Shape Shifter

With several awards under his belt and an ever-growing list of films, multi-award winning actor, musician, director and now producer Neil Nitin Mukesh certainly knows a thing or two about keeping trim.

By Chitman Kanwar Ahuja · Oct 2019 · 8 min read

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Neil Nitin Mukesh embodies virtues which are fast disappearing in today’s world. Versatile in professional approach, he focuses on pushing limits and raising the bar at every feat that he uncovers. Our Bollywood actors have always endorsed fitness and the importance of having a fit body. While six-pack abs are synonymous with almost every actor now, there are few who still stand out of the lot and are termed the fittest of the fit. And Neil epitomises as being one of those actors who are ready to burn the midnight oil, and stay in shape taking the healthy and natural route in mind.

With a family lineage of music and melody, Neil can also be called a boy with the golden spoon. But destiny was set to make him known amongst the masses as a diligent actor, who is multifaceted with the roles that he takes up. With a busy schedule and an intense workout at the gym Neil, opened up on the reason behind turning producer, creating his own content and being the best bad guy onscreen. Edited excerpts...

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You come from a family of singers, yet you chose to be an actor. What made you bypass the melodious route towards the theatrical and commercial aspect?

I like to don one hat and add many feathers. I’m an artist and that’s the umbrella brand and all of these are just offshoots. After cinema, I guess it’s music and production that are my stress busters. Music somewhere anchors me and helps me connect with my emotional side. Becoming a producer was a long awaited dream and something I worked towards for many years. I happened to meet Madan Paliwal of Miraj Group and he was kind enough to back my vision. I think everything I do compliments the other and it just polishes that multi-faceted tag. Someday I’d like to launch my own restaurant chain because I dig quality cuisine and can cook up a storm. I’m actually a pure-bred romanticist, when I make a commitment, I endorse it a 101 per cent.

Your choice of films, right from your debut movie Johnny Gaddaar (2007), has been unconventional. Is that deliberate move?

My choice of cinema stems from a challenge. I’m pretty much the culturally rooted man and I like to try my hands at things, that I don’t do 365 days in a year. Cinema for me is an adventure where I get to create, evolve and yet have fun all along the way. Every hero is incomplete without a villain. The grey shades and negative roles attract me. Having said that, I’m open to doing all kinds of films provided I get the right team backing the project. I think I can make quite the conventional good-looking bloke in a romantic film. Sometimes playing bad pays off and in my case it clearly stands as testimony.

You have spent over a decade in the industry. How do you look back on your journey so far? What has been the biggest success and the biggest challenge?

I owe whatever I am today to my family, friends and fans. I always was sure of the direction I wanted my life to take and every year I keep revisiting my to-do list to shape up that vision. I am constantly building my empire even if it means putting smaller blocks together. I’ve never felt the need to be answerable to a multitude of people, the self-assurance needs to come from within and that happens only when you believe in your roadmap and you’re not constantly seeking approvals. There have been a lot of ups and downs, but life has to have a graph; it can’t be a straight line.

I have worked with some fine filmmakers such as, AR Murugadoss, Vishal Bharadwaj, Sriram Raghavan, Madhur Bhandarkar, Sooraj Barjatya and more. I’m grateful that I’ve sustained so far. Initially, people said, that I would probably not last too long because a singer’s grandson and son becoming an actor is a major question mark. I’m glad I’ve been able to carve a niche for myself, no matter how small it is. At least people know of my existence and I am happy and proud of that.

How did Saaho come about? What was it about the role that appealed to you?

Saaho is one of the most exciting films of my career. When I heard the script for the first time, I just knew I had to be a part of it since it felt like larger than life cinema. Today young directors like Sujeeth, Ali Abbas Zafar, Siddharth Anand, Aditya Dhar are booming and that’s why working on films like Saaho and Bypass Road is interesting because there is so much you can learn from these young minds.

When I signed the film I had a much leaner body. But the character demanded me to gain a couple of kgs and bulk up to give a mature feel to my character. Since 3 years I’ve been trying to maintain this weight so that it looks ideal on screen. As luck would have it for Bypass Road, I also needed to put on a few extra kilos and we were shooting for both the films simultaneously. Being a multi-lingual film, I had to learn Tamil. I am familiar with Telugu since I had done Kaththi with AR Murugadoss. There was a huge take back home element with Saaho as I learnt immensely. I had to constantly be at the top of my game and make my on-screen presence felt since I was being pitted against some fine actors.

What kind of a workout are you following these days, given that you have to constantly work on your body transformation for every role?

I follow a six-day workout routine along with cardio every alternate day. Sometimes, I do cardio daily, depending upon the body type I’m trying to achieve. I spend around an hour and 15 minutes every day on my workout. I concentrate on one body part, with three sets of six exercises, 15-20 repetitions per set. After which I do cardio for approximately 45 minutes to an hour. I love running, swimming, playing squash, tennis and aerobics.

The entertainment industry comprises of hectic schedules with unending working hours, how are you so dedicated to working out?

I think being fit is an indispensable ingredient for holistic wellbeing. Being in the business of the entertainment, fitness plays a more imperative role because there is a corporal representation to constantly cater to. It’s all about how you emerge on the big screen at the end of the day and being fit is an important criterion for being termed as desirable. I’m fit largely because I enjoy being fit, so 90 per cent free will and 10 per cent compulsion.

Judging by your popularity, you have a physique that is in demand. How do you work on improving it consistently?

I come from a family with the tendency to put on weight, I trained my eye on fitness as early as class eighth. I associate fitness with contentment. You should be fit so that you stay happy. Fitness is not a quest for the six-pack. Achieving six-packs is a good feat but if one has acquired it by consuming steroids then it is absolutely of no use. I prefer going the natural way.

How do you plan your diet with such rigorous workouts, also what’s your take on the superfood trend?

My day starts with a heavy breakfast with dates, 6 egg whites and a bowl of porridge. After two hours, I consume a green apple. Lunch usually comprises of boiled vegetables or a bowl of vegetable broth without salt and steamed fish followed by my protein bar. I start loading myself with some carbohydrates like sweet potato, bananas because I work out from five in the evening. Post workout, I have a good protein shake that comprises 40grams of proteins. For dinner, I have lots of steamed fish and boiled vegetables. So, when I’m doing heavy training, a combination of low fat and high protein diet is what works for me. Nimbupani works for me, whenever I feel low.

Coming to your personal life, how has fatherhood been treating you?. How has the experience changed you as a person? Have your priorities and outlook towards life and career changed?

Fatherhood is the most beautiful life changing feeling after marriage. I’m completely in love with my life all over again and I’m reliving my childhood. It’s a mixed bag of feelings. I was a hands-on brother, son, uncle and now father. Rukmini was quite shocked that I could look after a baby so well. I think I have become more responsible now since I know I need to create a legacy for Nurvi, something that she can take forward and be proud of.

Have you thought of exploring the digital platform, which is the in-thing right now?

Yes I have been receiving a lot of offers but I will give it some time till I get offered a role that excites me enough. But in the interim I’d like to produce content for digital platforms as I believe that’s where the audience is today.

Tell us something about your upcoming projects.

I just wrapped up Saaho and now I have my first home production Bypass Road releasing on 1st November 2019.

How was your experience of shooting with FHM India?

It was an amazing experience, they made me feel extremely comfortable and at home. It is such a loving and welcoming team, and every department has worked very hard for this shoot. It is definitely a memorable experience.v

What’s the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear…

Junk Food: Tempting
Traffic: Mumbai
Fame: Humbleness
Melody: Family Lineage
Elegance: Confidence
Pride: Self-esteem
The Next Big Thing: Me

Rapid Fire

Your first celebrity crush? Divya Bharti
What’s one fitness or health myth that people should avoid? That cardio is the best form of working out. I think it should be mixed with strength training and a proper healthy diet.
What is your ideal non traditional form of exercise? Tyre lifting and rope climbing
What song do you listen to in the shower? Tere Dar Par Sanam
What advice would you give your 20-year-old self? Never stop dreaming and never compromise on your goals
How many calories do you target at burning on a daily basis? When I focus on gaining weight I try to not hamper the muscle mass and aim at 500 calories a day. But when I push myself to focus on burning fat, I would be working towards 1,200 calories a day.
Any phobias? Acrophobia and Tachophobia
How do you push yourself to workout and not procrastinate? For me fitness is all about inner strength, stamina and my energy levels. And I concentrate on being a fitter version of myself every day.
What title would you give to your autobiography? NNM Diaries