Kunal Kemmu: Validation Is A Very Important And Integral Part Of An Actor's Life

Starting his acting career from childhood to now becoming one of the most versatile actors, Kunal Kemmu has come a long way. Over the years, he has delivered some really stellar performances in films across genres, be it thriller 'Malang', period drama 'Kalank', and also proved his mettle in acting in comedies like 'Golmaal' franchise, 'Dhol', and 'Lootcase' among others. 

In a recent interview with Outlook, when we asked Kunal if he needs validation for his work despite being such a talented actor, he said it's an 'important and integral' part of an actor's life. He also expressed his desire to work in a hardcore action film or a film where he gets an opportunity to dance. 

On the need for validation, Kunal said, "We are all human beings. How much we are going to run away from greed, we will always be part of it. And also, if you see it in a positive way....it's a good thing to say I am very satisfied but if I am satisfied it seems like the end of the journey also. Oh, I have achieved everything and now I can put my feet up. I think the want and the desire to do more and better is something that drives us to keep going. I think validation especially in an actor's life is a kind of seeking. You are trying to seek the validation of a maker who will find you interesting enough to cast you. Then you are seeking the validation of a lot of technicians who kind of feel excited to work with you. And finally, when your film comes out, you are seeking the validation of your critics and your audiences. So, I think it's a very important and integral part of any actor's life at least in the entertainment business or any other business. At work, you are seeking the validation of your boss for a job well done. I think we all are seeking validation in some way or the other."

When it comes to choosing a script or a character, Kunal says it's an 'instinctive call' and added, "Honestly, you can never tell what's going to work or not. But if instinctively something kind of shines out...the only other thing besides instinct and whatever the story or the film is which I have learned now which I was slightly naive to know is you also have to make sure that the people behind the film, are people who can see the film through. A lot of time you read a good script but it doesn't materialise into a good film because sometimes the producers are not able to kind of put in the money that the film needs or deserves. Or sometimes even if you make a good film they are not able to distribute and market it correctly. It never reaches the correct market at the correct time. So, I think besides instinct there are some logical and mathematical decisions to be made of seeing the right people are involved for that. At the end of the day, if you are working hard towards something, then the product should be available to the audience. It shouldn't be a film that people didn't know that it came to the theatres and they didn't know about it."

Life in the industry is filled with challenges be it insider or outsider. Kunal also said that every actor's life is filled with challenges. He further added, "You can never anticipate when it's going to come or when it's going to go away or change. That's what everybody who enters the business should know. That's what I tell a lot of kids when they come to become actors. I don't think any job in the world is always going to be all hunky-dory. You will always feel that the efforts are not necessarily received by the same appreciation. Sometimes you also begin to question the fact that if it's luck, talent, how much luck and talent, opportunity, or networking. It's all there. But at the end of the day, the only thing you are in control is of yourself. All of these things are beyond your control. All you need is to work on yourself but be prepared that there might be long periods of waiting or heartbreak or dejection or rejection. But then that will change and sometimes you will have something that you believe the least in will do the best thing and sometimes you believe in the most will do the least. It's going to be filled with all of that but you have to get your happiness from being an actor who gets to live this character and when people see it, it brings a smile to their face or moves them and when they look at you they enjoyed your film, that's the high that you live for."

When the 39-year-old actor was asked about his dream role, he said he doesn't have any and added, "When I hear a script and if I like it then it becomes something that I really want to do. But genre-wise, I would like to do a proper hardcore action film or a film where I get an opportunity to dance."