In order to wipe the stain of nepotism once and for all, the young Bollywood actress, the daughter of the veteran Bollywood actress, decided that she must remake her mother’s most renowned film—one that won her a national film award—scene-by-scene, shot-by-shot and not only act in it but outact her mother. Her mother assented to the project, though privately worried that her daughter might do irreparable harm to her young career.

The film went ahead, as planned. It was made, or rather remade, scene-by-scene, shot-by-shot with the exact number of dance sequences, and in the same technicolor perspective for reel verisimilitude. To further ensure nepotistic integrity, the other actors, not to mention the technicians working on the film were chosen from amongst the sons and daughters of the actors and technicians of the original version of the film. (Except for the lone case of the assistant cinematographer disconcertingly being the nephew of the original assistant cinematographer.)

The film secured a wide release.

It turned out that the veteran actor’s fears were unfounded. Most film critics and audiences agreed that it was the superior version. Everyone was excellent, but the pièce de résistance of the film was none other than the young actress who had indeed outacted her mother, scene-by-scene, shot-by-shot. However, it was also thought—and this was curious—that neither the performance nor the film were altogether very good. In fact, by general measure, the film was downright horrible.

The reputations of the original film, cast, and technicians were irreparably harmed.