Neil Nitin Mukesh: I’m open to all kinds of roles, looks and genres

Neil Nitin Mukesh’s upcoming movie Bypass Road is his production debut and his younger brother Naman’s directorial. He is simultaneously working on Saaho starring Prabhas and helmed by Sujeeth. The actor is impressed with both his young directors. “They are just 26 and the way they are handling such big responsibilities is incredible!” he says, “They are not like the older generations who would graduate to things slowly. We would first want to work for years and gain experience before taking up a big project. But they just plunged into it and managed it so well. I learnt so much from both,” says he.

TAPPING INTO THRILLERS

Neil, who debuted with Johnny Gaddaar in 2007, chose a thriller as his first production venture because he believes the genre still remains untapped in Bollywood. “We tend to make films in a genre that’s doing well at that point in time. If a biopic succeeds, there will be 10 others. So, I wanted to try to be a clutter-breaker,” he states. So, the first two movies that he is producing are in that genre. However, for the third one, he has chosen a love story. “Bypass Road is an ensemble cast like Johnny Gaddaar and not a hero-heroine only story. It’s a suspense thriller and plot-driven,” he adds.

PLAYING THE BADDIE

After playing the anti-hero in his first film, Neil has essayed the baddie a number of times, like in 7 Khoon Maaf (2011), Prem Ratan Dhan Payo (2015) and Wazir (2016). He will also be playing one is Saaho. About the villainous portrayals, he says, “I think the bad guy is always more layered than the hero. They need to create a big impact on the screen to make the good guy seem more glorified. I thought negative role was an interesting space to explore and didn’t want to shy away from it.”

Neil also points out that the career trajectory of actors who have oscillated between playing the good guy and the baddie has been fascinating. “Someone like the legendary Amrish Puri, for instance, was an out-and-out villain, but when he started doing positive roles like Ghatak (1996) or Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995), he was as good. Or look at Paresh 

Rawal. After negative roles, he was so fabulous in Hera Pheri,” he observes, “That’s been possible because the audience is more accepting now.” That’s also the reason why he doesn’t mind experimenting with his roles as well as looks. “Wazir was the first time I played a complete baddie. As an actor, I am open to all kinds of roles, looks and genres, which is why I went bald for Indu Sarkar,” he avers.

FIRST-TIME DADDY

Neil is enjoying his role as a first-time dad to daughter Nurvi. He is also mindful of the paparazzi culture that can get uncomfortable for many celebs. What’s his take on it? “The moment you try to dodge it, it will be in your face even more. So, just stand, pose for the photos and move on. That way you won’t be bothered,” he states as a matter of fact and adds, “If it does get bothersome, there are people to take care of the situation. It’s just a picture; things get worse if you create a hullabaloo.”