“With Jail, I have fulfilled my father’s dream” – Neil Nitin Mukesh [Part 1]

By Bollywood Hungama News Network -

November 5, 2009 - 4:38 PM IST

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Lot has been said about the body expose that Neil Nitin Mukesh has indulged in his upcoming film Jail. However, behind all these talks (that have obviously garnered immense attention for the film) are the huge expectations from the man who, with bated breath, is waiting to catch audience reactions for an author backed role. He understands that any skin show, regardless of being shot aesthetically, is momentary and ultimately it will be the strength of the script, Madhur Bhandarkar's treatment of the subject and his own act that would count most and be remembered for years to come. Over to Neil in this EXCLUSIVE two part conversation where Neil goes back into the memory lane as he talks to Joginder Tuteja about the journey from being a singer's son to be one of the most promising emerging stars that Bollywood has today.

“With Jail, I have fulfilled my father’s dream” – Neil Nitin Mukesh [Part 1]

Neil, after New York, you are suddenly being taken a lot seriously as an actor. Quite flattering, isn't it?

Wow, that's quite a positive way to begin a conversation. Of course I am flattered, more so after you ask this question! To be honest, my entire motive from the very beginning was this only i.e. to be not just considered as a good face and a star but basically as a reliable actor. In fact I was very desperate when I had just started looking

out for work. I wanted to create a niche for myself where people would identify with Neil as an actor. In fact many people came to me with this big question mark that why should they lay their trust in me.

I don't just want to be a good face and a star but also a reliable actor

Why was that so difficult?

We are in the industry where an actor's son is supposed to become an actor and a singer's son should go on to be a singer. It was the same response for me as well. Considering the fact that my grandfather was a legendary singer and my father was equally popular, it was hard for people to digest that the third generation could have

different aspirations. I had to break the myth that a singer's son could not become an actor. There are so many examples where a son hasn't quite followed the same profession as his father.

In that sense, do you consider Johnny Gaddaar as the perfect launching pad for you? Asking this because while most other actors from your generation (Ranbir Kapoor, Imran Khan) started off relatively safe with a love story, you played a character that was mostly negative. Don't you feel a more conventional beginning would have helped?

I am 100% sure that Johnny Gaddaar was the best start for me. This was a character oriented role and as you must have noticed, all through my short career so far, I have loved doing films like these. Whether it was Johnny Gaddaar, Aa Dekhen Zara, New York or now Jail, I haven't played a hero-hero anywhere. These all have been strong characters though with diverse shades. This is why I am so thankful to Late Jhamu Sugandh. He took notice of this fire in me and gave me a break with Johnny Gaddaar. I respect him till date.

Whether it was Johnny Gaddaar, Aa Dekhen Zara, New York or now Jail, I haven't played a hero-hero anywhere

However, if I remember correctly, it was the opportunity of working with Sriram Raghavan that excited you most. Right?

Absolutely. The moment I heard that Sriram would be directing the film, I went mad. I mean he was the same guy who had made Ek Haseena Thi. I like such dark, edgy yet commercial cinema. I remember being on a flight and reading the script of Johnny Gaddaar. My mother also read it and her reaction too was that the film

seemed damn interesting. She too was apprehensive though about the negative shades in the character but I was adamant that this was the only film with which I was going to debut with.

In that sense, do you think that Aa Dekhen Zara was the right follow up? After all expectations had increased manifold in the time gone by?

I think it was right. I continue to hold the film close to my heart. Regardless of how the film performed at the box office, I did get some more following after the film. From adults, I could get children as an audience as well after Aa Dekhen Zara. You won't believe it but kids have come and asked me - 'Ray Acharya (his character's name in Aa Dekhen Zara), do you still have that camera that can show the future?' Something similar also happened when I was in far off Simla. So you know, whichever film that you do, if you have done it with conviction, there is this memory point which is left amongst the audiences. I am sure it will be something similar with Jail as well where Parag (his character's name) would be remembered for the ordeal and the fight back he goes through.

Apparently there wasn't much fight though for you to get the role in Jail?

It's a funny story actually. It was on the day of the release of Johnny that I got a call from Ashok Pandit, who is Madhur Bhandarkar's friend. After a round of congratulations, he told me that there was someone who wanted to speak to me. When Madhur came on line, my phone literally fell down. I could barely reply in monosyllables and was a bundle of nerves. He called me over to his office a week later and offered me Jail. It was as simple as that.

This must have been quite a jump so early in your career...

More than the jump factor, it was the feeling of contentment since I could fulfil one of the biggest dreams of my father. He had told me earlier that Madhur is amongst the few directors that he had in his wish list for me. In fact I didn't even inform him before going to meet Madhur. Only when I had the film in hand, I went to dad and quietly told him that that one of his dreams had come true.

Come back tomorrow for Part 2 of the conversation where Neil would spill further details about the USP of the film, his much hyped pant dropping in Jail, how his mother broke the news to him as well as subsequent reactions of his parents, friends and that 'someone special'.