He’s the epitome of style and machismo. With films like Prem Ratan Dhan Payo and Wazir lined up for release over the next couple of months, Neil is looking better than ever! When asked what advantage Bollywood’s biggest heroes have over him, he replies with a chuckle, “Nothing! For me it’s all about how I evaluate myself; I am individualistic and run parallel to the bandwagon of actors.”
He has been getting more movie offers from the south of late — some of them for negative characters too.
Neil owes his pan-Indian presence, however, to hard work and a good fashion sense. “In a population of a billion plus, we actors are just a handful who get a chance to be in front of the camera. Sub-consciously, we become the role models of the youth, so it’s our duty to be dressed our best at all times — fashion and style layer out one’s character and define who we are,” Neil adds.
He may love posing for photo shoots, but his favourite attire to wear at home is a good ol’ pair of boxers with a T-shirt. On the red carpet, Neil prefers to don the traditional three-piece suit and a fine pair of shoes. “The most expensive thing in my wardrobe is a pair of shoes. I never buy clothes because I’m gifted with wonderful friends and designers — Rohit Verma, Vikram Phadnis or Narendra Kumar — who tell me what to wear!” he smiles.
But how has a guy like him managed to stay single for this long “I spent too much time chasing after something, and now I’ve given up on that. I’m just waiting for the right person,” he says shyly. And who might the right person be “I’m very clueless because I think everybody is right!” he says.
