Kunal Kemmu: Felt really hollow around 2008-2009, I felt alone

Kunal Kemmu File.Pic/Yogen Shah

Kunal Kemmu is known to be one of the most successful and popular child actors. He has acted in films like Hum Hain Rahi Pyaar Ke, Bhai, Raja Hindustani, and Zakhm. He made his Bollywood debut with Mohit Suri's Kalyug and went on to do films like 99, Go Goa Gone, Kalank, Malang, Dhol, Golmaal 3 and 4, and Lootcase.

In an interview with Hindustan Times, he spoke about his Bollywood career so far, feeling alone and hollow during the time of 2008 and 2009, and the pros and cons of the Hindi film industry. He also shed light on completing 15 years in Bollywood.

He said, "Roller coaster is a good way of putting it. I am an adrenaline junkie (laughs) There have been a lot of ups and downs, learnings. You look back and say ‘I have seen it all' or ‘I need to see some more'. There are beautiful sides to this industry which not everybody knows, which you don't understand. They seem to be fair, unfair, that's the nature of the beast."

Talking about the low point of his career, Kemmu revealed, "I felt really hollow around 2008-2009. I felt there were things bigger than me, I didn't know how I would deal to tackle them, or even equipped to deal with them, I felt alone. All of us go through it. I worked really hard."

He added, "I got a lot of affection, it didn't put me directly in ranks of someone who lands a Dharma or Yash Raj film. I was a theatre boy, who said it doesn't matter how big or small a part is, I just believe in the script. I think I was also a bit naïve, and felt I have all the learnings. I did try and do this, and learn on the job, as opposed to being prepared for it. Kalyug, Traffic did really well, Dhol was a box office success, but Superstar was my first flop. I don't think the fact that it didn't do well hit me as hard as what came after that, how things changed. In the industry, it depends on the box office you had."