Neil Nitin Mukesh denies 'Nepo Kid' privilege, says ‘I would have been somewhere else today'

Neil Nitin Mukesh, son of renowned playback singer Nitin Mukesh and grandson of legendary singer Mukesh, has shared his thoughts on the ongoing nepotism debate in Bollywood. Despite being from a well-known family, he strongly disagrees with the idea that being a star kid guarantees success.

The actor, who trained at Anupam Kher’s acting institute, Actor Prepares, stated that nepotism is often exaggerated in the film industry. “Had there been some advantage of being a ‘nepo kid,’ I would have been somewhere else today. I wouldn’t have gone through such a struggle," Neil told ANI. He added that people often assume being born into a film family makes things easier, but that’s not true. “Nepotism is glorified only in our field because, as actors, whatever we do, we come into the limelight quite easily. ‘Nepo kid’ has become slang these days. If anyone feels it is a privilege, it is not."

Neil pointed out that many successful actors, including Kartik Aaryan, Rajkummar Rao, and Vikrant Massey, have no family connections in the industry but have still made a name for themselves through their talent and hard work. “They do not have a film connection or identity as such. But they are doing excellent work because their art speaks for them," he said.

Drawing comparisons with other fields, Neil questioned why nepotism is only debated in Bollywood. “If a doctor’s child becomes a doctor, maybe that’s nepotism too. If a diamantaire makes his child a diamantaire, that is also ‘nepo kid’ in a way. If a father can give an upbringing to his child based on his experience, that’s natural," he argued.

While acknowledging that parents can guide their children, he made it clear that artistic success is not inherited. “Sometimes, it feels bad because you can hand over the reins if it’s a business, but you cannot hand over art. An artist carries forward their identity only through their own work," he emphasized. The nepotism debate has been a long-standing issue in Bollywood. While some believe industry insiders have an advantage, Neil Nitin Mukesh maintains that real success is determined by hard work, dedication, and talent.