Showing posts with label Nitin Mukesh. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nitin Mukesh. Show all posts
Mukesh - The voice that made heartbreak sing, 50 years on
10:37 AM
Renowned playback singer Mukesh died on this day in 1976, hours before a Detroit concert. Half a century later, his son Nitin recalls the haunting final days of a voice that continues to comfort millions
Avijit Ghosh (THE TIMES OF INDIA; August 27, 2026)
For anyone nursing a heartbreak, his voice fell like gentle rain on parched earth. With every note rendered, the heart seemed to heal to its touch.
Even now, exactly 50 years after his passing on August 27, 1976, Mukesh, the master of melancholy, continues to comfort millions on aching afternoons and vagabond nights.
The Delhi-born singer passed away following a fifth heart attack, shortly before a sold-out musical show with the peerless Lata Mangeshkar in faraway Detroit. The two singers, who shared a close bond, were on a series of shows across cities in the US and Canada.
The Delhi-born singer passed away following a fifth heart attack, shortly before a sold-out musical show with the peerless Lata Mangeshkar in faraway Detroit. The two singers, who shared a close bond, were on a series of shows across cities in the US and Canada.
Last days, final moments
Mukesh’s son, Nitin Mukesh, who was with him in his room at Hotel Pontchartrain during the fatal heart attack, remembers that three days earlier, his father had asked Lata in Montreal if Nitin could sing a few songs at the show.
“I don’t know why he said that. He had never done that before,” says Nitin, who would go on to become a popular playback singer in his own right.
Introduced by Lata to the audience, Nitin sang the chartbuster Kabhi Kabhie Mere Dil Mein. Mukesh played the harmonium. After the show, Nitin received accolades from the audience.
But when he asked his father about his performance, Mukesh simply said, “Bahut achha tha (it was very good), but there is room for improvement.”
“He didn’t praise me to the skies,” Nitin says. “But my mother told me later that he called her and said, ‘Tumhare bete ne to apne baap ko bhi peeche chhod diya (Your son has left his father far behind)’.” The next day, Nitin again crooned a few songs, this time in Toronto. The father-son duo sang Jaane Kahan Gaye Woh Din from Mera Naam Joker as a duet.
Nitin got to sing a lesser-heard stanza: “Is dil ke ashiyaan mein bas unke khayal reh gaye / Tod ke dil woh chal diye, hum phir akele reh gaye.” The words turned out to be strangely prophetic. “It’s been 50 years since I sang those lines, but they still haunt me,” Nitin says.
That was to be the last time Mukesh sang on stage. They took the train to Detroit on August 26, a day before the scheduled show. Father and son shared a room at the hotel. On August 27, the fateful day, Nitin stepped out for lunch.
“When I returned, I saw him peacefully asleep. I let him be and dozed off,” he says. Nitin remembers being woken up by his father, who teased him: “Aaj mera gala ekdum theek hai, aaj tujhe nahi gaane doonga (My voice feels perfect today, so I won’t let you sing at all).”
Mukesh then stepped into the shower. “Suddenly, I had an awful vision. I did something which I had never done before. I knocked on the door and said, ‘Papa’. He was almost irritable. ‘Kya hai? I am getting ready.’”
Nitin started feeling more relaxed. But when Mukesh took more time, he called him a second time — only to get a similar response.
A couple of minutes later, the door opened and Mukesh emerged, panting. He took a cushion and sat on the chair. “I instantly sensed something was wrong, and started patting his back gently. He said, ‘Don’t touch me, I am feeling uncomfortable.’ He was also sweating.”
Nitin called Lata and the hotel reception. The paramedics arrived within minutes, but before them came Lata with her ‘bhabhi’. She applied a tika on Mukesh’s forehead. “Lata didi was scared and aghast,” says Nitin.
“My father scolded me, ‘Why did you have to call her, main theek ho jaoonga (I’ll be alright),’ he said.” Before the paramedics put him on a wheelchair and took him down to the ambulance, Mukesh asked for the Ramayan, which he read and recited every day. “In the ambulance, he was calling out to his own mother,” says Nitin.
The ambulance reached Detroit General Hospital in about 10 minutes. Nitin was relieved to see an Indian doctor among the medical staff. “I knew that at least one of the doctors would know who he was treating,” he says. Mukesh was wheeled into emergency. The Ramayan was returned. That was the last Nitin saw him alive.
Mukesh was only 53. Sadly, two other singing greats — Mohammed Rafi and Kishore Kumar — also died in their 50s.
The importance of no. 9
Nitin says the number nine held a special significance in Mukesh’s life. Nitin Mukesh was born on July 27 — the numerals adding up to nine. When his father travelled to Kenya and Mauritius for shows in 1963, he chose June 27 as the travel date. In 1976, they left for the US-Canada tour on July 27. In Detroit, after Mukesh saw that the hotel room number was 2007, he said: “Sabse achha show hoga (It’ll be the best show).” The Detroit performance would have been the ninth show of the tour. Ironically, Mukesh also passed away on August 27.
The Ramayan album
Mukesh’s seven-album magnum opus, Tulsi Ramayan, remains an evergreen classic. One of the albums, Sundarkand, has 6.6 million plays on YouTube, along with more than 3,500 emotional comments.
Old-timers recall how the devotional tracks would play in temples near their homes, becoming a part of their daily lives.
Many singers have since recorded the Ramayan, but Mukesh was “the pioneer”, Nitin points out. “So many people come and talk to me about the Ramayan. And, till date, the album fetches royalty,” he says.
Mukesh’s rendition of the epic is rich, resonant and filled with a devoutness that comes from deeply feeling the words. The seven albums were recorded over seven to eight years, during which the singer survived four heart attacks. The album’s composer and Mukesh’s friend, Murli Manohar Swaroop, once reassured Nitin after his father’s fourth attack:
“Chinta mat kar, Nitin, papa ko kuchh nahi honewala hai. Ramayan baaki hai, bhai (Don’t worry, Nitin, nothing will happen to your dad. The Ramayan is still left).”
The recording of the final Ramayan album was completed just a few days before Mukesh and Nitin flew out for the tour. “When he came back home that night, he sobbed like a child and said, ‘My mission is complete’.”
A special duet with Salil Da
Many of Mukesh’s signature tracks were recorded with Shankar-Jaikishan. But several of his unforgettable numbers, including the song for which he received the National Award, Kai Baar Yun Bhi Dekha Hai from Rajnigandha, were composed by Salil Chowdhury.
“So many male singers sang for him. But he handpicked the songs that he gave Papa. They sat and sang together, ate and drank together,” says Nitin.
Nitin also recalls that Salil da ruffled feathers when he gave the Anand song Kahin Door Jab Din Dhal Jaaye to Mukesh.
The original Bengali version, Aamaye Proshno Kore Neel Dhrubotaara, had been sung by Hemant Kumar. “But he insisted that Mukesh would sing the number,” Nitin says.
He also remembers the forgotten Kaise Manaoon Piyawa from the 1961 film Chaar Diwari — a song that “perished like an unseen desert flower” when it was first released. “But in America, the audience still asks for that song.”
Salil Chowdhury’s tunes for Madhumati and Anand were chartbusters. But Nitin points to two other Salil classics sung by Mukesh — Zindagi Khwab Hai from Jagte Raho and Nain Hamare from Annadata. “They are perennial favourites,” he says.
A great match
Leg-spinner B S Chandrashekhar, who fashioned a bunch of unforgettable Test victories for India in the 1970s, was perhaps Mukesh’s greatest fan.
Journalist Raju Bharatan once wrote in the Weekly that the ace spinner possessed more than 100 records of K L Saigal and over 300 albums of Mukesh.
Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has recalled how Chandra would be fired up by a Mukesh song playing on a transistor radio in the stands.
When Ajit Wadekar’s team returned after winning India’s first Test series in England in 1971, Chandrashekhar was the toast of the nation. His leg-breaks and googlies had produced a dream spell of 6/38 and destroyed England at The Oval. Mukesh was in hospital at the time, having suffered his second heart attack. Chandra drove straight from the airport to meet his idol.
“He was India’s man of the moment. But he came to the hospital to meet Papa. My father was also thrilled and humbled. The doctors took care to ensure that he wasn’t too excited. Both were in tears,” recalls Nitin. “Chandra could hardly speak Hindi. But he knew every Mukesh song.”
Over the years, the singer and the cricketer developed a strong mutual admiration society. Every time Chandra was in Bombay, he would visit Mukesh at his residence. “On different occasions, he brought Gavaskar, Vishwanath, and Syed Kirmani home,” Nitin says.
In 1973, against Tony Lewis’s visiting team, Chandrashekhar scalped a record 35 wickets at Bombay’s Brabourne Stadium. “Chandra signed and gifted the record-breaking ball and a bat signed by the Indian cricket team to my younger brother, Mohnish,” he recalls.
Chandra was in Bangalore when Mukesh passed away. The story goes that the flights were fully booked and Chandra barely managed to get himself onboard. “He was heartbroken, absolutely uncontrollable,” says Nitin. Chandra later named his son Nitin as a mark of respect to the singer.
The voice that never left
Mukesh may have been gone for five decades, but the emotional intimacy of his voice has never really faded.
His songs continue to find listeners in moments of loneliness, nostalgia and heartbreak. His Ramayan continues to play in homes and temples. And the memories of the man behind that unmistakable voice continue to live on through those who knew him.
The singer is long gone. The songs endure.
Shreya Ghoshal’s tribute to Lata Mangeshkar moves Mumbai
9:55 AM
Debarati S Sen (BOMBAY TIMES; March 9, 2026)
Paying tribute to a legendary singer with an 80-year career spanning nearly 45,000 songs is no easy task. Yet, that is precisely what Shreya Ghoshal achieved at her concert Letters To Lata Didi held at Jio World Garden on Saturday night. The evening was unlike the typical large-scale concert spectacle. There were no confetti bursts, fireworks or pyrotechnics; only pure music, delivered straight from the heart. With no costume changes and no breaks, she sang non-stop through more than 50 songs, each unfolding like a musical letter to the timeless legacy of Lata Mangeshkar, whose voice defined generations of Indian cinema and music.
“Aaj ki yeh shaam mere liye sabse khaas hai”
She opened with a traditional Ganesh vandana, followed by the classic Aayega Aanewala. Setting the emotional tone for the evening, Ghoshal addressed the audience
“Aaj ki yeh shaam mere liye sabse khaas, most important, sentimental and emotionally close to my heart evening hai. And main shayad kitni bhi tayaari kar loon, aaj ke din ki tayaari poori nahi hai. I think you will sense my vulnerability my emotion today. We are all here celebrating the legacy of Maa Saraswati, hamari pyari Lata Didi. This tribute is from all of us fans, from me and the musicians and isko sametne ke liye humne yeh ek zariya apnaya hai. Didi ko hum itna upar rakhte hain, unka jo sthan bhagwanon ke jagah hai. Hum sab fans ke taraf se hai yeh show and iss legacy ko celebrate karne ke liye aap sab saath mein gaiyega zaroor. I am sure Didi is smiling upon us from the heavens.”
Memories, music and ‘letters’
The evening’s narrative unfolded through music interspersed with audio-visual segments featuring messages and memories from people who knew and worked closely with Lata Mangeshkar. Tributes from Nitin Mukesh, Anandji Shah (Kalyanji-Anandji), Prasoon Joshi, Sachin Tendulkar and Prakash Peters added a deeply personal dimension to the concert. Shreya also shared memories of how Lata Mangeshkar’s voice shaped her own musical journey since childhood.
“Uss choti si ladki ko zara bhi andaza nahi tha ke yehi woh awaaz hai jo uska haath thaamkar usse uske aane wale kal ki oor le jayegi. I was too young but Lata Ji ke awaaz ne mujhe iss tarah khincha ki maine music se pyaar karna shuru kar diya. We formed a spiritual bond, that’s the asar of her voice. Karodo Bharatiyon ki tarah maine unhe sunne se zyada mehsoos kiya. Aur inn jazbaaton ko hum sabne jiya hai, lekin shayad unhe poori tarah jata nahi sakein. Toh aaj ki yeh shaam unhi unkahi baaton ko inn khaton ke zariye aapko samarpit karte hain.”
The first meeting with Lata Didi
The singer also recalled her first meeting with Lata Mangeshkar in 2005. “I was recording in her studio and she came there. I ran down to meet her and when she saw me, unhone mujhse kaha, ‘Tum Shreya ho na?’ Main unhe kuch bhi nahi bol payi. I was so stunned, meri bolti bandh ho gayi. Uss din main unse mil nahi rahi thi, mujhe uss din Lata Didi ke darshan ho gaye the. Uss waqt kuch nahi sujha, main thank you bhi nahi bol payi. Aaj mujhe Didi ko thank you bolna hai, for the soul, music you were for me.”
Choosing from a legendary repertoire
Selecting songs from Lata Mangeshkar’s vast repertoire proved to be one of the biggest challenges confessed Shreya. “Today, we are trying to cover all the eras of Lata Didi’s blockbusters,” she said.
“There are songs with so many composers including S D Burman, Laxmikant-Pyarelal, Kalyanji-Anandji and so many hit duets with the likes of Mohamad Rafi, Kishore Kumar. She worked with Laxmikant-Pyarelal for around 35 years and sang around 700 songs with just them. There are so many eras of her songs, her repertoire is simply massive. Ek se ek behtareen gaane hain unke. Main kya chunu? Finally, we just had to pick chits of which ones to sing!”
Introducing the song Aa Jaan-E-Jaan, she noted with a smile, “This was probably the only cabaret that Lata Didi ever sang. If you listen to this song you will realize that even in a cabaret there can be so much divinity, spirituality and itna apnapan and pyaar, even though it is a seduction song.” The evening featured several Lata Mangeshkar duets performed with singers Javed Ali and Kinjal Chatterjee.
A feminist inspiration
Speaking on the eve of International Women’s Day, Shreya highlighted Lata Mangeshkar’s enduring influence beyond music. “Lata Didi has always inspired us. Woh sabse badi feminist hain and tomorrow we are celebrating Women's Day. She has inspired us not just as a musician but also as a human being, living by her own terms. She gave us a sense of purpose. Aisi kitni auratein thi 40s, 50s and 60s ke daur mein jinhone kitna kuch iconic kiya.”
Music in its purest form
More than 40 musicians performed live on stage, including the UAE Philharmonic Orchestra and a choir, recreating the grand orchestral feel of the golden era of film music. Praising the ensemble, Ghoshal said, “Aaj lag raha jaise Lata Didi ke recording studio mein sab kuch live hota tha, waise hi hum conductor ke haath pe tike hue hain. I feel all this energy is very much missing in today’s film music.”
Among the distinguished guests present were members of the Mangeshkar family, Nitin Mukesh, Anandji Shah and Shantaben, Sonu Nigam, Prasoon Joshi, Kumarmangalam Birla, Dr Neerja Birla, Virender Sehwag and Anjali Tendulkar.
After the concert, Usha Mangeshkar was invited on stage and blessed the singer. “Aaj mere samne sirf Didi dikh rahi hai aur uski awaaz aa rahi hai mere kaon mein. Bachpan se main Didi ke saath recordings mein jaati thi, aakhri gaane tak. Ek ek cheez yaad aa raha hai. Bahut accha gaya Shreya. Bhagwan aapko hamesha Didi ka ashirwad zaroor denge!”
A standing ovation for the finale
As the evening drew to a close, Ghoshal performed songs such as Lukka Chuppi, Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon, Naam Gum Jayega and Rahein Na Rahein Hum.
For the final song — which she described as “a hug from all of us to Lata Didi” — the audience switched on their phone flashlights as she sang the immortal Lag Jaa Gale. Overcome with emotion, Ghoshal teared up on stage as the crowd rose to its feet in a standing ovation.
We tend to glorify our struggles-Neil Nitin Mukesh
3:57 PM
Vinay MR Mishra (BOMBAY TIMES; February 21, 2025)
Eighteen years ago, Neil Nitin Mukesh debuted as an actor with Johnny Gaddaar. Ask him about the challenges he faced in getting a foot in the door, and he says, “It is ironic that you ask about my struggle from eighteen years ago because the struggle still continues. I am still struggling.” Excerpts from a conversation.
‘TODAY, THE BENCHMARK IS TIGER SHROFF; HOW DO YOU SURVIVE?’
Talking about his struggle, Neil confesses, “We tend to glorify our struggles. My grandfather had his struggle, my father had his struggle, and maybe I’ve just inherited that struggle.”
‘We are in an era where social media has just taken over’
Neil, who recently donned the producer’s hat, is baffled by the social media game. “We are in an era where social media has just taken over. I have been told by producers and filmmakers to up my social media game a little bit because they need actors who have ‘numbers’. When I asked them about the other options they were looking at, I was told that they were people who weren’t even actors. Are you ready to take that risk? You’re demoralizing an actor who’s worked so hard for so many years,” he says.
‘I’ve been told to up my social media game as makers need actors who have the numbers’
Neil, who will be seen in the Telugu film MaayaOne, and is also making his digital debut with GOAT, adds, “There is no dearth of actors. Someone or the other is being launched every week, and they are all brilliant. They are all trained. I come from an era where I’ve seen slightly overweight actors also remain superstars for decades. Now, you need to not only have a body, but you should also be able to dance, do backflips and more. Today, the benchmark is Tiger Shroff (in terms of physicality and fitness). So, in that space, how do you survive?”
‘I don’t feel shy about calling people for work’
Neil admits that he has no reservations about calling filmmakers for work. He shares, “I don’t feel shy about going up to someone whether it’s a casting director, producer or an actor who I know personally and ask, ‘Sir, I’m looking for work. Could you help me?’ Everyone gets so busy setting up their work or being in their comfort zone that sometimes they forget you exist or that they might have worked with you in the past. It is important for me to reach out to them and remind them of my existence.”
‘I DO FEEL THAT I HAVEN’T GOTTEN MY DUE’
Eighteen years and over 20 films later, after working with many National Award-winning filmmakers, does Neil think that he has not gotten his due as an actor?
The Saaho actor replies, “Of course, when you still have to pick up a call and relive every moment of yours from 18 years and put it out there to remind someone what work you have done up until now, you feel that you haven’t got your due. Sometimes, when I sit back alone in my room, I pray and think about it. I’m a very emotional human. I do feel that I have not got my due. However, now, with the kind of opportunities that are out there for actors, the way ahead looks promising.”
Neil Nitin Mukesh to have a low-key birthday bash, with friends and close relatives
8:09 AM
Shreya Mukherjee (HINDUSTAN TIMES; January 15, 2021)
Every year, his quiet birthday dinners eventually turn into a party. But this time, actor Neil Nitin Mukesh will ring in his special day with just his close relatives and friends.
“The biggest celebration this year would be of keeping good health and staying close to family,” he continues, “Some close relatives and friends might come over, but the celebration will be low key, following guidelines. Because of papa (singer Nitin Mukesh), we are not entertaining a lot of people. He’s diabetic and above 70 years of age, so we are taking precautions. In fact, work wise, papa and I haven’t picked up much, deliberately. We want to wait a little longer.”
The one who’ll make the most of his birthday, the actor says, is his daughter, Nurvi. “For her, every cake that comes to our house is her birthday. She loves blowing the candles,” he adds.
Busy with writing and pre-production of two films and a web series for his production house, Neil, who turns 39 today, says they’re eager to be back on set soon. “Both our films are thrillers. I’ve finished the final draft of one and the second draft of the other. The web series is ready,” he says, adding that he may act in one of them, while the other would have a “much bigger star”.
Talking about the offers coming his way, he says, “I’ve not received as many offers in the last two years as I did in the last eight months. But, it’s always about quality. Every day I read about a new film and I’m like, ‘Oh God, I should start soon’, but I also look at the pros and cons of associating with the right project.”
The Saaho (2019) actor goes on to say that he’s waiting for his share of “fantastic films”. “There’s no insecurity. I’m getting web offers too, but if it’s my debut, I’ll take up something worth every bite,” says Neil, who has also recorded his debut single. “Coming from a family of two generations of massive names as far as singing is concerned, I don’t want to make a mockery out of it,” he signs off.
Image: Neil Nitin Mukesh and family bring in Ganesh Chaturthi in new 8-bedroom apartment
8:26 AM
They moved into the 8-bedroom apartment 3 months ago, in the midst of the pandemic
Akash Bhatnagar (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 29, 2020)
Three months ago, in the midst of the ongoing pandemic, Neil Nitin Mukesh moved into his new home in Lower Parel, an eight-bedroom apartment his father Nitin Mukesh and he had invested in long ago. “It was a long-pending dream for the Mukesh family,” reveals the actor, adding that they got possession only last year. “Till then, I lived in Andheri while my father stayed put in our ancestral home on Nepean Sea Road. We were wondering whether to rent this one out or move in together. After five years of staying separately, we had got comfortable living on our own. But I didn’t want my parents to miss out on my daughter Nurvi’s growing-up years. So, in June, we decided we’d live together as a family again.”
The actor admits that it was difficult convincing his papa to get out of one house, sit in a car and move to another. The doctors, too, were sceptical about Nurvi and him being close, given that at not-yet-two and 70, they were the most susceptible to the Coronavirus. “To ensure that everyone was safe, we completed Nurvi’s round of vaccination, kept her isolated at home for 14 days, before moving into the new flat,” informs Neil, admitting that the shift required lots of planning as they had to inform the housing societies, stock provisions, including his father’s medication, but at the same time carry along only what was absolutely necessary. “I brought only three Tees and three boxers, a pair of jeans and a jacket for myself.”
The initial plan was to just move in for two days to bring in his father’s 70th birthday on June 27. “It’s been three months and when I told papa recently that I’ll be resuming work soon and asked when we should plan to return to our own homes, he said that he wants us to stay together till the year end,” Neil smiles, elated to see his wife Rukmini and his mother together and his father looking after Nurvi. “My daughter keeps both my parents on their toes, this feeling is absolutely priceless!”
With the family together, Ganpati celebrations are also more fun with Nurvi as the in-house pandit and an eco-friendly 18-inch idol instead of the usual five-feet one. “We have taken permission to drain the water after visarjan in our garden downstairs. The decorations are from the previous year’s celebrations, Nurvi and I put them up together. All the decorative clothes have been handstitched by my mother,” relays Neil, who has a degree in art and used it to good effect to apply henna on his wife’s hands since they couldn’t call a professional this year. “Mom liked the design so much I had to apply henna for her too.”
The actor also clears speculations around a digital debut. “That’s not happening. But I start shooting for a feature film; a thriller, by September end. I have a new look and have been given around 40 days to prep,” he signs off.
I was asked to choose between Johnny Gaddaar and Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na-Neil Nitin Mukesh
8:40 AM
As told to Akash Bhatnagar (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 19, 2020)
I’m fortunate to have got two first shots in my career. As a child, I was cast as the young Rishi Kapoor in Yash Chopra’s Vijay. I had to jump into the hotel pool during the song “Akkad Bakkad Bambe Bo” for my first turn in front of the camera. I didn’t know swimming then, but I dove in excitedly and went under. Somebody had to jump in to save me. I swallowed a lot of chlorinated water and was terrified I’d drown. So, when I was called to do the shot again, I refused. Yash uncle, who was like a father figure, managed to cajole me into doing it. He bought a box of chocolates and sat next to me, counting them. By the time he reached 100, I’d agreed.Despite the scare, I loved being on the set and realised this was what I wanted to do when I grew up.
I was 21 when I left my job as an assistant director and enrolled for a year of acting classes. At 23, I was knocking on the doors of every producer for work. They all agreed to meet me because of my last name, but held out no hope or promise. One day, I was at an event representing my father, who wasn’t in the city, standing by the bar and feeling frustrated, when someone nudged me. He asked if I was Nitin Mukesh’s son who was looking for work everywhere. I nodded, thinking here was another person who had come to lecture me, but it was Jhamu Sughand, who invited me to his office the next day.
I reached at 9 am sharp, and he offered me a choice between two films — Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na (JTYJN), which eventually got made with Imran Khan, and Johnny Gaddaar. I was on a flight to Delhi later that evening with my mother for my cousin’s wedding. When I told her about the offer, she wanted me to opt for JTYJN because it was a love story. But I was inclined towards Johnny Gaddaar. She read the script to me on the flight and I was hooked, but she was doubtful because I was just 24 and the film required me to kill five people onscreen. She insisted I read the JTYJN script, which I did on reaching Delhi. But my gut instinct told me to go with Johnny Gaddaar as it would give me a chance to explore a side to my personality that was drastically different from my upbringing, while JTYJN was actually me in real life.
When I went back to Jhamu sir’s office, I asked him if I could do both films. He told me I’d have to choose between the two as he wanted to start both the films in the same year. I said “yes” to Johnny Gaddaar and he put me on a six-month prep with director Sriram Raghavan, telling me I had to work with him daily.
I met Sriram the same day. He sent me to the set of Parineeta where Anurag Kashyap took my audition in front of almost 100 people. Then, started the workshops. I didn’t know if I was in the film until Sriram came knocking on my door the night before the shoot. He had a box of pedas with him and congratulated me. Till then, I had believed he thought of me as his assistant, but later, I realised it was his way of teaching me the craft.
My first shot required me to go to a chemist shop and ask for a bottle of chloroform. My excuse was that my cat was gravely ill and I needed the chloroform to put him to sleep. The scene comes at a point in the film when the plan has already been put into action. We were in Aram Nagar and the shot was okayed in one take. In fact, the whole shoot went by in a flash. It was my bad luck that Jhamu ji suddenly passed away and the film was stuck for almost two years. A lot of people told us no one would go to see a long-delayed film. But we believed in it and once it released, well, the rest is history.
I’m a daddy’s boy; I worry about him-Neil Nitin Mukesh
8:00 AM
Neil Nitin Mukesh hasn’t met father Nitin Mukesh in over two months due to lockdown; daughter Nurvi, two scripts have kept him occupied
Akash Bhatnagar (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 4, 2020)
Since the Coronavirus-triggered lockdown was announced, residing in his Mumbai apartment with wife Rukmini, daughter Nurvi and a nanny, Neil Nitin Mukesh’s work-day begins after he is done playing with his year-and-a-half-old moppet. “After lunch, it is time to resume writing,” the actor says, pointing out that since his 2007 debut with Johnny Gaddaar, he has had at least two releases every year. “But I don’t know about 2020, unless Firrkie comes directly on OTT.” The film, co-starring Jackie Shroff and Karan Singh Grover, was to arrive in cinemas this year.Work-related uncertainties aside, Neil is happy to be home with Nurvi. “I was away on a 45-day shoot of Bypass Road when Rukmini’s due date was approaching. And although I made it back just in time for the delivery, I always felt that there was a gap to be bridged,” he admits, adding that the toddler is quite attached to him now. “Whenever I wear a mask, she realises I am going downstairs and starts crying.”
Nurvi herself is amassing a fan-following with videos of her dancing, which routinely pop up on her actor-father’s social media. “She is very energetic and had started running just before the lockdown happened. I feel bad that there are no open spaces for her to run right now. But one day, I noticed her responding to music and now, she dances twice a day to expend all the energy,” the actor shares, adding that Rukmini and he used to join her in the beginning but not any longer.
Neil misses his veteran singer-father Nitin Mukesh. Despite being in the same city, they haven’t met in two-and-a-half months. “He was advised to live separately as he is a senior citizen but we’re constantly in touch over the phone. On Saturday nights, the whole family connects virtually to jam together. I am a complete daddy’s boy. Since Chintu (Rishi Kapoor) uncle’s demise, he has been feeling low. I am trying to keep his spirits high. We’re each other’s anchor, I worry about him on a daily basis,” the actor confides.Steering back to the writing, Neil informs that he has finished penning a web series and is on the final draft of two stories—a murder mystery and a thriller. “The latter will be directed by my brother Naman. I have written all the scripts keeping myself in mind but I am not averse to having other actors play the parts if need be,” he says.
On the acting front, he was to start work on two projects, set in London and Goa respectively, which have been pushed. “Now, we aren’t sure if we will even get permission to shoot there,” he sighs. Nonetheless, Neil is happy with his body of work and points out a unique feat. “I may be the only actor to have worked with two generations of several families—Dharam ji (Dharmendra in Johnny Gaddaar) and Bobby (Deol in Players), Abhishek (in Players) and Amitabh Bachchan sir (in Wazir), Shakti Kapoor sir (Vijay), as a child actor and Shraddha (Saaho), and Anupam Kher (Prem Ratan Dhan Payo and Indu Sarkar) and Sikander (Players),” he points out, adding that he has also worked with almost 12 National Award-winning directors, including Yash Chopra (Vijay), Abbas-Mustan (Players), Sooraj Barjatya (Prem Ratan Dhan Payo), Pradeep Sarkar (Lafangey Parindey), Sriram Raghavan (Johnny Gaddaar), Kabir Khan (New York), Sudhir Mishra (Tera Kya Hoga Johnny), Vishal Bhardwaj (7 Khoon Maaf) and Madhur Bhandarkar (Jail, Indu Sarkar), in his career.
He forayed into South films with A R Murugadoss’s Kaththi, which will soon get a Hindi remake with Akshay Kumar. Has he been approached to reprise his part? “We have been discussing it. Considering the current situation, I will request them to take me so that I find some work to do,” Neil laughs.
Any plans for turning director? “I will definitely do it, but I can’t set a deadline. If I feel a story needs to be told, and I need to direct it, I won’t hold back. For now, I have two-three stories that I will start developing soon,” the actor signs off.
Images: Check out Armaan Jain-Anissa Malhotra's big bang wedding
8:24 AM
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; February 5, 2020)
Armaan Jain tied the knot with girlfriend Anissa Malhotra on Monday. Cousins, Kareena and Karisma Kapoor, with Saif Ali Khan and Taimur on his shoulders, accompanied the groom to a suburban five-star for the wedding, which began with the sehra-bandi, followed by the pheras and a reception, at which guests grooved to English chartbusters.Amitabh, Jaya, Abhishek, Aishwarya Rai and Aaradhya Bachchan, along with Boney, Anil, Sanjay and Arjun Kapoor, and Arbaaz, Sohail, with mother Salma Khan, sister Alvira and brother-in-law Atul Agnihotri, were in attendance. Dimple Kapadia, Twinkle Khanna, Karan Johar, Kiara Advani, the Ambanis, CM Uddhav Thackeray with wife Rashmi, and Tara Sutaria, rumoured girlfriend of the groom’s brother, Aadar Jain, were also spotted.
Armaan’s aunt Ritu Nanda, who passed away a few weeks ago, was missed, as was Rishi Kapoor, who was hospitalised recently. Neetu, Ranbir and Alia Bhatt weren’t present either.Armaan sounded ecstatic, even though he had lost his voice. “Everything was absolutely fantastic,” he exclaimed. The highlight of the evening was Nitin Mukesh belting out Raj Kapoor chartbusters, including “Dum Dum Diga Diga”, “Patli Kamar Hai” and “Mera Joota Hai Japani”.
“I was sitting in a corner when some youngsters started singing 'Dum Dum Diga Diga' as a tribute to Raj uncle and papa (singer Mukesh). So, I sang along. It was an emotional moment and drew the newlyweds and their parents to the dance floor,” the veteran singer recounted.
Music begins and ends with Lata Mangeshkar, she is the greatest there ever will be-Nitin Mukesh
7:58 AM
Lata Mangeshkar during a live performance in Mumbai (1977)
Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 28, 2019)
Nitin Mukesh, son of the late singer Mukesh (right), has known Lata Mangeshkar, who turns 90 today, since before he was born. The Melody Queen was clicked with the Mathur family during a concert in Delhi when he was still in his mother’s womb, forging a bond, which he believes is pre-destined. When he was born, Lata ji’s mother presented him with a gold chain and by the time he was around five, little Nitin was trailing behind his papa to song recordings. It was a year or two later that he realised the legend his father was, as also this enchanting goddess who was always warm and affectionate towards him. And once he did, he was in love with her, for life.“It’s the purest emotion I can feel,” Nitin ji rhapsodises, pointing out that he has a playlist of Lata ji’s songs, around 400 of them, which he listens to every day, from “Kuchh Dil Ne Kaha” (Anupama) and “Kai Din Se Jee Hai Bekal” (Dulhan Ek Raat Ki) to “Kya Janu Sajan” (Baharon Ke Sapne) and all the Raj Kapoor film songs, among others. “There are times when my beloved father’s songs make me depressed because I lost him too soon, but Didi’s songs always elevate my spirit.”
He flashbacks to August 24, 1976, when he made his stage debut with Lata ji at the age of 25. He had accompanied his father on a concert tour. They were in Toronto and Mukesh ji had a slight cold. A concerned Lata ji suggested that since he wasn’t feeling too well, she could sing a couple of duets with Nitin. When the boy was told this, he was aghast. “Papa, will I be able to do it?” he wailed. In her gentle way, Lata ji assured young Nitin that he would do great, and introduced him on stage. His first song as a performer was “Kabhi Kabhi Mere Dil Mein” which ironically turned out to be his papa’s last one.
It was encore in Montreal and Nitin ji remembers Mukesh ji crying like a baby in the wings as he watched him sing with Lata ji. Then, leaving him to enjoy the adulation alone, he rushed back to the hotel to call his wife, telling her proudly that their son “papa ki chutti kar di”.
Before this Mukesh ji would keep seeking assurance from Lata ji, “Nitin, apni dal roti kama lega na?” After seeing him perform with her he was convinced the boy would do well. “Meri pension pakki,” he exulted.
Three days after his son’s glorious debut, Mukesh ji succumbed to a sudden heart attack on August 27, and the Detroit and Philadelphia shows had to be cancelled. “But in December, Lata ji graciously returned to the two cities with me, pointing out that papa had never hurt anyone during his lifetime, so it was our responsibility to honour his commitment and ensure the promoters of these shows did not suffer. ‘Tu chal unka adhura sapna pura karne,’ she urged, leading me by the hand again and introducing me to the world as her Mukesh bhaiyya’s son. My father gave me his name, but without Didi, I might have got lost in the mists of anonymity and not been able to take his legacy forward. She gave me a career,” Nitin ji says, his voice cracking with emotion.
Today, he proudly claims that among male playback singers, except for her brother Hridaynath Mangeshkar, he’s done the maximum stage shows with Lata ji. They have travelled across the world, from the UK, US, Canada and Europe to Africa, UAE, Russia, West Indies and even Swaziland in South Africa till she took the curtain call. In her heydays, she went on at least three-four foreign tours every year, and everywhere they went, she got a rousing reception.
Nitin ji recalls a visit to Georgetown when they drove from the airport to the hotel in an open car for around 60 kms at a snail’s pace, with screaming fans lining both sides of the road. “It was as if all of Guyana had descended for a glimpse of this petite, unassuming lady who stood all the way, smiling and shyly waving out to the fans. I was told later that not even heads of state, including the Queen of England, had ever drawn such euphoric crowds,” recounts Nitin ji, sharing that no matter what time a concert ended, Lata ji was the first to be ready for sightseeing next morning. Her devotion to music still leaves him awed as he recalls how the songstress never stepped on stage wearing footwear. Also, on the morning of every concert, she’d insist on an hour or two of rehearsals, going over the 30-odd songs in the set. “If show time was 7 pm, she was in the hotel lobby a minute before 6 pm, and two minutes before the curtains went up, she was at the mic. Didi is so disciplined, you can set your watch by her,” he asserts.
They stay in touch through Whatsapp texts, Lata ji responding to his emotional, “Missing you Didi,” with “God bless you, I love you too” and every now and then, sending him a rare song of hers in Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Odia or Bengali. “For me music begins and ends with Lata Didi, she is the greatest there ever will be,” Nitin ji signs off.
Producer Gulshan Rai, director Yash Chopra, Lata Mangeshkar, Nitin Mukesh and composer Khayyam during a Trishul recording in 1978
My baby has come as a blessing from Bappa-Neil Nitin Mukesh
8:00 AM
Neil Nitin Mukesh and his wife Rukmini welcomed their daughter on Thursday at a SoBo hospital
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 21, 2018)
Neil Nitin Mukesh tied the knot with Rukmini Sahay in a traditional ceremony in Udaipur on February 9, 2017. This year, on April 23, the 36-yearold actor took to social media to share an image of a stork flying with a baby with the message ‘To be delivered soon’. His ‘Now we will be THREE’ further underlined the announcement that Rukmini was in the family way. On Thursday, the couple became parents to a baby girl.
Speaking to Mirror from a SoBo hospital, Neil said that he is relieved that he had wrapped up the ongoing schedule of his home production, a yet-untitled thriller directed by younger brother Naman, earlier that morning and had no other shoot to immediately report for. “I had an intuition, even Rukmini told me on Wednesday to be ready. I just wanted to be with her and cancelled all other commitments. Luck was on our side, we made it just in time,” he laughed.
He will return to work only on September 24, after the Ganpati visarjan on Sunday. Till then it’s just the three of them. “Rukmini will be at her mother’s place for a couple of days after she is discharged. I will obviously be visiting her often, I want to spend all my time with our baby,” Neil asserted, adding that fortunately he is shooting in Alibaug so whenever he gets a couple of hours off, he plans to take a ferry back.
Earlier, speaking to Mirror (August 27), Neil had confided that both Rukmini and he were excited about the baby and nervous too, praying that they would be good parents. Have they decided on a name for their daughter yet? “We haven’t but everyone in the family has a suggestion of their own. I think the name will eventually be decided by my father (singer Nitin Mukesh). We are all extremely happy and just want to celebrate the moment. This is the 25th year of Ganesh Chaturthi for the family and my baby has come as a blessing from Bappa,” the new father admitted emotionally, impatient to get back to the new love of his life.
Neil Nitin Mukesh to launch brother Naman as director
8:14 AM
The actor hopes to feature in the film as well and convince singer-dad Nitin Mukesh to give playback
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 11, 2018)
After a decade in show business as an actor, Neil Nitin Mukesh has turned producer with an as-yet-untitled thriller-drama which will mark the directorial debut of younger brother Naman. The film which he is co-producing with Madan Paliwal, will roll in September and be shot in India.
“It’s a coming-of-age story of a young boy who eventually learns that our perception doesn’t always align with the reality. Since it’s a thriller, I can’t reveal more. I’ve written the script, have been working on it since the last two years. Naman collaborated with me on it as being a director it’s important for him to be on the same page,” informs Neil.
The actor who is currently working with Sujeeth, the 26-year-old director of Saaho, also featuring Prabhas and Shraddha Kapoor, is all praise for the tech savvy younger generation, which includes his 27-year-old brother. Naman has assisted Bejoy Nambiar and Abbas-Mastan, and worked on a lot of ad films and web content earlier.
Will Neil feature in the film too, you wonder, and he responds with a laugh, “I hope Naman approaches me. I’ve written the script with myself in mind, but Naman has the freedom to decide his cast. As an actor I’m pricey. It’s an ensemble cast, so we have started approaching different actors. The technical crew is on board and recee is on. Music will also play an important part in this film.”
So, will his singer-father Nitin Mukesh give playback for the film? “Both Naman and I want that and are trying to convince him. Meanwhile, he is on board to sing the theme song to go with our company’s logo which represents three generations — from my dada ji, singer Mukesh, to dad and now Naman and me,” smiles Neil, adding that he always wanted to be involved with all aspects of filmmaking and has been directing ads since the last three years. Will he make his directorial debut soon? “Right now, it’s Naman’s turn, but maybe in a year or two,” he signs off.
Raj Kapoor was at the airport, inconsolable, when I returned with papa’s body-Nitin Mukesh
7:55 AM
Nitin with father Mukesh, Raj Kapoor, Jaikishan, Randhir and Rishi Kapoor and recordist Minoo Kartik at the song recording for the film Mera Naam Joker
Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 14, 2017)
With a cheer, not a tear in your eye, Wish me luck as you wave me goodbye, Give me a smile, I can keep for a while, In my heart while you are away, Till me meet once again, you and I, Wish me luck as you wave me goodbye...
These were the first lines Nitin Mukesh recorded for Mera Naam Joker at Mumbai’s Famous Studio. He was then about 15, and he was recording for Rishi Kapoor, younger by two years, who played the young Ranbir Raj aka Raju in the 1970 film. Rishi was present on the occasion along with his older brother Randhir and father Raj Kapoor as also was Nitin’s own papa, the legendary singer Mukesh.“Raj uncle decided on the spur of the moment that he wanted Mukesh’s son to sing for his son. Papa asked me if I could and I assured him I would. Jaikishan saab (of the composer duo Shankar-Jaikishen) rehearsed the popular song during World War II with me for a couple of days before I recorded it live with the other children singing in chorus,” recalls the singer. He chuckles and says that his father was more nervous than he was. Raj Kapoor was emotional, and showered him with blessings. He predicted he’d become as famous as his father. “I’d later joke with Chintu that my voice made him a star while he would attribute his success to papa who sang 'Teetar Ke Do Aage Teetar' for him in the same film.”
The actor-filmmaker was a permanent fixture in Mukesh’s life and when rehearsing or recording with him, Raj Kapoor’s Chevrolet Impala would often land up outside the singer’s one-room-kitchen apartment in Napean Sea Road in the middle of the night and bring gawking neighbours to their doors. Mukesh’s five children, who would be sleeping on the floor, would be hurriedly woken up, and his wife would rush to the kitchen to rustle up dinner for the showman who’d relax with Mukesh over a drink.
“When we moved to a three-BHK close by, he was the only outsider present at the house-warming and after walking through the rooms, he announced that he liked the children’s bedroom best but it needed an air-conditioner. The next day his gift arrived, making us feel like little emperors in our palatial bedroom, because air-conditioners were a luxury those days,” says Nitin.
He says that while most people referred to Mukesh as Raj Kapoor’s voice, the filmmaker himself admitted to Simi Garewal in her documentary that after Jaikishen passed away he felt like he’d lost an arm and after Shailendra’s demise the other, but after Mukesh succumbed to a sudden heart attack in Detroit on August 27, 1976 while on a concert tour, he realised he had lost his soul. “Raj uncle was with us at home till we left for the airport. Little did he know then that this was the last time he’d see his Mukesh Chand alive (Kapoor always addressed him by his full name). He was at the airport, inconsolable, when I returned with papa’s body. He’d been filming the flood sequences for Satyam Shivam Sundaram near Pune when he got the news and despite knowing how difficult it would be to get a busy Shashi Kapoor’s combination dates with Zeenat (Aman), and without a thought for the losses he’d incur, he drove down to be with our family for the next 10 days,” says Nitin Mukesh. Kapoor kept in touch via frequent phone calls and his wife Krishna would drop by to ensure that the singer’s family was doing well.
The times were tough for Mukesh’s family, and Nitin Mukesh would accept show offers for as little as Rs 100 to keep the kitchen fires burning. So, when Swami Chidanand Maharaj, for whose Divine Light Society his father had done a fund-raiser every year for free, offered to organise a show for him for which he was willing to pay him Rs 50,000, he was delighted. The only condition was that Raj Kapoor had to present Nitin Mukesh.
“Raj uncle had returned to shoot Satyam Shivam Sundaram but since the money would make things easier for us, I went to meet him and sounded him out. He agreed immediately and put the RK Studio machinery to work to invite the entire film industry for the show. The Kapoor family was present, along with Amitabh Bachchan, several actors and other big names from the music fraternity. It was a full house and it set the ball rolling for me,” acknowledges the grateful singer.
“Chanchal Sheetal Nirmal Komal” was the last song my father recorded for Satyam Shivan Sundaram before we left for the US. On his return he was to sing “Woh Aurat Hai Tu Mehbooba”, but I ended up crooning it with Lataji and after that I never looked back,” says Nitin Mukesh. As a tribute to his ‘Raj uncle’, who would have turned 93 on December 14, he begins every show with Mukesh’s Mera Naam Joker song, “Jeena Yahan Marna Yahan” and ends the show with his own, “With A Cheer, Not A Tear…”
There was a time when I wanted to be a bachelor all my life-Neil Nitin Mukesh
7:50 AM
Renuka Vyavahare (BOMBAY TIMES; February 9, 2017)
Life doesn't pan out the way
you had imag ined, but that's the beauty of it, says Neil Nitin Mukesh,
who had once dreamt of eloping like his grandfather and having a love
marriage. As he ties the knot with Mumbai girl Rukmini Sahay in Udaipur
today, the actor speaks to BT about opting for an
arranged marriage in today's times and what made him finally end his
wait for 'Mrs Right'. Excerpts...
You will tie the knot today. Are there any wedding jitters?
It hasn't sunk in yet, but I am not nervous at all. I always knew this'll happen someday, and was even looking forward to it.
Did it take you a while to open up to the concept of arranged marriage, especially since as an actor, you are always surrounded by attractive people?
I had always dreamt of having a love marriage like my grandfather (singer Mukesh), who had eloped. But life is unpredictable, which is also what makes it beautiful. It's a perception that actors end up marrying people from the industry. They are lovely no doubt, but at the end of the day, it's just work. If I can't find someone, what could be better than my parents doing it for me?
You have been planning to settle down for some time now...
There was a time when I wanted to be a bachelor all my life, and I remember telling my father (singer Nitin Mukesh) that. I thought it's good to be single than suffer heartbreaks. I had been single for too long, but after a point, you realise it feels good to have someone around, who is bothered about your existence. I remember, at the age of 13, my father once told me, 'Sitting in a room and having chips won't help you shape your career. You have to get out of the house and work towards it. No one is going to come looking for you. You have to let people know that you want to achieve something.' The same principle applies to marriage as well. Unless you tell people that you are interested in getting married, how will anyone know? Luck favours those who work for it. Marriages are made in heaven, it's just that some matches are orchestrated by parents.
What made you feel that Rukmini is the one?
I am close to my parents and I was looking for a girl, who'd understand that. When I spoke to Rukmini, I posed a tricky question to her. I asked, 'Now that we are starting our life together, shouldn't we have our own space?' She immediately replied that we should be with my parents. 'As they grow older, they need us more than we need them', she said. At that moment, I knew she was the one. Her beauty lies in the kind of person she is.
She is not from the industry. Is that refreshing?
When you grow up in a film family, it's a good change to be with someone who is unmoved by filmy talks. I think, as an outsider, she is slightly intimidated by the media attention, but is slowly settling in.
Your family must be thrilled to welcome her into the fold...
Yes. In fact, my father pampers her more than me. I have always been his favourite child (Neil has an elder sister and a younger brother) and even he says so. But now, she is the centre of his affection. I feel left out at times, but since she is mine, the love comes back to me at the end of the day.
You've known her for five months now. Do you still show only your best side to her?
I hate being pretentious. I probably am at my worst in front of her, so she is prepared. I am not diplomatic or hypocritical. I am impulsive and react to things easily, so initially she was a bit con fused. But she has realised that I am childlike and is now chilled out about it.
Why did you choose to have a destination wedding?
I would have loved to have a simple court marriage, but this big fat Indian wedding was my parents' dream. I wanted my shaadi to feel like a family holiday. The only thing I hate about weddings is getting ready. I would rather be in my boxers!
You will tie the knot today. Are there any wedding jitters?
It hasn't sunk in yet, but I am not nervous at all. I always knew this'll happen someday, and was even looking forward to it.
Did it take you a while to open up to the concept of arranged marriage, especially since as an actor, you are always surrounded by attractive people?
I had always dreamt of having a love marriage like my grandfather (singer Mukesh), who had eloped. But life is unpredictable, which is also what makes it beautiful. It's a perception that actors end up marrying people from the industry. They are lovely no doubt, but at the end of the day, it's just work. If I can't find someone, what could be better than my parents doing it for me?
You have been planning to settle down for some time now...
There was a time when I wanted to be a bachelor all my life, and I remember telling my father (singer Nitin Mukesh) that. I thought it's good to be single than suffer heartbreaks. I had been single for too long, but after a point, you realise it feels good to have someone around, who is bothered about your existence. I remember, at the age of 13, my father once told me, 'Sitting in a room and having chips won't help you shape your career. You have to get out of the house and work towards it. No one is going to come looking for you. You have to let people know that you want to achieve something.' The same principle applies to marriage as well. Unless you tell people that you are interested in getting married, how will anyone know? Luck favours those who work for it. Marriages are made in heaven, it's just that some matches are orchestrated by parents.
What made you feel that Rukmini is the one?
I am close to my parents and I was looking for a girl, who'd understand that. When I spoke to Rukmini, I posed a tricky question to her. I asked, 'Now that we are starting our life together, shouldn't we have our own space?' She immediately replied that we should be with my parents. 'As they grow older, they need us more than we need them', she said. At that moment, I knew she was the one. Her beauty lies in the kind of person she is.
She is not from the industry. Is that refreshing?
When you grow up in a film family, it's a good change to be with someone who is unmoved by filmy talks. I think, as an outsider, she is slightly intimidated by the media attention, but is slowly settling in.
Your family must be thrilled to welcome her into the fold...
Yes. In fact, my father pampers her more than me. I have always been his favourite child (Neil has an elder sister and a younger brother) and even he says so. But now, she is the centre of his affection. I feel left out at times, but since she is mine, the love comes back to me at the end of the day.
You've known her for five months now. Do you still show only your best side to her?
I hate being pretentious. I probably am at my worst in front of her, so she is prepared. I am not diplomatic or hypocritical. I am impulsive and react to things easily, so initially she was a bit con fused. But she has realised that I am childlike and is now chilled out about it.
Why did you choose to have a destination wedding?
I would have loved to have a simple court marriage, but this big fat Indian wedding was my parents' dream. I wanted my shaadi to feel like a family holiday. The only thing I hate about weddings is getting ready. I would rather be in my boxers!
Udaipur calling: Neil Nitin Mukesh to marry Rukmini Sahay at a destination wedding
7:58 AM
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 17, 2016)
After a roka ceremony at a Juhu five star in October, Neil Nitin Mukesh will tie the knot with fiancée Rukmini Sahay on February 9. The Prem Ratan Dhan Payo actor will have a traditional destination wedding in Udaipur with pre-wedding ceremonies kicking off on February 7 with the engagement. “My parents wanted a big fat Indian wedding for us, but I wanted it to be an intimate family affair so we chose Udaipur where all of us could get together for the big day. It will also be a great way for Rukmini to meet my extended family over three days,” informs the groom-to-be, adding that some of his designer friends are helping him out with the wedding outfits.
Meanwhile, Neil’s father, veteran singer Nitin, and brother Naman are looking into the other arrangements and have assigned a theme to every do. They will be in Udaipur from January-end to overlook the preparations. “The mehendi ceremony on February 8 has the mela theme featuring several games, and Rajasthani folk performances. This will be followed by sangeet night where my father will sing few of his popular tracks. I have planned something for Rukmini too but want to keep it a surprise,” says Neil, who plans to live out his childhood dream of going down on one knee to propose to the love of his life. “I’m really looking forward to it,” Neil smiles.
The 34-year-old actor will arrive for the nuptials on a chariot, while Rukmini will enter in a doli, adding a royal touch to the proceedings. Priests will be flown in from South India to preside over the traditional ceremony. “That will be followed by a big family dinner,” Neil further reveals. The multi-cuisine spread at the ceremony will be prepared by chefs from Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai.
Meanwhile, Neil is set to begin shooting for Madhur Bhandarkar’s Indu Sarkar in December and will wrap it up by January end. But he wouldn’t be going for a honeymoon post the wedding, as he will begin shooting for Sujeeth Reddy’s trilingual with Prabhas. “Hopefully I’ll take Rukmini along so that we could spend time together,” he says. The family will host a grand reception in Mumbai at a Juhu five-star for their friends from the film industry on February 17.
If maximum no of smokers quit, I have pledged to quit chocolates-Neil Nitin Mukesh
7:40 AM
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 7, 2015)
Salman Khan's stepbrother in Prem Ratan Dhan Payo, Neil Nitin Mukesh is spearheading an anti-smoking campaign along with eight other celebrities. The 33-year-old actor, who will be representing Pune in the campaign, is passionate about the cause. "It's a youth-centric campaign which aims at spreading awareness amongst youngsters about the ill effects of this vice. It's better to kick the butt than feel like a man with a cigarette in hand," asserts the actor.
Neil has shot several videos which would be used for the cause. He will also be promoting it on social networking sites. "For me it's personal. I lost my uncle to cancer two years ago. I had stopped my dad (Nitin Mukesh) from smoking when, at the age of four, I walked into the dining room where he was with friends and told him, 'Dad, you want to be the best playback singer in the world so why is there a cigarette in your hand?' He was so upset that I was upset that he quit the next day," reminisces the actor.
When he entered college, not under peer pressure but just to feel cool, he held his first cigarette. "And it slowly became a habit," he admits, lamenting about all the nicotine that went into his system.
So what prompted him to kick the butt? "I was doing an action sequence and was expected to run for 5 kilometres. After a single kilometre I almost fell down panting. That's when I realised that trying to be cool was not so cool and finally, I quit smoking," he shudders at the memory.
That was three years ago. Since then he hasn't had a single puff. "If the character demands or if it's required for a photo shoot, I make sure that there is a disclaimer even in a photograph, stating that smoking is injurious to health. But I have been trying to avoid playing roles which require me to smoke," he says, adding that the campaign is about 'you quit, I quit.'
A final poll will be conducted to decide which team has inspired the maximum number of smokers to quit. "If my team wins, I have pledged to quit chocolates, which I love. But that's only if Pune wins" he chuckles.
Hesitant Aditya Chopra calls friends, family for dinner on Pamela's insistence?
8:08 AM
DNA (May 7, 2014)
Aditya Chopra and his actress wife Rani Mukerji are back in Mumbai after
a wedding and honeymoon in Italy. Known to be extremely reclusive,
almost to the point of being anti-social, Aditya reluctantly agreed to
have close family and friends over for dinner, at the insistence of his
mom Pamela.On Sunday evening, the Chopras’ bungalow saw a selected group of friends and relatives dropping by. Says one of the guests who was present, “The dinner was Pam’s idea. True to his nature, Adi was totally opposed to the idea of a wedding reception. But he can never say no to his mother. Like any mother with a newly-married son, Mrs Chopra was keen to call friends and relatives over after Adi returned with Rani from Italy as a couple officially. Especially because close relatives and friends were not invited to be part of the wedding celebrations in Italy.”
Adi agreed to host the party for his mother’s sake.The guest list included old friends of Mr and Mrs Yash Chopra like Anupam and Kirron Kher, singer Nitin Mukesh with his wife, Siddharth Kak and his wife Geeta Siddharth (she has done roles in several Yash Chopra films including Trishul). Yash Chopra’s brother BR Chopra’s two grandsons Abhay and Kapil were also present.
BR Chopra’s son Ravi Chopra is unwell and was therefore unable to attend the dinner. Says an invitee, “It was a very warm, pleasant and sober evening. Adi made an effort to be sociable with all the guests. Rani and Adi looked extremely happy together. Rani looked after every guest personally.”
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