I am living my grandfather’s dream: Neil Nitin Mukesh

KOLKATA - Actor Neil Nitin Mukesh says he is living the dream of his legendary grandfather, singer Mukesh, by opting for a career in Bollywood.

“I never saw him. But I have heard a lot about him from my grandmother. From her I heard stories of his forays into film acting,” Neil said after participating in the Kolkata Fashion Week-II for designer R. Narendra Kumar Sunday.

“Maybe that is the reason I have become an actor. I am living his dream and I work from my heart,” said the 27-year old, who made his movie debut with the 2007 crime thriller “Johnny Gaddaar”.

Mukesh, one of India’s all-time great singers, had tried his hand at film acting towards the beginning of his career.

Mukesh’s first film as actor was “Nirdosh” (1941), with Nalini Jaywant as co-star. He hit up with “Sukh Dukh” opposite Sitara Devi and later “Adaab Arz” (1942). In 1953, Mukesh and Suraiya starred in “Mashooqa” before his last film appearance in “Anurag” with Usha Kiran.

Neil, son of singer Nitin Mukesh, has also done playback in director-producer Madhur Bhandarkar’s “Jail” with a rock version of “Saiyan Ve”.

After walking the ramp wearing a black outfit with golden work on it, Neil said he was confident all through. “He (Narendra Kumar) has made an extremely nice designer outfit for the show. He is not only a designer. He has helped me in my style statement.”

“He is an elder brother to me. It’s a big honour for me to walk the ramp wearing his clothes,” he said.

Asked about his style statement, Neil said, “I follow the simple modern style.”