As a journalist, he has covered conflict and insurgency over the past two decades in South Asia, traveling deep into the
hinterland. His travels have taken him from the rebel heartlands of
Kashmir to
Naxalite-dominated areas of central and eastern India, to the faraway north-east which is home to some of the world's longest-running insurgencies. For his reportage from India's insurgency lands, he received the
Ramnath Goenka Award for Excellence in Journalism and the
K.C. Kulish Memorial Award in the year 2009. He has written five books, including
The Absent State (2010), which he co-wrote with
Rahul Pandita Neelesh started his career as a Bollywood lyricist when while researching for a book in Mumbai, he met director
Mahesh Bhatt, which led to his debut song
Jaadu Hai Nasha Hai for
Jism (2003), In 2012, he co-wrote the screenplay for
Salman Khan starrer,
Ek Tha Tiger, along with film's director Kabir Khan. In 2011, the band released its debut album,
Rewind, consisting of songs and storytelling, put together with narrative recited by Misra. He is also a blogger. His blog contains his experiences during his days as senior roving editor, his thoughts on various issues, and the poems he has written. He hosts a radio show,
Yadoon Ka Idiotbox on
BIG FM 92.7, set in fictitious small town,
Yaad Sheher, and which started its second season in 2012. He also hosts " The Neelash Mishra" show on 93.5 RED FM. Since Nov 2018, he hosts The Slow Interview With Neelesh Misra show on Youtube. ==Books==