Neil Nitin to play Mukesh, his grandfather and legendary musician, in biopic
After years of anticipation, actor-producer Neil Nitin Mukesh has officially confirmed plans to bring the life of his legendary grandfather, playback icon Mukesh Chand Mathur, to the big screen. In an interview with News18, the 38-year-old actor revealed that he's been quietly developing the project for the past two years. He said he has been handling everything from scripting to research.advertisementThe actor shared, 'My team, and I've been writing for quite some time. Not many know that I'm a professional writer and have a production house too."Neil, who owns a production house and also contributed to the script, said he has done extensive research for the film. He has been going through family archives - old photos, recordings, and personal items. He also mentioned that he would sometimes sit with his father, Nitin Mukesh, to hear untold stories about his grandfather. The biopic will trace his grandfather's inspiring journey from being the son of a railway clerk to becoming one of Bollywood's most beloved singers.'It's a story I've been eager to tell ever since I was a child,' said Neil, who was just five years old when Mukesh passed away in 1976. "There's a full exercise in place - every time I sit down with my father, I listen to anecdotes about my grandfather from him, go through the archives of whatever we've of him like his memorabilia and photographs," he added.advertisement
'We have got a great bank of content and material ready. His life has been so beautiful. There's a lovely arc in his story. His journey is so inspiring that people need to see it," he explained.Unsurprisingly, Neil hopes to play Mukesh himself. 'I don't think there can be a better Mukesh than me. Neil Nitin Mukesh is Mukesh. I know him better than anyone else. Dad also wants me to play my grandfather for emotional reasons," said Neil.'The business of cinema is very different. As actors, we look for opportunities, but we're given them basis of what others perceive of us. Your draw to the box office is important," he added.With a script in hand and potential collaborators on board, Neil and his team are now looking for producers and financiers.Neil Nitin Mukesh is currently starring in 'Hai Junoon! Dream. Dare. Dominate', a musical drama series directed by Abhishek Sharma, alongside Jacqueline Fernandez. Produced by Jio Creative Lab, the show premiered on JioHotstar on 16 May 2025.Must Watch
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