Actor Imran Khan has broken his silence on long-standing nepotism debates, candidly addressing misconceptions around his family ties with Aamir Khan and the financial realities of Bollywood in a recent podcast appearance.

Speaking on the Unfiltered with Samdish podcast, Imran Khan reflected on his career highs and lows, including the challenges he faced after his breakout success in Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na (2008).

The actor said that while his debut brought him instant fame, consistent work did not follow as many people assumed it would.

Imran acknowledged that the “nepokid” label has followed him for years.

He said people often believed that being related to Aamir Khan ensured financial stability and professional security, an assumption he strongly rejected.

“My uncle Aamir is a movie star. He’s my mom’s cousin brother… that’s not my money, that’s not coming to me,” Imran said.

Life after early success in Bollywood

The actor recalled that after his debut film’s success, his salary increased only marginally.

He added that the steady stream of opportunities many expected never materialised, highlighting the unpredictability of the film industry.

Imran also spoke about the harsh financial disparities within Bollywood.

He pointed to the massive pay packages earned by top stars such as Ranveer Singh and Ranbir Kapoor, which run into millions, while many actors struggle to secure even reasonably paid work.

Addressing pay gap in Bollywood

According to Imran, the industry’s structure heavily favours a small group of leading actors.

This imbalance, he said, leaves limited room for sustainable careers for many performers, regardless of talent or early success.