Neil Nitin Mukesh made his debut with ' Johnny Gaddaar ' and was absolutely loved by people. However, one has not seen him in many movies in recent times. The actor has admitted that the industry is a difficult place and while he thought he would keep getting great offers, that wasn't the case. In a recent interview, the actor admitted how difficult it is to survive here and also reveals it can get a little toxic.
The actor said in an interview with Screen, "At the beginning of my career, someone had told me to never wish to take a break, because then a time will come where you will keep hunting for work. I got so scared with that statement. My first film, Johnny Gaddar, got stuck. Sometimes you don’t realize that your break is self-doubt, which you have not put in yourself; others have put it in you. People say things like you won’t be able to do this. It is the one thing you will constantly keep hearing, and I have heard it so many times. Any time there is a lull, people will say he is over. But who are they to decide? I am still here, still working, trying to feed my family.”
He added, "It does happen, and it happens to a point where it gets toxic. I have seen that a lot, and I still see that a lot. I don’t like that conversation. For me, an industry is like my family, at least I used to feel that. If I work or I am hoping to work with somebody, aren’t we all a part of the same fraternity? Isn’t it our job to call up each other and laud the work? But those phones never come, unless the person is extremely close to you. On your face, nobody will say that.”
Neil also recalled a really harsh comment by a film critic on social media and how the industry backed him that time. He said, "Once very long ago on Twitter, one of my films was coming, and a very reputed critic then wrote in his opening sentence that he wondered how someone was paying Neil Nitin Mukesh even now for a job. I responded to him that I didn’t need his validation to work hard, prove myself, and provide for my family. My entire industry stood by me back then. But that day I lost it with those self-proclaimed critics and understood that the voice everyone has gotten with social media has changed.”
But here's what has kept Neil going and not get discouraged. He added, "Here we celebrate when a film doesn’t work on a Friday. You are happier for someone’s failure than for someone’s success. When you are around that atmosphere, the only way forward is to have that passion and self-belief. I believe we should keep trying, even if it doesn’t work out. Then there won’t be any regrets.”