ They pushed him toward theatre, the family’s true training ground.
Vivaan absorbed it all. He shed entitlement, embracing ensemble casts and experimental roles. Theatre revivals like ‘Manto’ sharpened his edge, leading to film resurgences in ‘Bob Biswas’ and OTT hits. Today, he’s a versatile performer, blending method acting with mass appeal.
Vivaan’s revival highlights Bollywood’s generational wisdom. In a nepotism-debating era, his pivot from ‘lalch ki parakh’ (greed’s test) to grounded artistry inspires. Parents’ timely advice didn’t just salvage a career—it forged a better artist.