Kunal Khemu stunned film critics with his powerhouse performance in Traffic Signal After a superlative performance in Mahesh Bhatt’s Kalyug, Kunal Khemu was fortunate to work under brilliant director Madhur Bhandarkar's Traffic Signal. In this film he played a Mumbai street gang leader at Traffic signal. To get into the skin of the role, both Madhur Bhandarkar and Kunal Khemu worked hard on his looks. He was given a realistic yet stylish look. Kunal worked on his body language and the rowdy Mumbai accent. Overall he gave an excellent role and won rave reviews from film critics.
Kunal made his debut in films unknowingly Yes, it’s true that Kunal made his debut in film unknowingly. He made his first appearance in a TV serial, Gul Gulshan Gulfam (1987). But few are aware that Kunal was not part of the TV serial. So, readers may wonder, how did he appeared in the TV serial? Well, Kunal hails from Srinagar. When he was just 4 years old he was playing in the green valley without knowledge that a TV unit was shooting. TV director Ved Rahi was shooting for a Doordarshan serial, Gul Gulshan Gulfam in Srinagar close to Kunal’s house. Kunal was not aware about films or shooting so unaware of the shooting he kept playing and was caught on camera. Thus one can see a fleeting appearance of Kunal in the TV serial Gul Gulshan Gulfam (1987). Kunal’s family migrated to Mumbai Kunal’s family holds high prestige in Jammu and Kashmir. His grandfather Moti Lal Kemmu won Padma Shri from government of India for his contribution in Drama and theatre. Both his father and mother are great theater actors hence Kunal was born with acting in his blood. In the late 80’s his family migrated from Srinagar to Mumbai due to rise in terror and atrocities on Kashmiri Pandits. They stayed at Mumbai’s suburb Mira Road where young Kunal joined Niranjanlal Dalmia High School in Mira Road.
The unusual love story of Kunal Khemu and Soha Ali Khan The match of Kunal Khemu and Soha Ali Khan is unusual because while Soha Ali Khan is educated from Oxford University, Kunal Khemu did his schooling from Niranjanlal Dalmia High School in Mira Road, Mumbai but its destiny that brought the two closer. Soha first met Kunal on the sets of the film 99 ((2009). Initially she felt Kunal to be an Oxford graduate but later she released that he was the hero of the film. The film was a flop and the two went by their way but once again they united for their second film Dhoondte Reh Jaaoge (2009). In the beginning Soha did not find Kunal even worth of her friendship so relationship was distance. But during the making of the Dhoondte Reh Jaaoge, Soha found Kunal interesting and grounded. Soon friendship blossomed and inadvertently they fell in love. In 2014, when Soha and Kunal were together enjoying in romantic Paris, where Kunal proposed Soha with a diamond ring!. The two tied the knot on January 25, 2015.
Film legend Mahesh Bhatt became Kunal Khemu’s mentor Since Kunal’s parents were theatre artist, little Kunal too began frequenting theatre with his parents and was attracted to acting. He did few plays as child artist and was once noticed by noted filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt. He was impressed by young Kunal and gave him his first break in his film Sir (1993). The movie was hit and young Kunal became a permanent member of Mahesh Bhatt’s camp. He did many films like Dushman (1998), Naaraaz (1994), Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke (1993), Angaaray (1998), Tamanna (1998) and last but not the least Mahesh Bhatt’s most beautiful film Zakhm (1998) that won him National Award. In this film Kunal had a difficult role. He played the young Ajay Devgn, who is abandoned by his father and lives with his mother. It was an emotional role and was quite crucial. Overwhelmed by Kunal’s wonderful performance, Mahesh Bhatt had assured Kunal that he will give him a break as an adult. Another other hit films that Kunal did as a child artist was Raja Hindustani. In this film he had a good role opposite Aamir Khan. Mahesh Bhatt lived to his words and gave Kunal his first break as a hero After Zakham, Kunal took a break from film on his father’s advice. His father told him that most child artist were not able to make a successful career as hero/ heroine because they tried to become hero/heroine, even before their memory as child-actors was not erased from the minds of film buffs. So his father asked Kunal to let people forget him as a child actor and return to cinema after a gap when his memory as child actor is erased from the memory of people. Kunal followed his father’s advice and focused on his studies and even joined theatre to improvise his acting skill. When he was 22 years old, he was surprised to hear a call from Mahesh Bhatt, who offered him a film as a hero! Kunal Khemu was hesitant to do Mahesh Bhatt’s film Readers would be surprised to know when Mahesh Bhatt called Kunal to offer him his film, Kunal was overjoyed but soon his excitement fizzed out when Mahesh Bhatt told him that the name of the film was ‘Blue Film.’ Since Mahesh Bhatt was making a film to expose the blue film industry and how it secretly captured couples engaged in sex and minted money. The name of the film created controversy and Bhatt was forced to re-name it as Kalyug (2005). The film was an instant hit. After the success of Kalyug, Kunal gave two more hits Traffic Signal and Dhol. In all the three films Kunal did variety of roles and was accepted by Bollywood. In fact Mumbai’s famous film magazine, Stardust had awarded him with the unique award of - Superstar of Tomorrow. Kunal Khemu’s career went berserk due to wrong selection of movies After a hat trick of hits, Kunal’s career suddenly went berserk as he signed some wrong films and gave a string of flops like Superstar, Dhoondte Reh Jaaoge, Jai Veeru, 99, Blood Money, Go Goa Gone, Mr Joe B. Carvalho, Bhaag Johnny, Guddu Ki Gun. The only saving grace during his career was his comic performance in Rohit Shetty’s Golmaal 3 and Golmaal Again.
# | Released Date | Type | Credited As | Movie |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 31 Dec 2025 | Film | Actor | Golmaal 5 |
2 | 22 Mar 2024 | Film | DirectorStory WriterScreenplay | Madgaon Express |
3 | 15 Mar 2024 | Film | Actor | Murder Mubarak |
4 | 24 Mar 2023 | Film | Actor | Kanjoos Makhichoos |
5 | 31 Jul 2020 | Film | Actor | Lootcase |
6 | 07 Feb 2020 | Film | Actor | Malang |
7 | 17 Apr 2019 | Film | Supporting Actor | Kalank |
8 | 28 Dec 2018 | Film | Guest Appearance | Simmba |
9 | 20 Oct 2017 | Film | Actor | Golmaal Again |
10 | 08 Sep 2017 | Film | Guest Appearance | Poster Boys |