Actor Neil Nitin Mukesh believes in the power of youth, says it’s time for action now.
Actor Neil Nitin Mukesh does not shy away from wearing patriotism on his sleeve. “You just feel so proud of being an Indian, each time you hold or even look at the tricolour,” says Neil as he holds the National Flag for an exclusive photo shoot with After Hrs. Neil admits that Republic Day has come to mean much more to him over the years. “As kids we enjoyed the flag hoisting, and the air would reverberate with patriotic songs; it also meant a holiday which was anyway a joyous occasion for us. But over the years, we came to realise the true significance of the day. And now it means much more than it did years ago. It’s true for most of the youth today,” says the actor.
“No matter what the older generation says, the youth of today is much more responsible and conscious than they are given credit for. It’s actually a day when we need to celebrate what was handed down to us and take it further,” he feels.
Though Neil agrees that there’s much to be changed in the system, he believes that there is hope pinned on the youth. “The time for talk is over. Now it’s time for action, and we will bring about that change for sure. Social evils and corruption are not something our generation takes lightly, which is a very encouraging sign. We have all the resources, we just need people to channelise the country’s money for its welfare, rather than let it go into the bank accounts of the few in power,” he says.
However, the actor insists that these issues do not dent the patriotic fervour. “India is synonymous with love, acceptance and above all hope, and that itself is a huge reason to celebrate the day. Sure, we can never forget what our freedom fighters have done for us, but now is the time when we need to take a step ahead. It is high time we shift the focus from ‘I’ to India,” says Neil excitedly.
For him, being recognised as an Indian actor is a thrill like no other. “To be called an Indian, to be known as an actor from India makes me feel so proud that it’s hard to describe the feeling. Anywhere you go, you will have an Indian among the top brain powers... and it makes me proud. As we celebrate our 64th Republic Day, I just pray and hope that we realise our true strengths, make the system more accountable and utilise it to make India truly powerful,” states Neil.
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