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News18
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Neil Nitin Mukesh Calls Out Bollywood's Toxic Culture: ‘Everyone's Frustrated, It Shows'
Last Updated: As Neil Nitin Mukesh gears up for his web debut with Hai Junoon, the actor opens up about the harsh realities of Bollywood. As actor Neil Nitin Mukesh prepares for his digital debut with the web series Hai Junoon, he's also opening a deeply personal chapter—one that strips away the gloss of showbiz to reveal its rougher edges. In a candid conversation with SCREEN, the actor reflected on the highs and lows of his cinematic journey, admitting that while Bollywood has given him many opportunities, it's also exposed him to a side of the industry that he describes as 'toxic." 'It does happen, and it gets to a point where it becomes toxic," Neil said, speaking of the unwelcome undercurrents in the industry. 'I've seen it a lot, and I still see it. I don't like that conversation. For me, the industry was like a family—or at least I used to think of it that way." The actor, whose lineage includes legendary singer Mukesh and his father, Nitin Mukesh, lamented the erosion of camaraderie and genuine appreciation in today's film circles. 'If we're part of the same fraternity, shouldn't we be cheering for each other? Shouldn't we be picking up the phone to say, 'Hey, great work'? But those calls never come unless the person is extremely close to you. And even then, no one says it to your face." Neil drew a poignant contrast between the current climate and the golden era of filmmaking led by icons like Raj Kapoor and Mukeshji. 'Back then, friendships had no agenda. Filmmaking was a passion, a collaboration. Raj Kapoor sahab didn't need validation, yet he'd still take his films to Rishikesh Mukherjee to get them checked. Today, we hide everything—our looks, trailers, cuts—until they're ready to drop." According to Neil, the root of this change lies in a collective frustration. 'Not everyone has tasted full success. There's this lingering ambition, this sense of missed opportunity that's slowly creeping into the system—and it's becoming the norm. That's not how it should be." Despite the industry's evolving dynamics, Neil has stayed resilient. His journey began in the late 1980s as a child actor in films like Vijay and Jaisi Karni Waisi Bharnii. Before his breakout as a lead in Johnny Gaddaar (2007), he even worked behind the camera as an assistant director on Mujhse Dosti Karoge (2002). In recent years, Neil has maintained a steady presence with roles in films such as Prem Ratan Dhan Payo, Saaho, and the 2024 release Hisaab Barabar. With Hai Junoon, he now steps into the digital arena, eager to reinvent and reintroduce himself to a new generation of viewers—this time on his own terms. First Published:
Time of India
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Neil Nitin Mukesh reveals people doubted his acting skills; called him ‘angrez ka baccha'
Neil Nitin Mukesh recently spoke about the obstacles he encountered in Bollywood because of his appearance. In an interview, he revealed that many questioned whether he could speak Hindi, given his background in a family of singers and his foreign-like looks. Overcoming Fear Before His Debut In an interview with The Therapy Diariez, Neil revealed that before landing his first film in Bollywood, he refused to let fear influence him. He believed he couldn't afford to feel any fear or panic about whether he would succeed. For him, there was no other option-he had to make it happen at any cost. Challenges Due to Family Legacy and Looks by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Her body cannot endure this level of pain; please help her. Donate For Health Learn More Undo Neil explained that coming from a family of renowned singers, including his grandfather Mukesh and his father, posed its own set of challenges. Many people doubted his acting skills and questioned whether his Hindi was good enough. His foreign-like appearance led some to say he looked like an "angrez ka baccha", casting doubts on his ability to work in Hindi films. Despite these obstacles, Neil managed to turn these perceived disadvantages into strengths. Early Career and Recent Work Neil began his career as a child actor with roles in 1988 film ' Vijay ' and 'Jaisi Karni Waisi Bharnii'. He later worked behind the scenes as an assistant director on the 2002 movie 'Mujhse Dosti Karoge'. Neil made his debut as a lead actor in 2007 with 'Johnny Gaddaar' and most recently appeared in the 2024 release 'Hisaab Barabar'.
Hindustan Times
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Neil Nitin Mukesh says people doubted him because he looked ‘angrez ka baccha': ‘They wondered if I even knew Hindi'
Actor Neil Nitin Mukesh recently opened up about the kinds of challenges he faced in Bollywood due to his looks. Talking to The Therapy Diariez, he said that people doubted if he even knew how to speak Hindi because he came from a family of singers and looked 'firangi'. Here's what he said. (Also Read: 'Nepo kid hamari field mein glorify zyada kiya jaata hai', says Neil Nitin Mukesh: Being a star's son creates pressure) Neil was asked if he had any fear before he landed his first film in Bollywood and he replied, 'Till the time I didn't land my first film, I didn't let anything affect me. I said, I can't afford to have any kind of fear. I can't afford to have any kind of panics on the front of, will I make something of myself? I do not have a choice, I did not have a choice at all. I had to do it at any cost.' He then added that people questioned him due to his family and how he looked, 'It was already a challenge that I am Mukesh ji's grandson and he's a singer. My father is a singer. Anyway, people were doubting if I could even act. Is his Hindi even good? Dikhta firangi hai. (He looks like a foreigner) So I had a lot of these challenges to tackle. People would say, I look like an angrez ka baccha (child of a foreigner). If I would be able to work in Hindi films. All these were my handicaps which I made into my positives.' For the uninitiated, Neil is the son of playback singer Nitin Mukesh and grandson of singer Mukesh. While he acted as a child artiste in 1988 and 1989 in Vijay and Jaisi Karni Waisi Bharnii, he worked as an assistant director in the 2002 film Mujhse Dosti Karoge. In 2007, he debuted as a lead with Johnny Gaddaar and was most recently seen in the 2024 film Hisaab Barabar.
