Neil Nitin Mukesh: Who is the Bollywood star set to become Game of Thrones' first Indian cast member?

Neil Nitin Mukesh has a huge following in India, but the actor’s profile is set to grow even larger after the news he has been cast in the upcoming sixth season of Game of Thrones.

He is reportedly playing a ‘royal’, although specifics on his character have not been revealed.

The HBO show has made household names out of many of its cast, including Emilia Clarke, Kit Harrington and Sophie Turner.

Mukesh was reportedly cast after impressing stunt director Greg Powell, who has worked on the Harry Potter franchise, Avengers: Age of Ultron and Fast and Furious 6.

So before April, when the show is rumoured to come back to the small screen, here’s everything you need to know about Mukesh.

He has a huge following in India

From his critically-acclaimed debut in Johnny Gadaar, Mukesh has taken on a variety of roles in Indian cinema. Notable films include the terrorism-themed drama New York, which was a critical and commercial success, as well as Jail, which took a frank look at life for men in Indian’s prisons.

As a result, he has swept award ceremonies, winning Best Supporting Actor six times, and the Critics Special Award at the Zee Cine Awards.

He is no stranger to controversial roles

On it’s release, Jail was met with a negative reaction over scenes featuring full-frontal male nudity and masturbation, which was considered offensive.

Though scenes were later re-cut and shortened to be more appropriate, Mukesh spoke up in defence of his scenes.

“My nude or masturbation scenes are not for titilation,” he said. “It’s a very practical need in the script. My character is in jail for 2 1/2 years. What does he do? He naturally seeks pleasure by himself.”

Though his performance was praised by critics, the film was a commercial failure.

He’s a passionate activist

Mukesh set up an NGO in 2009 to support women by providing them with food, shelter and vocational training.

“I have read about women getting oppressed, exploited by men and other family members. They get sold like commodities and are driven into prostitution. I’m always pained to hear this.”

He named the project after his grandmother, Saral Devi, who eloped with his grandfather after her family objected to her choice of groom.

He will be the first Indian actor to appear in Game of Thrones

The sprawling world of Westeros (and beyond) has provided Game of Thrones with a chance to showcase a diverse range of actors.

Last year the show hired Jessica Henwick as its first East Asian actress to play Dornish warrior Nymeria Sand, while Chilean-American actor Pedro Pascal joined in Season Four. Several characters who are white in the books were also given to people of colour, which was praised in an industry that often does the opposite.

Mukesh will be the first Indian actor to appear in the show, which has a huge fanbase in India. The show’s heavy editing to make it appropriate for the strict Indian morality laws has spawned a cult-like devotion to the real thing.