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Kunal Khemu, who worked as a child artiste in
Mahesh Bhatt's "Hum Hain Rahi Pyaar Ke" (HHRPK) and
"Zakhm", is set to make his full-fledged acting
debut in "Kalyug".
Kunal plays a newly married young man from Kashmir
who unknowingly becomes the victim of a pornographic
racket. He and his wife are secretly filmed through
a hidden camera while on a honeymoon. He then takes
on the kingpins in the racket and gradually unveils
the goings-on in the porno world, reports Bollywood
Trade.
"It is a dream debut considering that most actors
have to start off with conventional love stories for
their first film," says Kunal about the film, being
made by Vishesh Films.
Commenting on his long association with Bhatt, who
had made "HHRPK and "Zakhm", Kunal says,
"Working with the banner of Vishesh Films and Mahesh
Bhatt is like returning home after a long time,
except that this time I am a matured adult with a
better perspective of the world."
It all started when Bhatt called him up and told him
that he was seriously considering casting him in his
next film. The 21-year-old, who had just finished
his college, grabbed the offer.
"It was something that I had been awaiting all the
time. I knew Mahesh Bhatt all along after having
worked with him in 'HHRPK' and 'Zakhm'. I had kept
in touch with him all these years and it was a
challenging role by all means," he adds.
Kunal was made a part of the team from day one.
Bhatt asked him to participate in all the story
sittings and discussions. "I got thoroughly
acquainted with my role in the process. Besides, I
began to share an excellent comfort level with
director Mohit Suri over a period of time," he
recalls.
Did the comfort level help when it came to
performing the bold and steamy scenes in the film?
"There are a few bold scenes in the film which are
consequential to the storyline, but the question of
being uncomfortable did not arise simply because I
looked at them as a professional. I looked at it as
the demand of the script and went with it,"
justifies Kunal.
Kunal is quick to defend the film and the banner of
Vishesh Films. "I am aware of the fact that people
tend to associate the banner of Vishesh Films with
bold and sensuous films after 'Murder' but they
conveniently try to forget some of the more
sensitive films that Mahesh Bhatt has made in the
past.
"Besides, 'Kalyug' is not just about sex and
pornography, it is a realistic film that addresses
the problem of the porn racket in which innocent
victims get trapped," he says.
So what does he think of the other blue-eyed boy of
the Bhatt's, Emraan Hashmi, and the image
that he has come to acquire? "That is his persona.
Apart from that he is a talented actor in his own
right who has his own set of priorities," he retorts
rather tactfully.
Kunal has already created a niche for himself in the
Bhatt camp and has bagged another project of the
banner. "It is a bit too premature to talk about
it," he says.
Kunal clarifies that he is open to working
with other banners and says, "I am here to do a lot
of good work which may or may not be with Vishesh
Films but Mahesh Bhatt will always remain a mentor
who introduced me to acting as a child artiste and
now as an adult." |
