[1][3][4] His parents are Subhash and Bharathi,[4] and their family hails from Neelakantapuram village, near Madakasira in Andhra Pradesh.

[1][7][8] In an interview with a Kannada weekly magazine, Neel said he took to filmmaking initially for the need of money, following which he completed a course in the same, eventually developing interest in it.

After having completed the course, he decided to cast his brother-in-law and actor Sriimurali in Aa Hudugi Neene, a screenplay that he had written during the time.

After the latter expressed his concerns due to his inexperience, Neel changed his mind and began observing Srimurali's mannerisms over a period of time, and came up with the project Ugramm, an action film.

His next film KGF: Chapter 1 which stands for Kolar Gold Fields has Yash playing the role of Rocky, an orphan who becomes a don.