Non-hydrazine based hydrothermal synthesis of ZnSe nanostructures is reported. Zinc dust and elemental selenium were the starting materials for the synthesis. 4 h were consumed for the synthesis wherein merceptoacetic acid and methylamine were used for the dissolution of elemental precursors. Influence of Nd doping on growth and properties of the nanostructures is studied. Structural properties (X-ray diffraction) revealed that the nanoparticles grow in cubic crystal phase. Morphology of the nanostructures showed formation of microspheres that are formed by the agglomeration of smaller spherical nanoparticles. Optical properties demonstrated that the nanoparticles show red shift in the transmittance band upon doping making ultraviolet active ZnSe suitable for visible light photocatalysis. The photocatalytic activity of the nanostructures was demonstrated in the presence of ultraviolet and visible light photons separately. The doped samples show prominent activity than ZnSe nanoparticles in the visible light and the reason for this is optimum band gap and the electron scavenging property of Nd3+ ions that reduces electron hole recombination rate. The doped nanoparticles degraded more than 80 % of rhodamine B (RhB) in just two hours of visible light irradiation. The nanoparticles retained their properties after photocatalytic experiments were done, revealing their high stability. Photocatalytic degradation of the dye molecules resulted because of formation of highly oxidative species (free radicals) upon light illumination that was determined by the scavenger experiments.