An Analysis of Career Challenges and Instability in the Indian Film Industry

May 10, 2026, 15:37

Introduction

Recent interviews with actors Kriti Sanon and Kiara Advani highlight the structural problems and professional instability that performers face while working in Bollywood.

Main Body

Kriti Sanon's career path shows that systemic inequalities, especially nepotism and patriarchal structures, still exist. Sanon asserts that the distribution of roles is often influenced by family connections to famous industry figures, which marginalizes those who do not have such backgrounds. Furthermore, she emphasizes a gender-based gap in privileges and pay, stating that female leads are more likely to face budget cuts. She describes this institutional imbalance as a common part of how the industry operates. Similarly, Kiara Advani's experience shows the strong link between commercial success and professional growth. Advani notes that critical praise, such as the feedback after her debut in 'Fugly' (2014), does not always help an actor get more roles if the movie fails at the box office. Consequently, she spent the next five years in a cycle of auditions and rejections, a period of stagnation that continued even after 'MS Dhoni: The Untold Story' (2016). It was only after the commercial success of 'Kabir Singh' (2019) that she saw a steady increase in opportunities. Both actors describe a process of gradual growth where setbacks forced them to become more resilient and strategic.

Conclusion

The current state of the industry is defined by a conflict between the desire for a merit-based system and deeply rooted systemic biases.

Learning

⚡ The 'Logical Glue': Moving Beyond Simple Sentences

At the A2 level, you probably say: "The movie failed. She did not get more roles." To reach B2, you need to stop using separate sentences and start using Connectors of Consequence. These words act like glue, showing the reader exactly how one event causes another.

🛠️ The B2 Power-Up: Consequently & Furthermore

Look at how the text connects ideas to create a professional flow:

"Consequently" (The Result Bridge) $\rightarrow$ "...the movie fails at the box office. Consequently, she spent the next five years in a cycle of auditions..."
- A2 way: "So..." / "And then..."
- B2 way: "Consequently..." / "Therefore..."
- When to use: When you want to prove that Action B happened specifically because of Action A.
"Furthermore" (The Addition Bridge) $\rightarrow$ "...nepotism and patriarchal structures, still exist. Furthermore, she emphasizes a gender-based gap..."
- A2 way: "Also..." / "And..."
- B2 way: "Furthermore..." / "Moreover..."
- When to use: When you have already made one strong point and you want to add a second, even stronger point to support your argument.

🔍 Linguistic Shift: From 'Things' to 'Systems'

Notice that the text doesn't just say "bad people" or "problems." It uses Abstract Nouns. This is the hallmark of B2 academic English. Instead of describing a situation, name the phenomenon:

Instead of "People help their family" $\rightarrow$ Use "Systemic inequalities" or "Nepotism".
Instead of "Not growing" $\rightarrow$ Use "Stagnation".
Instead of "A bit of a problem" $\rightarrow$ Use "Institutional imbalance".

Pro Tip: To jump to B2, stop describing what is happening and start describing the system that makes it happen.

Vocabulary Learning

systemic (adj.)

relating to or affecting the whole system; fundamental or built-in

Example:The company’s systemic problems were revealed during the audit.

inequalities (n.)

unfair differences or disparities between people or groups

Example:There are inequalities in pay between male and female employees.

nepotism (n.)

favoritism shown to relatives or friends, especially in hiring

Example:The hiring process was criticized for nepotism.

patriarchal (adj.)

relating to a system or society where men hold primary power

Example:The novel critiques patriarchal values in traditional families.

marginalizes (v.)

pushes someone to the edge or makes them less important or influential

Example:The policy marginalizes minority voices in the decision‑making process.

privilege (n.)

special rights or advantages enjoyed by a particular person or group

Example:She enjoyed the privilege of free travel for her work.

budget cuts (n.)

reductions in spending or allocation of funds

Example:The school faced severe budget cuts this year.

institutional imbalance (n.)

unequal distribution of power or resources within an organization

Example:The report highlights institutional imbalance in leadership roles.

commercial success (n.)

financial profit and popularity achieved by a product or venture

Example:The film’s commercial success exceeded all expectations.

resilience (n.)

the ability to recover quickly from difficulties or setbacks

Example:Her resilience helped her overcome the challenges of the project.