Actor Neil Nitin Mukesh has shared his thoughts on the struggles he has faced in Bollywood due to his fair complexion. In a recent interview with Hindi Rush, Neil revealed that he had lost out on several roles because of his skin tone, expressing frustration that while other actors could break stereotypes, he often couldn’t.
Struggles With Casting
Addressing the issue, Neil said, “I understand that in a country of 140 crore people, my skin tone is unique. But that doesn’t mean I don’t fit the image of a common man. The problem isn’t that I’m not trying… Today, with advanced makeup and technology, we can alter an actor’s look entirely. So why not focus on acting ability as well? If you think I can act, then give me a chance.”
Neil also pointed out that other fair-skinned actors like Saif Ali Khan and Hrithik Roshan managed to break stereotypes. “Saif Ali Khan played Langda Tyagi in Omkara, and Hrithik Roshan stepped away from his ‘Greek God’ image to do Super 30. They got the opportunities, but I have to keep struggling,” he added.
Neil’s Film Journey
Neil started his cinematic journey as a child artist in the late 1980s and made his lead debut with Johnny Gaddaar in 2007. He went on to appear in successful films like New York, Prem Ratan Dhan Payo, and Golmaal Again. His most recent project was Hisaab Barabar, where he starred alongside R. Madhavan and Kirti Kulhari.
