Neil Nitin Mukesh recently revealed that he rejected the popular romantic film Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na for a specific reason: it "annoyed" him. Instead, he chose to debut with the thriller Johnny Gaddaar, a decision that surprised many, including his own parents.
Most aspiring actors would dream of making their debut in a romantic film, which is often seen as a safe way to start an acting career. Neil Nitin Mukesh, however, had a different vision for his career. The late Jhamu Sughand, who was producing both Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na and Johnny Gaddaar, offered him a choice between the two films, and Neil opted for the latter.
In an interview, Neil explained that he found something about Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na irritating. He did not elaborate on the specifics, but his aversion to the film led him to choose the riskier path of Johnny Gaddaar. He had watched Sriram Raghavan's film Ek Hasina Thi and loved it. So, even though Jaane Tu... was a love story, he decided to opt for Johnny Gaddaar.
Johnny Gaddaar was a neo-noir thriller directed by Sriram Raghavan. Neil played the role of an anti-hero, which was a departure from the typical romantic lead. The film revolves around a group of individuals involved in a risky game of betrayal and deceit. His decision to choose a hard-hitting role was to consolidate his position as a good actor from his first film.
His parents were initially upset with his choice. His mother wanted him to opt for Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na because it was a love story. However, Neil was drawn to the complexity and edginess of Johnny Gaddaar. Despite the initial disapproval from his parents, Neil's gamble paid off. Although the film did not do particularly well upon release, it has since become a cult classic.
Neil's choice to debut with Johnny Gaddaar established him as an actor willing to take risks and experiment with different genres. After Johnny Gaddaar, Neil deliberately chose films like 7 Khoon Maaf, New York, Players, Jail and Wazir, which were hard-hitting roles. This was because many felt a singer's son could not act. He wanted people to sit up and notice him. He has continued to take on challenging roles throughout his career, solidifying his image as a versatile and fearless performer.
Neil Nitin Mukesh comes from a family with a strong musical background. His grandfather was the legendary singer Mukesh, and his father, Nitin Mukesh, is also a well-known singer. Before entering the film industry, Neil faced prejudice for choosing acting over his family's legacy of music. Many people suggested that he should give up acting and focus on singing instead.
