Neil Nitin Mukesh says he is overlooked for roles because of his skin colour: ‘Saif Ali Khan, Hrithik Roshan can get opportunities easily but…’

Neil Nitin Mukesh recently pointed out how actors like Saif Ali Khan and Hrithik Roshan have been cast in roles requiring brownfacing and have been widely accepted.

By: Entertainment Desk

Kochi | Updated: March 5, 2025 07:27 PM IST

3 min read

Neil Nitin Mukesh recently pointed out how actors like Saif Ali Khan and Hrithik Roshan have been cast in roles requiring brownfacing and have been widely accepted.

Neil Nitin Mukesh recently revealed that he has often been overlooked and sidelined because of his appearance. (Credit: IMDb, Facebook/@NeilNMukesh, @Super30Film)

Although Neil Nitin Mukesh had a relatively smooth entry into the film industry, being the grandson of legendary playback singer Mukesh and the son of renowned vocalist Nitin Mukesh, his journey in Bollywood has been far from easy. Despite making an enviable debut, playing the lead role in director Sriram Raghavan’s cult classic Johnny Gaddaar (2007), his career has been anything but steady, with him being almost invisible in the industry over the past few years. In a recent interview, Neil implied that people don’t cast him in roles because of his skin colour. He said that when actors like Hrithik Roshan and Saif Ali Khan can be cast in roles where their skin colour has been darkened, he too deserves an opportunity.

Opening up about his career, Neil recently revealed that he has often been overlooked and sidelined because of his appearance. “I agree that in a country with a population of about 140 crore, I am unique. But that doesn’t mean I don’t fit the perspective of a common man. And the problem isn’t that I’m not trying,” he said during an appearance on Hindi Rush. He brought up films like Johnny Gaddaar and Jail and said in these films, he played a common man.

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Neil also pointed out how actors like Saif Ali Khan and Hrithik Roshan have been cast in roles requiring brownfacing and have been widely accepted. “Today, we can make white skin look dark, right? Technology and makeup have advanced so much that we can completely transform an actor’s face. So, give some attention to acting as well. If you believe I can act, give me an opportunity.”

Sharing that he played a common banker in his recent film Hisaab Barabar, Neil reiterated that he sees himself as a commoner. He also shared that he recently wrapped up a film set in Lucknow and questioned why it was so difficult for people to picture him in such roles. “Even if the role is of a gangster or someone else, won’t I fit that mould? Saif Ali Khan saab could do Langda Tyagi in Omkara, right? Hrithik Roshan saab broke himself free from the ‘Greek God’ mould and did Super 30, right? They can get opportunities off the ground, but here, I have to keep trying,” he added.

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