Nitin Mukesh is the son of the legendary late Mukesh. He had an aptitude for music from the very beginning, but Mukesh who had a very erratic career wanted him to keep music only as a hobby. With this in mind, Nitin was sent abroad to do management. But Nitin was not enamoured of such a career. He asked his father's permission to return and pursue a career in music, His father accepted Nitin’s decision, and told him that he would have to struggle on his own steam.

Nitin reminisces his father the legendary Mukesh"From all the relationships one has - that of a husband, brother, son, friend, father, he was the best as a father. He was a doting parent - an indulgent, pampering father, so that we could have easily got spoilt but we didn't because he taught us values too. In fact the way he gave us our values was worth seeing. He'd never thrash us or be angry but in his own gentle way make us understand," .

Nitin trained in music under various teachers like Pt. Jagannath Mishra, Ustad Faiyyaz Ahmed Khan and Chhote Iqbal, the first of whom had also groomed his father.

A small music director called Shyamji Ghanshyamji who had heard him and gave him his first break in a modest Kishore Sahu film, Dhuan Ki Lakeer (1974) in a duet with Vani Jayaram, ‘Teri Jheel Se Gehri Aankhon Mein’.However, Nitin’s first release as a full – fledged singer was Sabse Bada Sukh (1972 / Salil Chowdhary) in which the song he sang was also lip – synched by him.. Through the 70’s, Nitin sang sporadically, like a line in Shankar – Jaikishan’s Do Jhoot (the Mera Naam Joker’s song was Jaikishan’s and the Do Jhoot number Shanker’s, reveals Nitin), two or three small films with Shyamji Ghanshyamji, R. D. Burman’s Trimurti (1974 – a multi – singer song) and Sapan Chakravarty’s Jab Andhera Hota Hai (1974 – his first solo). He also recorded for Kalyanji – Anandji’s Nasbandi.

But he got the attention on a large scale in 1978 – 79 with his three hit duets with Lata Mangeshkar. ‘Main Kaise Usse Pasand Karoon (Satyam Shivam Sundaram). ‘Gapuji Gapuji Gum Gum’ (Trishul) and ‘Aja Re Aaja Re O Mere Dilbar Aaja’ from Noorie.

In the 80’s, Nitin two of his most popular films – wherein he dominated the show were Laxmikant – Pyarelal’s Kranti (‘Zindagi Ki Na Toote Ladi’). He also scored with his popular songs in Khaiyyam’s Nakhuda (‘Tumhare Palkon Ki’), Shiv – Hari’s Chaandni ‘Tu Mujhe Suna’ and Rajesh Roshan’s Khudgarz (‘Zindagi Ka Naam Dosti’, Yahin Kahin Jiyara Hamar’), Khoon Bhari Maang (‘Hanste Hanste’) and Dariya Dil (‘Woh Kehte Hain Humsa’), Laxmikant Pyarelal’s Ram Lakhan (‘One Two ka Four’),Meri Jung (‘Jeet Jayenge Hum’), Tezaab (‘So Gaya Ye Jahan’) and other films including Parivaar, Khoj, Kasam, Aasman Se Ooncha, Kaala Bazar, Sone Pe Suhaaga, Sawaal and others.

But in the 90’s he lost ground rapidly despite the occasional popular number like ‘Sone Ki Cycle (Bhabhi / Anu Malik), ‘Is Jahan Se Nirali Hai’ (King Uncle) and ‘Tere Mere Hothon Pe (Aaina / Dilip Sen – Sameer Sen). He did have a 658 few other films like Ranbhoomi, Karm Yudh, Jaise Karni Waisi Bharni and Ghar Parivaar, but tastes and trends had changed and a new generation of singers had come in with the backing of music companies. The failure of Nitin based scores like Deshwasi and Jai Hind did the rest, and Nitin largely did devotional albums and shows.

Recently on the 23rd of Feb 2004, Neha Mukesh , Mukesh's grand daughter tied the nuptial knot with Alakshendra, son of Ragendraji and Mani Swarup, in Mumbai. Currently Nitin is virtually off films. He continues to do shows that are in demand and devotional albums, many of which have been huge successes.