‘I Never Felt I Did Not Meet Dadaji’: Neil Nitin Mukesh Remembers Mukesh On His 50th Death Anniversary

On August 27, 1974, will mark 50 years since legendary playback singer Mukesh left us. Notably, he died just hours after performing at a concert in Detroit while en route for the recording session of Chanchal sheetal nirmal komal for Laxmikant-Pyarelal's film Satyam Shivam Sundaram. Neil Nitin Mukesh, Mukesh's grandson, fondly recalls his bond with the late singer.

He reveals that his grandmother, Saral Mukesh, brought Mukesh to life for him. Neil shares, "My daadi, the late Saral Mukesh, brought him alive for me. Honestly, I have never come across a woman more in love with her husband than her. She had such vivid memories of him that I never felt I did not meet Dadaji!" Neil and his sister would eagerly visit Grandmother every weekend, engrossed in the Raj Kapoor collection of videocassettes.

During these visits, they would engage with Mukesh's trophies, trophies he had accumulated in his illustrious career. Mukesh's granddaughter also recalls how she learned about his profession from his sister Nitin Mukesh. When Nitin was cast to play Rishi Kapoor's childhood in Vijay, Mukesh explained the concept of 'playback singing' to him.

Neil's grandmother bridged the gap between Mukesh and his grandson, allowing him to understand his grandfather's work. Neil praises Nitin Mukesh's dedication to music, stating that after his father's untimely demise, Nitin had to shoulder family responsibilities, leading him to pursue music as a profession. Neil fondly remembers Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle, who shared the adoration for Mukesh and their father across generations.

Lata Mangeshkar was the one who suggested Neil's name, inspired by the astronaut Neil Armstrong, due to his fair complexion at birth.