Neil Nitin Mukesh recently opened up about the challenges he faced early in his Bollywood journey due to his appearance and family background. Speaking to The Therapy Diariez, the actor revealed how people doubted his place in the Hindi film industry because of his ‘firangi’ (foreign) looks and musical lineage. “People wondered if I would be able to work in Hindi films. All these were my handicaps, which I turned into my positives,” he shared.
When asked if he ever feared failure before getting his first break, Neil said that fear wasn’t an option. He explained that making it big in Bollywood was something he had to do, and he couldn’t allow panic or self-doubt to cloud his vision.
The Johnny Gaddaar actor also spoke about how coming from a prestigious musical family—being the grandson of the legendary singer Mukesh and the son of Nitin Mukesh—brought its own set of pressures. Despite his strong Hindi roots, he often faced remarks questioning his ability to speak Hindi and act in desi films, thanks to his foreign appearance.
View this post on Instagram
In another conversation with ANI, Neil addressed the ongoing nepotism debate, saying that if nepotism had truly worked in his favour, his career trajectory would have been vastly different. He pointed out how actors are quickly noticed due to the nature of their work, which leads people to assume they have it easy.
For those unaware, Neil began his career as a child artist with roles in Vijay (1988) and Jaisi Karni Waisi Bharnii (1989). He later worked behind the camera as an assistant director for Mujhse Dosti Karoge (2002) before making a strong lead debut with Johnny Gaddaar in 2007. Most recently, he appeared in the 2024 release Hisaab Barabar.