Actor Kunal Kemmu is reflecting on his journey in the industry, particularly his experience working on the National Award-winning film ‘Zakhm’.
During a recent conversation while promoting his upcoming streaming series ‘Single Papa’, Kunal shared his thoughts about ‘Zakhm’, a film directed by Mahesh Bhatt and inspired by his life.
A Milestone in His Career
Walking down memory lane, Kunal expressed, “I think that was a very critical film in my career which made me solidify my belief in myself as an actor. Before that, I was ‘a kid in a film’. So half the time, I was not sure. I used to think, ‘Are they just finding me just cute or do they really look beyond the cuteness’? And, ‘Are they laughing because I’ve been handed one-liners?’. If it was ‘Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke’, they were just liking me because I was an eight-year-old who was saying those lines.”
He continued, “But in ‘Zakhm’, it was for the first time that I thought, ‘Okay, I’m getting respect out of this more than just, ‘Oh, he’s such a nice kid’. So for me, that was the most important thing. The fondest memories are of working with Bhatt sahab. I think he’s been an integral part of my acting career and has been one of the most motivational people in my life. He also gave me a re-launch with a film like ‘Kalyug’.”
A Significant Project
Kunal highlighted how critical ‘Zakhm’ was, noting that it marked Mahesh Bhatt’s last directorial venture for years until he made ‘Sadak 2’. Additionally, it was Pooja Bhatt’s last film as an actor and Kunal’s final film as a child actor.
“I was very happy to be a part of it. I remember Mahesh Bhatt told me years before he made the film that he wanted to include me. He said, ‘If you’re not in it, I won’t make it’. I thought he was just lying. I was in the 10th standard at the time, and there was a moment I believed I wouldn’t be able to participate. Mukesh Bhatt called my house and spoke to my dad, saying, ‘Bhatt sahab will not make the film if you’re not onboard. So please make sure that you can do the film because he wanted to make the film.’ I have a lot of respect and love for Bhatt sahab for giving me a film like that. We’re still talking about it. I was 15 then, and it is one of the most important films of my life,” he added.