He entered the industry as Johnny…That's Johnny Gaddaar on celluloid and Neil Nitin Mukesh to the world. His unconventional debut was one that was unexpected and in many ways illogical. Avoiding clichés associated with debut films, his role as the greedy traitor in Johnny Gaddaar fetched him critical acclaim and numerous awards in the debut category. Grandson to the legend singer Mukesh and son to Nitin Mukesh, his renowned lineage had certainly paved a great way to a prospective musical career but instead of the "Sa Re Ga Ma Pa," Neil preferred to hear the rhythm of "lights, camera, and action." Contrary to popular belief, Neil's first movie was not Johnny Gaddaar. As a child artist, he appeared in Vijay as the young Rishi Kapoor. At the end of the week, Neil's second film of his career will be hitting the big screens, Aa Dekhen Zara. With expectations running high from the light-eyed hero, Neil gives BollySpice the lowdown on working with sexy Bipasha, his magical camera and being crowned the "Thriller King."

We haven't seen you after Johnny Gaddaar, what have you been up to?

I've been running around shooting actually for the last couple of months. I was out of the country for eight months last year. I was stationed in New York for three and a half months shooting for New York. I was in Bangkok for almost 50 days, and then I was in London for a month. Just been totally constantly around completing the films I had taken up, busy shooting Aa Dekhen Zara, New York, Jail and Tera Kya Hoga Johnny. So, this year you'll see a little bit more of me than you were expecting.

That's always good! Were you surprised with the warm welcome the Hindi fraternity gave you?

I think it was very humbling experience. Not a lot of people know this but Johnny Gaddaar was stuck for almost a year and a half, when it was under production. At that time, Sriram Raghavan, the entire group and my fear was that we should not let this film go, let's hope that it releases. I just wanted it to see the light of day and that is what happened. Luckily, people loved the film and our belief in the film came true. Even now people remember the film and I think that's the reason why I could have sustained this one year gap, because the film was so strong and people haven't really forgotten who this new boy was.

Why did you choose such an unconventional movie to debut?

Honestly speaking, not many people related to me as an actor. Everyone thought that because I was Mukesh's grandson and Nitin Mukesh's son, I would get into singing. When I used to tell them that I wanted to act, there used to be a big question mark on their face. So I just wanted that question mark to disappear and replace it with a tick mark instead. So I needed a character that was strong enough at least for me to prove that I can act, and what better character than Johnny in Johnny Gaddaar. And what better director than Sriram Raghavan to be the captain of the ship at that time. So it was a great experience working on the film, and I'm glad that people today have accepted me as an actor and think of me as a decent actor.

Let's talk about Aa Dekhen Zara. What is the movie about and what is your character like?

In Aa Dekhen Zara, I play a character called Ray Acharya. He is a nature photographer but he is going no where in life. He inherits this camera that has certain special powers, but like I say in the film, "Gone are the days where superheroes save the world; here comes the Acharya!" Here comes a guy who is a little more selfish, and he thinks he can use the camera for his own benefit and solve all his problems not realizing that he is creating much bigger problems for himself. And that is where the thrill of the film begins, and by the time he realizes that there is a dark side lurking behind him, it's a little late. And then how he needs to get out of it. It's a romantic musical thriller.

Yes! The music is great. You've debuted as a singer with the title track which is making waves, how was that experience?

Frankly speaking, I was really really really scared because it's sung by a man whose biggest fan is talking to you right now. I'm a huge Kishore Kumar fan! It's not easy to recreate one of his songs; it's next to impossible. You can never match up to the performance of singing like some of our legendary singers, Mukesh Da, Kishore Da, Mohammed Rafi Sahib, Lata Mangeshkarji, Asha Bhosleji have sang. This was pure intention of a fan dedicating a song to his guru and this was a tribute from me to Kishore Da, my grandfather and R.D. Burman Sahib. I was just like a child excited to do this; it's like son trying to sing his fathers song. I think my dad was more nervous about me singing in the film.

Which brings me to my next question, what did your father think of your singing?

See, I'm not professionally trained as much as my father and my grandfather are. But I am musically inclined. I do play the piano and compose music. So, it's not like I don't understand music at all, which meant it wasn't a space that I entered which I was totally unaware of. So, I was confident to say that okay, if it's done well, we will be able to pull it off. And obviously, dad was there. He was the first person to hear the song after it was done and I took his approval. When he gave me the approval was when I said, okay, let's go ahead.

Do you think you would have been a singer if you weren't an actor?

No, I really don't think I would have been a singer if I wasn't at actor. I would definitely be associated with filmmaking, whether it was direction, editing, sound. But I'm not too sure about singing but it deserves a certain discipline which my father and my grandfather have, which I honestly don't have. It needs a lot of riyaz (practice) and a lot of passion.

Your favorite track from the album?

There are two actually. My favorites are the lounge version of 'Aa Dekhen Zara' and 'Gazab'.

'Gazab' is my favorite too. How was it working with Jehangir Surti? This is his debut film as a director.

Jehangir is a great guy. He's a great human being to start with. And I think that is the most important thing, that there are no back intentions or motives behind any of his work. He is very clear in his thought process. He is very intelligent. The reason why I opted to do a film like this is because the concept is larger than life, but the surroundings of the film are so real and so identifiable. You can totally identify with the character. He has set the character pace so well that you can relate to him from the first scene Ray Acharya and Simi Chatterjee. And then the journey that is shown is something that is relatable. And its not at all in that gimmicky zone, though this camera has this element of showing the future, its not getting into that whole gimmick area of being tacky in that sense. It's very well executed and since it's the story of a guy who says, "Gone are the days of the superheroes," like I said, so it's very interesting to see the selfishness coming out in Ray Acharya.

And Bipasha?

Bipasha is a great person. She's a great friend, great co-star. And I think because we are such good friends off screen, our on screen chemistry comes naturally. She's a person I've learnt a lot from actually.

Could you tell at any point that this was his first film?

At points when he was a little nervous. (Laughs) But I think that nervousness came only during the action scenes because obviously there were extensive action sequences of me jumping off bridges, jumping off nine floors and taking lots of risks. So that was the only point where I thought he's a little scared. But I think that's human nature; to be scared for someone you really care for. That made me confident of him as a friend and as my boss on set, at least he cares! And that is what drove me to do Aa Dekhen Zara with greater passion.

You're pretty much an all rounder: acting, singing, dancing and stunts too. Why is it we see you in the thriller genre most of the time? Can we crown you as the thriller king? Johnny Gaddaar, Aa Dekhen Zara and New York is also being called a thriller. Intentional career moves?

It's something that I've always been excited with actually. I personally believe that films are meant to be fictitious. They are meant to be larger than life and this takes me to a creative space where I can show people a movie which they won't be able to say, "Yeah, yeah, it's happened to us." But at the same time, they shouldn't say, "What the hell is this all about?" So, I did a film called Johnny Gaddaar in which I'm killing five people and then in Aa Dekhen Zara in which I'm not killing five people, followed by New York which is totally characterized with so many layers. I think that's so attractive, when you portray a character with so many layers because you get so much more to do as an actor in a film. It is so much more of a challenge to portray a character with so much of belief in what you are trying to show the audiences. So it's really interesting.

When are we going to see you in a romantic avatar?

Very soon! I'm doing a film with Ken Ghosh which is a romantic film. And that is a simple nice love story.

You've been acting with mostly with senior actresses; Rimi Sen in Johnny Gaddaar, Bipasha Basu in Aa Dekhem Zara and soon Katrina Kaif in New York. Any chance we'll see you with some of the newer actresses?

Yeah, if the script demands it, the story demands it, if my director demands it, then yeah! (Laughs)

You've come a long way from Assistant Director in Mujhse Dosti Karoge to Johnny Gaddaar and now Aa Dekhen Zara. How has the journey been?

The journey has been great. It's been intense but it's a learning process that is never-ending. It's something that you can never say that I've learnt in my past. It's an experience that is more than larger than life because I think film making is such a process that has the only liberty to capture time. Today when I sit back and I say that I wish I could go back to my school days, I can't really do that because I don't have too many memories captured. But filmmaking is something that captures your every movement and every experience. And wow! What an experience that has been. Ten years down the line when I want to show my kids that I jumped off nine floors, and if they don't believe me, well, here you go. Watch my film!

The current newbie's, including Ranbir Kapoor, Imran Khan and yourself are mighty confident and there seems to be no competitiveness, do you think that will last for long?

We are all very good friends. I think "competition" is a word we create and subconsciously adds a little discomfort in a working relationship. Personally, I feel that we all have created a name for ourselves and carving a niche for ourselves. And we've all been accepted as actors, the fraternity is too big, the family is too big and there is a lot of work for everyone. I think we are all working very passionately for something we all believe in. So I don't think competition is the right word, it just creates a misunderstanding in peoples heads. That is where you lose out on the creative side of being an actor, when you become self-indulgent.

Do you feel the recession will have an affect on your Aa Dekhen Zara? I hope not.

I hope not too. But I think with all the stress, people do need some time off, and they need entertainment. So I don't think entertainment will be hit by recession because I think people definitely need a break, and a breather. Also considering that exams are getting over, families would want to spend time with each other. So, let's hope not. Let's pray that people go to the cinemas and like what they see.

What's in your kitty after Aa Dekhen Zara?

New York is releasing after Aa Dekhem Zara. And then of course Jail after that.

Last question, any message for your fans?

Please go watch this under two hours, romantic thriller. Enjoy it! Be safe and don't do anything stupid to jeopardize your life!

There you have it! Neil Nitin Mukesh at his candid best. If you're a solid Neil Nitin Mukesh fan, there is a lot more of him to see this coming year. BollySpice wishes him a successful year ahead filled with hits and accolades galore. Check out Aa Dekhen Zara this Friday, March 27th at cinema near you!