The term 'Nepotism Kids' (actors who got their start through nepotism) has been widely used in Tamil cinema for the past few years. The idea that opportunities are easily available to them simply because they are born into a family with a film background, and at the same time, the fact that that identity itself becomes a burden for them, travel hand in hand. Many Nepo Kids have appeared in the history of Tamil cinema; some have reached the pinnacle, while others continue to struggle.



Expectations, comparisons, and trolls faced by nepo kids



Nepo Kids often start living in the spotlight from a young age. Everything from their studies, upbringing, to their appearances in public events is in the eyes of fans. Expectations like "He/she is the next hero/heroine" and "Will he/she act like his father/mother?" are imposed on them from the very beginning. At the same time, they are constantly being hounded by criticisms like "This guy has a red carpet entry" and trolls on social media as they enter the cinema. The patience that ordinary actors have is often lacking for Nepo kids.



Vijay to Karthi: Nepo kids who earned their success



However, those who have overcome these criticisms through hard work have become the leading stars of Tamil cinema today. Although Vijay made his debut in films directed by his father SA Chandrasekhar, he completely transformed himself after a series of failures and rose to become a 'Thalapathy'. Chiyaan Vikram went beyond being the son of famous actor Vinod Raj and proved his talent through films like 'Sethu'. Suriya, despite being the son of veteran actor Sivakumar, rose to the top with his versatile roles, while Suriya's younger Karthi made his mark with unique choices in his debut film. Vijay Kumar's son Arun Vijay has struggled for many years and has established himself as a reliable actor today.



"If people see my picture and forget whose son I am, that's my real success," said Karthi when answering a question on being a star kid.



The unyielding fighters



Similarly, Tamil celebrities like Shantanu, Aishwarya Rajinikanth, and Sibiraj do not stop traveling despite constant criticism. The strength of these stars lies in their perseverance despite failure.



Opening up on constant criticism, Shanthanu said that “Being Bhagyaraj sir’s son opened doors, but it also closed many minds. I’m still proving myself.”



New faces, new challenges, same test of talent



As the future builds, the next generation of Nepo kids has stepped into Tamil cinema. Thalapathy Vijay's son Jason Sanjay has started his journey as a director and is making his debut with 'Sigma'. Despite being the late actor Vijayakanth's son, Shanmuga Pandian is trying to establish himself. Young stars like Surya Sethupathi, Aditi Shankar, and Dhruv Vikram are in the phase of proving their talent. Ultimately, the identity of Nepo Kid may open the door, but it is a truth proven time and again by Tamil cinema that only hard work and talent will keep you there.