Neil Nitin Mukesh | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Mukesh in 2025 | |
| Born | Neil Nitin Mukesh Chand Mathur (1982-01-15)15 January 1982 (age 43) Bombay (now Mumbai),Maharashtra, India |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1988–1989 2002–present |
| Spouse | [1] |
| Children | 1 |
| Father | Nitin Mukesh |
| Relatives | Mukesh (grandfather) |
Neil Nitin Mukesh Chand Mathur (born 15 January 1982) is an Indian actor, producer and screenwriter known for his work inHindi films. He is the son of playback singerNitin Mukesh and grandson of singerMukesh. He debuted as a child artist inVijay (1988) andJaisi Karni Waisi Bharnii (1989), and would go on to make his full-fledged debut playing the title role inJohnny Gaddaar (2007). Since then, he has starred inNew York (2009),Prem Ratan Dhan Payo (2015),Golmaal Again (2017), andSaaho (2019). He made hisTamil film debut withKaththi (2014) andTelugu film debut withKavacham (2018).
Neil was born as Neil Nitin Mukesh Chand Mathur on 15 January 1982 inBombay (presently Mumbai),Maharashtra, India.[2][3] His father isBollywood playback singerNitin Mukesh, son of veteran singerMukesh.[4] His paternal grandmother was aGujaratiShrimali Brahmin while his paternal grandfather was aMathurKayastha fromDelhi.[5] He was named byLata Mangeshkar after the American astronautNeil Armstrong.[6] As a child, he appeared inVijay (1988) andJaisi Karni Waisi Bharnii (1989) as the younger versions ofRishi Kapoor andGovinda respectively.
Neil was educated atHR College inMumbai, where he graduated with abachelor's degree in commerce[7] at his father's insistence. He then decided to pursue a career in acting, despite being born into a family of singers.[4] In an interview withThe Times of India, the actor said "singing is my hobby, but acting is my passion. A passion that even my grand-dad harboured. So, while my father continued his legacy and became a singer, I pursued his other passion. I am living his dream".[4] Neil trained at a four-month workshop at the Kishore Namit Kapoor Acting Institute, and received training from actorAnupam Kher.[7]
Mukesh made his debut inSriram Raghavan's 2007 thrillerJohnny Gaddaar. His portrayal of a crook received positive reviews from critics[8] and earned him a nomination for theFilmfare Award for Best Male Debut.Taran Adarsh ofBollywood Hungama described Neil as a "complete natural": "The youngster carries off the part with dexterity. There's just one word to describe his performance – superb!"[9] However, despite critical acclaim, the film failed to do well at the box office.[10]
His first 2009 film was the science-fiction thrillerAa Dekhen Zara. Co-starring withBipasha Basu, he played a struggling photographer who inherits a camera (whose photos predict the future) from his scientist grandfather. The film was a critical and commercial failure.[11] His performance received mixed reviews from critics; whileNikhat Kazmi described him as charming and effortless,[12] Raja Sen ofRediff.com said he "seems to have cleverly picked another character that doesn't require him to act much beyond the fish-out-of-water routine".[13]
His major breakthrough came withKabir Khan's drama thrillerNew York withJohn Abraham,Katrina Kaif andIrrfan Khan. Exploring the aftermath of the9/11, the film was a critical and commercial success, earning over₹610 million (US$7.1 million) worldwide.[14] His performance was praised by critics, earning him a nomination for theFilmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor.[15] Subhash K Jha wrote: "Neil as the sophomore with stars and stripes in his eyes is fully convincing credible and supportive of the two central performances."[16]
His final film of the year wasMadhur Bhandarkar'sJail, a drama revolving around the cruel reality faced by prisoners in Indian jails. The film's aesthetically shot nude scene (demonstrating the torture Mukesh's character received in jail) and a masturbation scene sparked controversy;[17] as a result, the latter scene was shortened.[18] Mukesh remarked, "My nude or masturbation scenes are not for titillation. It's a very practical need in the script. My character is in jail without sex for 2-1/2 years. What does he do? He naturally seeks pleasure by himself."[18] A commercial failure,[19] the film and his performance were praised by critics.[20] Taran Adarsh wrote: "Not only does Neil Nitin Mukesh deliver his finest performance to date, but the performance would easily rank amongst the finest this year. He conveys the pathos and helplessness that this character demands with amazing understanding. He deserves all praise for his extra-ordinary portrayal."[21]
In 2010, Mukesh featured inPradeep Sarkar's action dramaLafangey Parindey withDeepika Padukone. While the film received mixed reviews, his portrayal of a fighter was appreciated by critics.[22] According toSify's Sonia Chopra, Neil's "underplayed acting style complements the character's sketch perfectly".[23] Blessy Chettiar ofDaily News and Analysis noted: "He looks great in every frame and carries off [the character's] rugged demeanour with panache."[24]Lafangey Parindey was a moderate commercial success, with a worldwide revenue of₹310 million (US$3.6 million).[25] Neil then starred inSudhir Mishra's dramatic thrillerTera Kya Hoga Johnny.[26]
He has also been a brand ambassador to one of the leading clothing brands of the country, Oxemberg, in April 2010.[27]
The following year Mukesh starred inVishal Bhardwaj's7 Khoon Maaf, a black comedy-drama (based onRuskin Bond's short storySusanna's Seven Husbands)[28] featuringPriyanka Chopra as a woman who murders her seven husbands in an unending quest for love. The actor was cast as Chopra's first husband, Major Edwin Rodriques, an arrogant, jealous and possessive army officer who lost a leg in Punjab'sOperation Blue Star in 1984. The film premiered at the61st Berlin Film Festival;[29] it was a commercial failure, receiving mixed reviews from critics, but Mukesh's performance was praised. Nikhat Kazmi wrote that he "excelled as the brute."[30]
In 2012, Mukesh starred inAbbas–Mustan'sPlayers as part of an ensemble cast includingAbhishek Bachchan,Sonam Kapoor, Bipasha Basu andBobby Deol. The film was aremake of the 2003Hollywoodheist thrillerThe Italian Job;[31] it was also a commercial failure,[32] receiving mixed to negative reviews from critics (as did Mukesh's performance). Subhash K Jha said he "brings a mean menacing tone to the villainy."[33] And according to Rediff.com's Sukanya Verma, Mukesh "mistakes sinister for superficial, resulting in a truly phony performance."[34]
In 2013, Mukesh worked in three films, though all were commercially unsuccessful.[35] His first release wasBejoy Nambiar's action-dramaDavid, in which he played agangster whose boss controls the Asian community in 1970's London. The actor said his character's dual personality appealed to him: "Here was this hardcore, extremely violent gangster and on the other hand, my director wanted me to show the emotional and romantic side to him too."[36] The film received mixed reviews, but Mukesh's performance was critically acclaimed.[37] Writing forThe Times of India, Madhureeta Mukherjee described it as "restrained and powerful"[38] andCNN-IBN'sRajeev Masand said that Mukesh is "nicely understated".[39]
He next appeared oppositeSonal Chauhan inEros International's horror film3G. Filmed in Fiji, the film told the story of how the duo face supernatural occurrences when they buy a3G-enabled phone.[40] The film was not well received by critics.[41] In a review for Rediff.com, Ankur Pathak said that Mukesh is "aggressively over the top" and added that his "body language is consistently uncomfortable."[42] He also appeared inSusi Ganeshan's crime thrillerShortcut Romeo withAmeesha Patel andPuja Gupta. The picture ran into trouble when it got a limited release by its producers, and emerged as a major commercial failure.[43][44] On his performance, Madhureeta Mukherjee ofThe Times of India said: "Neil performs well as always, he looks good (he needs to tone down his physicality for such roles) and proves that actors like him need better scripts to justify their true potential."[45]
 | This section needs to beupdated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(September 2017) |
Mukesh has completed work on two films – Prerna Wadhwan's romantic dramaIshqeria, which will see him star oppositeRicha Chadda,[46] and Manish Vatsalya'sDussehra, where Mukesh will feature as an encounter specialist withTena Desae.[47] He debuted inTamil cinema withAR Murugadoss'sKaththi. He also acted inSooraj R. Barjatya's 2015 family dramaPrem Ratan Dhan Payo withSalman Khan andSonam Kapoor.[48] He also made a guest appearance inWazir.
In November 2018, he turned producer and started filmingBypass Road, a thriller-drama film directed by his brother Naman Nitin Mukesh and written by himself. The film is scheduled to be released on 1 November 2019.[49][50]
In 2019, he appeared inSaaho, a multilingual film directed bySujeeth, playing an antagonist Jai aka Ashok Chakravarty.[51]
In 2024, he acted inAshwni Dhir'sHisaab Barabar, a gripping social drama.[52]
In 2017, Mukesh married Rukmini Sahay in a traditionalHindu wedding arranged by the familial elders.
In April 2018, Neil Nitin Mukesh announced via Instagram that the couple were expecting their first child. A daughter, Nurvi Neil Mukesh, was born on 20 September 2018.[53]
In 2009, Mukesh started an NGO to support and help needy women by providing them with food, shelter and vocational training to support themselves. The philanthropic project was named for his grandmother, Saral Devi Mathur. The actor said: "I have read about women getting oppressed, exploited by men and other family members. They get sold like commodities and are driven into prostitution. I'm always pained to hear all this and at the back of my mind I had thought that I would start an organisation to support such women."[54] In 2012, he joined withVolkswagen in support of an environmental campaign called "Think Blue", an initiative increasing awareness ofwater scarcity and other pressing ecological issues.[55]
Mukesh participated in the Hiru Golden Film Awards 2016 inSri Lanka as a special guest, along with Bollywood actors such asSunil Shetty,Jackie Shroff, and actressesSridevi,Madhuri Dixit andKarishma Kapoor.[56]
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Vijay | Young Vikram | Child artist |
| 1989 | Jaisi Karni Waisi Bharnii | Young Ravi Verma | Child artist |
| 2002 | Mujhse Dosti Karoge | — | Assistant director |
| 2007 | Johnny Gaddaar | Vikram / Johnny G | Nominated –Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut |
| 2009 | Aa Dekhen Zara | Ray Acharya | |
| New York | Omar Aijaz | Nominated –Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor | |
| Jail | Parag Dixit | ||
| 2010 | Lafangey Parindey | Nandan Kamthekar | |
| Tera Kya Hoga Johnny | Parvez | ||
| 2011 | 7 Khoon Maaf | Major Edwin Rodriques | |
| 2012 | Players | Spider | |
| 2013 | David | David and his son | |
| 3G | Sam | ||
| Shortcut Romeo | Sooraj | ||
| 2014 | Kaththi | Shirag | Nominated – SIIMA Award for Actor in a Negative Role – TamilTamil Film |
| 2015 | Prem Ratan Dhan Payo | Yuvraj Ajay Singh | |
| 2016 | Wazir | Wazir | |
| 2017 | Indu Sarkar | Sanjay Gandhi | [57] |
| Golmaal Again | Nikhil | ||
| 2018 | Ishqeria | Raghav | |
| Dassehra | Rudra Pratap Singh | ||
| Kavacham | Vikramaditya | Telugu film | |
| 2019 | Saaho | Jai / Ashok Chakravarthy | Simultaneously shot in Telugu |
| Bypass Road | Vikram Kapoor | Also producer | |
| 2024 | Hisaab Barabar | Micky Mehta | [58] |
| Year | Award | Category | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | International Indian Film Academy Awards | Star Debut of the Year – Male | Johnny Gaddaar | Nominated |
| Zee Cine Awards | Special Award (Critics) | Won | ||
| Screen Awards | Most Promising Newcomer – Male | Nominated | ||
| Stardust Awards | Superstar of Tomorrow – Male | Nominated | ||
| Apsara Film & Television Producers Guild Awards | Best Actor in a Negative Role | Won | ||
| Filmfare Awards | Best Male Debut | Nominated | ||
| 2010 | Best Supporting Actor | New York | Nominated | |
| 2012 | Screen Awards | Best Supporting Actor | 7 Khoon Maaf | Nominated |
| 2015 | South Indian International Movie Awards | Best Actor in a Negative Role | Kaththi | Won |
| 2017 | IIFA Awards | Best Villain | Wazir | Nominated |
| 2020 | Zee Cine Awards Telugu | Favorite Supporting Actor – Male | Saaho | Won |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
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