Kunal Khemu

Kunal Khemu (born Kunal Ravi Kemmu; 25 May 1983) is an Indian actor who works in Hindi cinema.

Kunal Khemu
Khemu in 2021
Born
Kunal Ravi Khemu

(1983-05-25) 25 May 1983
Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India
EducationBurn Hall School
N.L.D. High School
Alma materNM College
Amity Noida
OccupationActor
Years active1987–present
Spouse
​
(m. 2015)​
Children1
Relatives

Early life and background

Kunal Ravi Kemmu was born in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India on 25 May 1983 into a Kashmiri Pandit family to actors Ravi Kemmu & Jyoti Kemmu.[1] He is the older child to the couple and has a younger sister named Karishma Kemmu. He stayed in Srinagar in early years and got initial education from Burn Hall School, but shifted to Jammu after the Insurgency in Kashmir during the 1990s, for being a Kashmiri Hindu. Later, his family stayed in Mira Road area of Mumbai, Maharashtra. He finished his schooling from N. L. Dalmia High School in Mira Road; and later attended SVKM's Narsee Monjee College of Commerce and Economics in Vile Parle for his further studies. He now lives in Khar, Mumbai.

His grandfather, Moti Lal Kemmu (original spelling of last name) is a Kashmiri playwright and a recipient of several awards by the government of Jammu and Kashmir: Rashtra Bhasa Prachar Samiti, Sahitya Akademi award in 1982 for his contribution to Kashmiri literature as a playwright and Padma Shri.[2]

Personal life
Khemu with his wife Soha Ali Khan at a party in 2016

Khemu was in a relationship with actress Soha Ali Khan Pataudi since May 2013.[3][4] The couple got engaged in July 2014 and got married in a private ceremony in Mumbai on 25 January 2015 in the presence of selected members of Soha's Family. Through his marriage to Khan, he is related to the Pataudi family. On 29 September 2017, Khan gave birth to their daughter Inaaya Naumi Khemu.[5][6]

Career

Kunal made his debut as a child actor appearing in the Doordarshan TV series Gul Gulshan Gulfaam (1987), directed by Ved Rahi. He made his film debut with Mahesh Bhatt's movie Sir (film) (1993). He went on to star as a child artist in movies including Raja Hindustani, Zakhm, Bhai, Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke, and Dushman.

He played the male lead in the 2005 film Kalyug, which was directed by Mohit Suri.[7][8] Kalyug was based on the pornography industry. In 2007, his first release was Madhur Bhandarkar's Traffic Signal, where he played a street-smart money lender who lends money to poor families, but always gets it back with interest.

His second release of 2007 was Dhol in which he again played lead. In 2008, in his only release, Superstar, he featured in a double role. In 2009, he starred in Dhoondte Reh Jaaoge and Jai Veeru. In 2009, he appeared in the comic-thriller 99. In 2010, he appeared in Golmaal 3 in which he played a supporting role as Laxman.

In 2012, he appeared in Mukesh Bhatt's Blood Money, in which played the lead role as Kunal Kadam, an honest and hard worker who is unknowingly taken into the dark side of Diamond Trade by his Boss. He co-starred in Go Goa Gone, a Zombie comedy film, which was released on 10 May 2013. Both the films fared well at the box office.

In 2015, after over a two-year break, Kunal returned to the screen with the thriller Bhaag Johnny about a man who gets to live two lives by the help of a Jinn, portrayed by director Vikram Bhatt. Though the film began shooting in 2013, it released on 25 September 2015 to mixed reviews and low box office collections. His second release of the same year was the comedy film Guddu Ki Gun, in which Kunal appears in the title role along with Sumeet Vyas. In 2017, he did a voice over in an animated film Hanuman: Da' Damdaar in role of Lord Indra. He also appeared in the fourth installment of Golmaal (film series) named Golmaal Again reprising his famous role of Laxman Sharma. He portrayed a noteworthy negative character in Malang and gained critical acclaim for his role in Kalank .[9]

ZEE5 team will go on the release the Abhay Season 2[10] in September 2020 and the streaming will be in October 2020. Kunal Khemu playing main role in this web series. This series directed by Ken Ghosh. He will return as the investigating officer in Season 3 as well.[11]

Filmography

Films
Year Title Role(s) Notes Ref.
1993SirKunalFilm Debut (Child actor)[12][13]
Hum Hain Rahi Pyar KeSunny[12][13]
1994NaaraazSunny[13]
1996Raja HindustaniRajnikant[12][13]
1997TamannaYoung Sajid[13]
BhaiKisna[13]
1998ZakhmYoung AjayScreen Award for Best Child Artist[12][14]
DushmanBheem Bahadur Singh
AngaarayYoung Amar
2005KalyugKunal P. DarrFilm Debut (Lead actor)
2007Traffic SignalSilsila[15]
DholGautam Sisodia (Goti)[16]
2008SuperstarKunal Mehra / Karan Saxena (Twins)[17]
2009Dhoondte Reh JaaogeCA Anand Pawar[18]
Jai VeeruVeeru / Veer Sharma[19]
99Sachin[20]
2010Golmaal 3Laxman Sharma[21]
2012Blood MoneyKunal Kadam[22]
2013Go Goa GoneHardik[23]
2014Mr Joe B. CarvalhoHimselfSpecial appearance[24]
2015Bhaag JohnnyJanardhan "Johnny" Arora[25]
Guddu Ki GunGowardhan "Guddu" Prasad[26]
2017Hanuman: Da' DamdaarLord IndraVoice role[27]
Poster BoysHimselfSpecial appearance
Golmaal AgainLaxman Sharma[28]
2018SimmbaHimselfSpecial appearance[29]
2019KalankAbdul Khan[30]
2020MalangMichael Rodriguez[31]
LootcaseNandan Kumar[32]
2023Kanjoos MakhichoosJamuna Prasad Pandey[33]

Web series
Year Title Role Platform Notes
2019–present Abhay SP Abhay Pratap Singh ZEE5 3 seasons
2023 Pop Kaun? Sahil Disney+ Hotstar 6 episodes

Television
Year Series Notes
1987Gul Gulshan GulfaamTV Debut as a Child actor
1989Chitra Kathaien1 Episode ″Jhoot ka Aalam″
2010 Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi 3 Contestant

Short Film
Year Film Role Notes
2014HaircutHimselfSpecial appearance

Awards and nominations
Year Film Category Award Result Ref.
1998 Zakhm Best Child Artist Screen Awards Won [34]
2006 Kalyug Superstar of Tomorrow - Male Stardust Awards Won
2014 Go Goa Gone Best Dialogue Screen Awards Nominated [35]
Best Performance in a Comic Role - Male Nominated

References
  1. "Kunal Khemu is sad that Srinagar in on news for bloodshed". Daily News and Analysis. 3 March 2009. Archived from the original on 14 April 2012. Retrieved 2 March 2010.
  2. "Kashmiri Playwrights". Ikashmir.net. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  3. "Soha Ali khan: Living-in with Kunal Khemu is like being married". Movies.ndtv.com. 9 May 2013. Archived from the original on 30 July 2013. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
  4. "Spotted: Soha Ali Khan with beau Kunal Khemu". Mid-day.com. 8 October 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  5. "Soha Ali Khan, Kunal Khemu get engaged". The Hindu. 24 July 2014. Archived from the original on 13 December 2019. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  6. "Soha Ali Khan Marries Kunal Khemu, Saif-Kareena Play Hosts - NDTV Movies". Movies.ndtv.com. 25 January 2015. Archived from the original on 25 January 2015. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  7. Subhash K Jha (21 December 2005). "Kunal Khemu: Child grows up". Sify. Archived from the original on 18 December 2014. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  8. "Coming of age: Interview". Screen. 9 December 2005.
  9. "Kunal Khemu does cameo in Mr Joe B. Carvalho | Bollywood News | Hindi Movies News | News". Bollywood Hungama. 12 December 2013. Archived from the original on 15 December 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  10. "Abhay Season 2". webseriesreviews.com. 4 May 2020. Archived from the original on 23 July 2020. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  11. "Abhay 3: The Cast Of Kunal Kemmu Starrer Expand As Vijay Raaz, Rahul Dev, Vidya Malavade Join The Show". Koimoi. 25 January 2022. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
  12. "From Aamir Khan to Urmila Matondkar, 10 child actors who made it big". Business Today. 14 November 2019. Archived from the original on 27 March 2020. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  13. "I feel underutilised as an actor". Outlook India. 29 February 2020. Archived from the original on 27 March 2020. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  14. "Award Winners". Screen. Archived from the original on 22 October 1999. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  15. "Kunal Khemu has made a comeback in Madhur Bhandarkar's Traffic Signal". Hindustan Times. 3 February 2007. Archived from the original on 27 March 2020. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  16. "Dhol". The Indian Express. 1 November 2007. Archived from the original on 11 October 2020. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  17. "Kunal Khemu starrer Superstar". Bollywood Hungama. 17 October 2011. Archived from the original on 27 March 2020. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  18. "Dhoondte Reh Jaoge with Kunal Khemu & Soha Ali Khan". Sify. Archived from the original on 27 March 2020. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  19. "'Jai Veeru'; a 'humourous' [sic] saga of cops, crooks". Daily News and Analysis. 14 March 2009. Archived from the original on 27 March 2020. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  20. "Kunal Khemu releases music album of 99". Hindustan Times. 17 April 2009. Archived from the original on 27 March 2020. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  21. "I was the butt of many jokes on G3 sets". The Indian Express. 28 October 2010. Archived from the original on 27 March 2020. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  22. "My character in 'Blood Money' is relatable". The Indian Express. 19 March 2012. Archived from the original on 11 October 2020. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  23. "'Go Goa Gone' was once in a lifetime experience". The Indian Express. 26 September 2012. Archived from the original on 11 October 2020. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  24. "Kunal Khemu does cameo in Mr Joe B. Carvalho". Bollywood Hungama. 12 December 2013. Archived from the original on 27 March 2020. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  25. "Kunal Khemu back as lover boy with 'Bhaag Johnny'". Business Standard. 12 August 2015. Archived from the original on 27 March 2020. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  26. "Kunal Khemu's male organ to be main attraction in Guddu Ki Gun?". India Today. 2 March 2014. Archived from the original on 27 March 2020. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  27. "'Hanuman Da Damdaar': A modern retelling of Hanuman the great!". Business Standard. 3 June 2017. Archived from the original on 27 March 2020. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  28. "Shooting for 'Golmaal Again' wrapped up". The New Indian Express. 22 August 2017. Archived from the original on 27 March 2020. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  29. "Simmba: Golmaal cast to make special appearance". Firstpost. 31 October 2018. Archived from the original on 27 March 2020. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  30. "Played the part to the best of my ability". India TV. 25 April 2019. Archived from the original on 27 March 2020. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  31. "Kunal Kemmu glad to reunite with Mohit Suri in 'Malang'". Gulf News. 27 January 2020. Archived from the original on 27 March 2020. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  32. "Lootcase Movie Review: Kunal Kemmu and his bag full of money are worth your time". India Today. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  33. "Kunal Kemmu and Shweta Tripathi's next Kanjoos Makkhichoos is based on a heartwarming super hit Gujarati play". Bollywood Hungama. 24 October 2021. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  34. "Awards winner". 22 October 1999. Archived from the original on 22 October 1999.
  35. "Kunal Kemmu". Bollywood Hungama. 25 March 2021.
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