Game of Thrones season 6: Bollywood star Neil Nitin Mukesh lands role
Game of Thrones has a huge Bollywood following

Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Game of Thrones has reportedly cast its first Indian actor, Neil Nitin Mukesh, in the role of a royal.
UPDATE: HBO confirms Neil Nitin Mukesh not offered role
Mukesh, 33, has appeared in many Hindi-language films and impressed stunt director Greg Powell with his performance in family drama Prem Ratan Dhan Payo’s action scenes.
Powell, known for his work on the Harry Potter franchise, Avengers: Age of Ultron and Fast and Furious 6, offered Mukesh the part, according to the Mumbai Mirror.
“Greg has directed two sword fighting sequences in PRDP for which I had to train for over a month in order to get the stance and wrist movements right,” Mukesh told the local paper.
“He seemed pretty impressed with all the hard work I put in and made the offer when we were shooting for the climax scene a few months ago.”
Mukesh, himself a big Thrones fan, added that a producer is expected to approach him for further discussions later this month.
He is also willing to take part in nude scenes, which the show is known for, so long as it is required for his character. “I have gone nude for Jail so why not for this?” he said. “I am not intimidated by it as an actor.”
Thrones is hugely popular in India, with fans often coming up with imaginative Bollywood versions of the show and creating their own mash-ups.
Mukesh’s full name has been the subject of Twitter jokes for the past year, and these have started again in force after the Thrones announcement. Some fans are suggesting that Iron Throne contender Daenerys should have named her three dragons Neil, Nitin and Mukesh. It’s all very silly.
Game of Thrones is expected to return next spring, although it may arrive later than hoped.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments