Dark Knight Rises

He made an impressive debut,first as a model and then as Arjun Punj in the show Kitani Mohabbat Hai (Imagine TV) in 2008. One of the contestants in the Mr India contest in the same year,he won “Mr Style Statement” and landed his first role as an actor when Ekta Kapoor saw his pictures on Facebook,and signed him up. From playing Veeru in Bayttaab Dil Kee Tamanna Hai (Sony TV) to being a contestant in dance reality show,Zara Nachke Dikha (Star Plus),to now being nominated in the best anchor category for Channel V’s Gumrah at the upcoming Indian Television awards,Kundra has travelled far — and feels on top of the world. “It’s an honour to be nominated along with Manish Paul,Anoop Soni,Amitabh Bachchan,Salman Khan and Aamir Khan,” says the actor,whom Gumrah made into a youth ambassador. “The show deals with youngsters,teenagers and their problems and we’ve got an amazing response,especially from parents,” says Kundra.

While television has been his entry point,the actor is foraying into films as well,with a “thrilling” line-up. “I’ve signed on some really dark and sinister ones,” he says. “There is a three-film contract with Vikram Bhatt. I am doing his Horror Story,a film dealing with the paranormal and supernatural. It’s going to be made into a series on the lines of 1920,Raaz and Murder. There is also India’s first psychological thriller with Prateik Babbar,” says Kundra. He will also be starring in Rum Pom Posh,a film that was initially offered to Neil Nitin Mukesh.

Kundra has also debuted in Punjabi cinema with Pure Punjabi,which released in mid-January 2012. It was a hit that ran on for seven weeks. This year,he will be seen in Munish Sharma’s comedy,Mere Yaar Kaminey that also stars Anita Kailey,Gaurav Kakkar,Amandeep Sutdhar,Isha Rikhi,Dhriti Saharan and Vishal Karwal. About the current boom in Punjabi cinema,though,he has mixed feelings. “Even those who can’t speak the language or know the culture are flocking to find work here. The boom will disappear in a year and only quality will survive,” he feels.