Kunal Khemu has come a long way since he began his career as a child artist. Debuting in Vishesh Films’ Kalyug back in 2005, he is back with the banner for his upcoming film Blood Money. Here’s Khemu in conversation with Rohini Nag, talking about Blood Money, why the long gaps between films and much more.
The opening of any film is of prime importance. How are you trying to ensure that Blood Money opens with a bang?
I don’t know if there is any formula to guarantee a good opening unless you are Salman Khan. Yes, it’s very important to me that Blood Money opens well and I will go all out to promote it on every platform that we have access to. Beyond that, we need to have faith in our film and hope people turn up to watch it.
Your last release was Golmaal 3 in 2010. Why did you lie low before coming back with films like Blood Money and Go Goa Gone?
Making a film is a long process and starting one is even slower and tougher at times. It’s not that I deliberately lay low or didn’t want to work. I would rather wait to do good work than do just about anything that comes my way. It has been a while but I am very happy with the films I’m doing and excited to see how they are received by our audience. Blood Money is a romantic thriller and Go Goa Gone is the first of its kind as it is a zombie film.
What is Blood Money all about?
Blood Money is a romantic thriller which deals with the dreams and aspirations of a young man. It’s about ambition, greed, lust, crime, loss of innocence and the clash between principles and the pursuit of success.
The film dwells on ambition and the lengths to which one will go to achieve fame. Have you ever crossed that line?
What is the line? I think everyone’s definition of the line is different. I haven’t crossed
mine.
What will Blood Money help you achieve, career-wise and personally?
Only time will tell. I will continue to make the most of every good opportunity and do my job with complete honesty. I really cannot predict where the film will take my career.
There were pictures on the Internet of a very intimate scene and song between you and your co star Mia Uyeda. How comfortable were you while doing it?
There is an intimate moment between my character and Mia although that’s not what the film is about. So it would be wrong to publicize that and mislead the audience. It is a very important part of the film as it leads the story into a dark space. It’s never easy to shoot such scenes and, of course, I was nervous.
You made your debut in 2005 with Kalyug, and although expectations were high, your career didn’t exactly go as expected. Did you analyze where things went wrong?
As an actor, there is only so much I can do. There are a lot of other factors that go into making a film and promoting it, and honestly, no one can foresee how a film fares at the box office. Maybe I could have done a few things differently but I don’t have any major regrets. I am happy I am still able to do the work I like and hope the future has pleasant surprises in store.
What is Go Goa Gone all about?
It’s going to be a first-of-its-kind film. It’s a story that Raj Nidimoru, Krishna DK and I have worked on together for some time and we were very happy with the way the script shaped up. It’s a fun film with lots of action comedy and most importantly zombies. This is my second film with them and I really enjoy working with them. They have an edgy method and vision to offer our audience.
Is marriage with Soha Ali Khan on the cards soon?
Not as yet.
Over the years, how has your relationship with the Bhatts grown?
I have known Bhatt saab since I was eight years old. He was the first director I worked with. Soon after that, I met Mukeshji and worked with his banner Vishesh Films. My last film as a child actor (Zakhm) was also with them and it was they who launched me in Kalyug. So, Bhatt saab has always been like a father figure and Vishesh Films is like family to me.
Tags: Blood Money Go Goa Gone Golmaal 3 Interviews Krishna DK Kunal Khemu Mahesh Bhatt Raj Nidimoru
