Here’s why Neil Nitin Mukesh thinks ‘toxic’ Bollywood enjoys someone’s failure

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Neil Nitin Mukesh has experienced both triumphs and setbacks throughout his career, which has given him insight into how public opinion can shift based on his professional ups and downs. In a candid conversation with SCREEN, the son of renowned playback singer Nitin Mukesh admitted that there are individuals in the Indian film industry who take pleasure in an artist’s hardships.

In the realm of Bollywood, I’ve observed an intriguing phenomenon: people seem to rejoice more when a movie flops rather than when it succeeds on a Friday. As I reflect on this dynamic, I can’t help but admit that it often feels like we are happier for someone else’s misfortune than their triumph.

However, when one finds oneself in such an environment, the path to progress lies in nurturing that unwavering passion and self-belief. It is these qualities that will ultimately propel us forward in our pursuit of success.

In the realm of Bollywood, I’ve personally witnessed criticism escalating to levels that can be quite toxic. It’s not uncommon, and at times, it reaches such intensity that it becomes harmful. I’ve seen this occurrence frequently in the past, and it still persists today. What’s disheartening is that often, people fail to acknowledge each other’s achievements, unless they share a very close bond.

During the same discussion, an actor based in New York expressed that there’s a lot of body shaming within the industry. He pointed out that some actors make comments like, ‘This person needs to lose weight.’ However, Neil finds it puzzling as to why they focus on people’s physical attributes rather than their acting abilities. Interestingly, despite shedding weight for his part in the forthcoming OTT dance drama, Hai Junoon, Neil faced questions about his health instead.

The actor has experienced such a profound impact that he now perceives being physically appearance-conscious as a disadvantage, as frequently he finds himself battling to persuade people not to stereotype him based on his complexion or hair color. Due to this constant judgment of his appearance, he often misses out on opportunities, feeling he would have excelled in the roles if given the chance.

Neil Nitin Mukesh pointed out that modern Bollywood stars like Shah Rukh Khan, Hrithik Roshan, and Saif Ali Khan often transform themselves for their roles. For instance, SRK has taken on various characters, while Hrithik darkened his appearance for Super 30, and Saif played a character with a speech impediment in Omkara. He concluded by suggesting that physical appearance can sometimes be a challenge or limitation.

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2025-05-12 00:07