Neil Nitin Mukesh Opens Up About Skin Color Bias in Bollywood

EXCLUSIVE: Neil Nitin Mukesh says he doesn’t get certain roles because of his fair skin; gives examples of Saif Ali Khan and Hrithik Roshan

In a recent interview with Hindi Rush, actor Neil Nitin Mukesh opened up about a surprising reason why he feels he doesn’t get many roles in Bollywood — his fair skin tone. He shared how this has affected his career and even mentioned actors like Saif Ali Khan and Hrithik Roshan to explain his point.

Neil, who impressed audiences with performances in films like Johnny Gaddaar, New York, and Wazir, said that even though he looks different, he should still be considered for roles. “India has a population of 150 crore. I know I look unique, but that doesn’t mean I don’t fit in or I’m not trying,” he explained.

He also pointed out how modern technology and makeup can change an actor’s look completely. “Today, we can even change someone’s entire face using makeup and effects. So why not focus on acting? Just give me a chance,” he said.

Neil further gave examples to support his thoughts. “If Saif Ali Khan can play Langda Tyagi in Omkara, and Hrithik Roshan can move away from his ‘Greek God’ image to play a character like the one in Super 30, then why can’t I be given a chance to do something similar?” he asked. “They get those roles, but we’re still waiting for people to offer us such parts. That’s the difference.”

Neil’s words shed light on how looks still influence casting decisions in Bollywood, even in today’s time.

On the work front, Neil was last seen in the 2024 film Hisaab Barabar, an action-comedy. He played Micky Mehta, a powerful banker. The movie was directed by Ashwni Dhir and also starred R. Madhavan, Kirti Kulhari, Rashami Desai, and Faisal Rashid.

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