Key Points
Neil challenges nepotism narrative by highlighting personal struggles
Talent trumps family connections in Bollywood career
Compares self to self-made actors like Kartik Aaryan
Third-generation artist shares honest industry perspective
In a conversation with ANI, he said, "If there was any benefit of nepotism, then today I would have been somewhere else. 'Nepo kid maaf kijiye dekhiye hamari field mein glorify zyada kiya jaata hai'..Nepo kid is glorified in our field as being an actor whatever we do, we are noticed immediately. 'agar doctor ka beta doctor ban raha hai to nepo kid vahan bhi use kiya ja sakta hai' (If a doctor's son is becoming a doctor then there also nepo kid can be used)......So, if my daughter grows up and wants to become an actor or an actress or a filmmaker or a writer. Now, I have this art and it is in me. As a business, I can't hand it over. I can only teach or hope that someone will take my legacy, my name forward."
He continued, "Any artist makes their identity with their own creativity."
Neil Nitin Mukesh's father is Bollywood playback singer Nitin Mukesh, son of veteran singer Mukesh. However, he said that it doesn't mean things are easy for him in the industry.
"I am Mukesh ji's grandson. I am Nitin Mukesh ji's son. Today I am the third generation and I am carrying forward the name of both of them. My love was for acting and I have been doing it since my childhood. So, I have come to this field. Of course, my father and grandfather belong to this line. This is my world. But even today I know that after every film, what is my struggle for every other film? In fact, being the son of a star creates more pressure as you are continuiusly comapred with them"
Giving an example of Kartik Aaryan, Rajkummar Rao, Vikrant Massey, he said that, "I don't think they have any filmy connection or identity. But look at what a first-class job they are doing, because of their talent. So, I know that as an actor, I had to go through a lot of struggles. First of all, to make people realise that a singer's son can act. And even today, after so many films, after so many years, it's been 20 years, I'm working. I have worked with the first-rate directors. But I still feel a kind of struggle as to what my next film is going to be. So I am not afraid of that. I just consider it a challenge as to how I can prove myself as an actor. But if it was just about nepo kid, it would have been a privilege."
Talking about his work front, Neil has starred in New York (2009), Prem Ratan Dhan Payo (2015), Golmaal Again (2017), and Saaho (2019). In his recent projects, he came up with corruption-exposing drama 'Hisaab Barabar' in January this year.
Comments:
Finally someone speaking sense about nepotism! It's not just about connections, talent matters most. Loved how he acknowledged outsiders like Kartik Aaryan too 👏
Interesting perspective but I feel he's downplaying the privilege a bit too much. Yes talent matters, but nepo kids definitely get more chances to fail and try again 🤔
His point about doctors' kids becoming doctors is so true! Why is it only an issue in Bollywood? Every field has family businesses. Loved his honest take ❤️
Respect for acknowledging the pressure of being compared to legendary parents/grandparents. Must be tough living up to that legacy while trying to create your own identity.
I appreciate his balanced view but wish he'd talked more about how the industry can create equal opportunities. The doctor analogy doesn't fully work - medical field has standardized exams, acting doesn't.
20 years in the industry and still feeling the struggle? That's real talk right there. Shows how competitive Bollywood is regardless of your background. Mad respect for his perseverance 💯
