Mumbai, March 12: Actor Neil Mukesh who started his career with the unconventional `Johnny Gaddar` is all set to do his first mainstream cinema.
Neil, the son of singer Nitin Mukesh and grandson of the legendary playback Mukesh, also stars in Sudhir Mishra`s `Tera Kya Hoga Johnny`, a movie about a street kid in Mumbai.
`Yes, most debutants start with commercial ventures. But the `masala` film is finally happening. It`s a Yashraj Film directed by Kabeer Khan, featuring John Abraham and myself,` Neil said.
But Kabeer Khan`s earlier film for the Yashraj banner, `Kabul Express`, hardly shows him capable of commercialism.
Neil agrees: `It may not be a standard formula film. I am doing another out-and-out commercial film `Freeze` with Eros to be directed by Jehangir Surti. A very interesting concept, and I was kept in the loop from the beginning.
`For me, cinema isn`t just about coming on the sets, saying my lines and going away. That`s an out-and-out `masala` film with songs and dances and plenty of special effects.`
Neil has returned the signing amount for Tigmanshu Dulia`s proposed film `Good Night`. `I did Johnny Gaddar for free. To me being part of movies that matter is very important. I had to opt out of Tigmanshu Dhulia`s `Good Night` because the script wasn`t ready.
`I need to read the script at least 20 times before I imbibe my character. By God`s grace, I don`t have to work for money. My father and I are very simple down-to-earth people. We don`t know how to lobby for ourselves. What happened with Tigmanshu Dhulia was very disturbing. I`m not here to create controversies, only to do movies.`
Brightening up, Neil says, `I assisted at Yashraj Films for four years. It feels good to be working with them. It`s like coming home.`
Bureau Report