'Jail', most difficult role of my career: Neil Nitin Mukesh

Actor Neil Nitin Mukesh was hesitant initially when director Madhur Bhandarkar asked him to do a full monty for a scene in the upcoming flick 'Jail', which he says is the toughest film of his career.

"I was first hesitant because I knew that millions of viewers would be watching it. I did it because I have the highest regard for Madhur, who was very confident with the script and convinced me to go ahead with the scene," says Mukesh.
The actor was in the capital recently for the film's promotion along with director Madhur Bhandarkar and co-actor Manoj Bajpai.

Neil Nitin says he was initially apprehensive about doing the scene because he thought it might cause embarrassment to his parents. "It is the role my parents would be proud of," he says.

"The film follows a strict chronological order from first to the last scene to enable the audience to understand the emotional quotient of the character. I had to go through a method acting approach and lived almost like an inmate to feel the kind of psychological changes that a prisoner undergoes inside the four walls of a jail," says the 26-year-old actor.

For the grandson of the legendary singer Mukesh, "This is the most difficult role" of his career.
The film 'Jail' revolves around Parag Dixit (Neil Nitin Mukesh), who has everything in life - a good job, a pretty girlfriend and a beautiful house.

Parag's world turns upside-down when he finds himself inside the four walls of a prison due to a series of unfortunate events around him. The film, which also stars Manoj Bajpai and Mugdha Godse, is set for release on November 6.

While adding that the USP of the film is its director, he says, "I was always keen to know what actually happens inside jail. Only through this film I came to know that the world of jail is totally different from what we perceive."

Neil made his debut in films with the 2007 crime thriller 'Johnny Gaddaar' in which he was cast in a negative role. Though the movie did not do well at the box-office, his acting was appreciated. Again, he got rave reviews for his role in 'New York', a film on terrorism.

"You feel like a caged bird. Jail is actually a place where criminals are sent to improve and come up as better citizens. However, while shooting for jail, I learnt that sometimes when a person tries to improve upon, he is set back by the environment of the jail and hence, what was meant to be imprisonment for betterment becomes a bad nightmare," says the actor.

Neil also had to lose weight to fit into the role. "The director asked me to lose the extra kilos to not look like a rich brat but a simple, common man of the street. I really had a hard time doing this film," he says.
Neil's upcoming projects include films with Pradeep Sarkar and Abbas-Mustan while his 'Tera Kya Hoga Johnny' is also in the pipeline.

New York is the first film to get special bonus

One can recall the producers going on a two month strike to meet their demands few weeks back. Now after the strike has got over with their demands met, Yash Raj Film’s latest hit New York is the first film to get the benefit under the new terms that were agreed on between producer and distributors and the six national multiplex chains.
Our trade source elaborates, “Since the John Abraham, Katrina Kaif, Neil Nitin Mukesh starrer New York has emerged as a hit, it will get a 2.5 percent revenue bonus in its first and second week as it has crossed the threshold level of 17.50 crore from the six national multiplex chains. It is learnt that the distributor shares of New York including the bonus are 14.50 crore in week one and 4.50 crore in week two giving it a 19 crore share in two weeks.”
The source further adds, “It is not just New York but even Akshay Kumar-Kareena Kapoor starrer Kambakkht Ishq will enjoy the bonus benefits as well. Kambakkht Ishq too has crossed the Rs. 17.50 crore thresholds from the national multiplex chains.”

Neil won’t do anything for money

Three film old Neil Nitin Mukesh is fast establishing himself as a very loyal person within the industry circles. While many actors would drop their earlier commitments after their films become a hit, Neil is still fulfilling the films that he had signed on before New York became a hit.

It is a rare occurrence in cutthroat Bollywood, although producers are lining up at his door with bigger, better projects after his last film’s success. However, Neil isn’t budging. “He has really set an example for other young stars to follow. Celebrities are always on the lookout for newer and better offers, but Neil seems to be doing just the opposite. He doesn’t want to put his producers in jeopardy by taking up new films. It is said that he has been offered lucrative sums of money but it has not lured the actor,” says an industry insider.

“It’s true, Neil has been getting many offers after the release of New York but he would much rather fulfil his earlier commitments than move on to a new one,” his manager states.