Neil Nitin Mukesh on the reason behind his weight loss; credits a project for his leaner avatar
Neil Nitin Mukesh
Neil Nitin Mukesh has been making all the right noise for his weight loss and the leaner avatar. The actor credits his OTT projects and the roles that came his way which encouraged him to look perfect on screen.
Especially, his last web show Hai Junoon in which he plays mentor to college kids.
He says, 'When Hai Junoon came my way, it brought a real challenge — and with it, the perfect incentive. I knew I was about to be placed alongside a cast of incredibly fit, young actors in their mid-20s, with six-pack abs, backflipping, dancing, and singing like pros. And I thought to myself: 'What are they going to look up to in me if I don't level up?' That was the wake-up call.
I needed to reinvent myself — not just physically, but completely — to stay relevant and bring something fresh to the screen.
'
And how he went about it? 'I started working on my body, my energy, my styling — everything. I didn't want to be just another comeback; I wanted to shock the audience in a good way. I wanted them to say, 'This guy's back — and he's looking like it's the New York era again.'
It was during the lockdown that Neil had gained weight and it all began with his first OTT project.
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'Truth be told, when I was first offered Hisaab Barabar, I was heavier. We had just come out of the COVID lockdowns, and I was still regaining momentum with my training. The weight I had gained was mostly due to Bypass Road, which demanded a different look. Otherwise, I've always been quite fit, by God's grace.'
Sharing about what behind creating the perfect look, Neil added, 'But post-COVID, I enjoyed those first 3–4 months a bit too much.
When Hisaab Barabar landed, it gave me that push to start transforming again. I wanted to come back as someone different, and that's when Micky Mehta (his character) entered the picture. For that role, I had to look like an eccentric character — so I lost weight in a specific way for that vibe.
Then came Hai Junoon, and the stakes felt higher. I wasn't just returning to the screen; I was stepping into the spotlight with a new generation of actors and a new audience. So, I focused deeply on my body language, styling, and overall presence. My stylist was outstanding. We worked tirelessly on the look. My director also gave great input on the hairstyle — it all came together beautifully. It's been a journey of rediscovery and reinvention. And Hai Junoon gave me that spark — to become not just relevant, but someone today's audience could look at and connect with all over again.'
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