In a free-wheeling chat with Vaalee Supreet, actor Neil Nitin Mukesh talks about films, unconventional roles and Bollywood’s 100 Crore Club.
What is Neil Nitin Mukesh and his what is his journey?
Neil Nitin Mukesh is a very simple man. I have a 9-to-5 job, After that, I go back to my family which is my mother and my father. I don’t have guts to be in any ‘Serial’ territory, be it ‘Kisser’ or a ‘Killer’ (laughs). My Journey has been extremely interesting. There were lots of ups and downs but so far, it’s been a very intelligently crafted journey. I have worked with the finest director’s of Bollywood. There are also some new director’s in my kitty. I am looking forward to working with them.
According to you, what are the films that belong to the 100 Crore Club?
There are very few films that belong to this club. Kahaani, Barfi, English Vinglish would be my examples.
So do you feel you are doing bad films because none of them are in the 100 Crore Club list?
Sometimes I do feel that am I doing bad films. It’s confusing sometimes. It throws me off sometimes, trying to make a choice of films. But I hold my horses and come back to believing in what I am doing.
Is cinema changing a lot?
Yes, I believe the cinema is changing a lot today. We have films like Gangs of Wasseypur, Kai Po Che doing well. It gives me little bit of confidence and hope.
As an actor, what do you think went wrong with ‘David’?
I don’t know. As an actor, I do my work. If it works, it works! For me New York was a commercial success. It had everything. It was well directed, shot on a large scale etc. I love to do those kind of films. If you ask me to put my finger into a ‘Plug-Hole’ and move around for twenty minutes to generate a few laughs, I might not be comfortable doing it.
When will you do a romantic film? Why do you always opt for dark and edgy films?
No one asks Mr. Shah Rukh Khan when will he do a ‘Dark’ or an ‘Edgy’ film? Romantic films are not my territory. There are so many films that I have refused and they were disasters. For example Luck was offered to me, Blue was offered to me. You can see me in Saat Khoon Maaf which had hardly twenty minutes of me, but still made an impact. No matter if these films are successful or not, I have always been appreciated. And that’s the reason why I am sustaining.
Any film for which you have worked real hard and it didn’t work?
Jail. I was really upset when Jail didn’t work. I had put in my heart and my soul into Jail. The film taught me a lot in life – like not to ‘Expect’. I expected a lot from Jail. Madhur Bhandarkar, intelligent film, serious cinema, And suddenly it didn’t do well. I figured out people are not wanting to watch that kind of a Film.
Tell us about Dussehra. Is it a commercial film?
Dussehra is an out and out hardcore action film. You will see me fighting with thirty men. But the film has some mind blowing performances too.
Are you producing a film too?
Yes, I am producing a film called Paidaar. It means Eternal. I have written the film also. I plan to shoot this film by the end of the year.