Journalism of Courage
With two releases in the next couple of weeks,Kunal Khemu is on a roll
An actors life is a busy one,especially in a movie-obsessed land like India. When I call Kunal Khemu to fix a date for an interview,he sighs with regret and says,Im busy doing promotional events for my upcoming releases. You can come and meet me,but Im not sure well really get to talk. I take up the challenge.
Khemu can barely be called a star in Bollywoods galaxy,but the ring of bodyguards that surrounds him as he promotes Dhoondte Reh Jaoge in Mumbai would have anyone believe that hes one of the legendary Khans.
The movie,Khemu informs,is an out-and-out comedy. It will be followed by the new male-bonding story of Jai Veeru with Fardeen Khan the next Friday. In Dhoondte Reh Jaoge,Khemu and Paresh Rawal play a pair out to make money in any way possible. They formulate plans to make money,but all of them fail, says Khemu. They even set out to make a bad movie as part of their crazy formula. And does the plan work? He says,Id rather not give that out. You should just catch the movie.
The promo of the movie is equally zany Khemu and co-star Soha Ali Khan look on as contests are announced to an unresponsive audience. The challenges range from answering questions about the movie to finding music CDs hidden at the venue.
Khemu started out as a child actor,with movies like Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke and Raja Hindustani. His first movie as an adult actor was Kalyug,about the pornographic film industry and how it devastates peoples lives. His next was Madhur Bhandarkars Traffic Signal,about the people who inhabit Mumbais pavements. Khemu says he does not set out to work in movies with social messages. I choose movies that have an interesting plot, he says. The director is important,but ultimately I base my decision on the storyline.
Khemus work has got positive reviews,even if box-office success has eluded most of the projects. Unlike many industry people,he admits that critical acclaim does matter. Of course,mass popularity is important. But Id be lying if I said that I didnt appreciate the good things the critics have said about me. But tax him about his lack of solo hero roles and he goes on the defensive. The days of those kind of parts are over anyway,with the exception of a few like Ghajini.
As Khemu and Khan throw into the air fistfuls of fake cash stamped with the movies logo,one cant help but wonder if there is any truth to the rumours of the two being a couple. I dont want to give you the same clichéd answers,but the truth is were good friends, he clarifies. He may not be a star yet,but he sure knows how to answer like one.
