Kunal Kemmu, who's making his debut as a director with Madgaon Express, is busy giving interviews left, right and centre at the Excel Entertainment office. Despite being busier than a bee, he still looks fresh as a hot cup of coffee. He's at his gracious best asking whether I had something to eat or drink before starting the interview. The bonhomie spills over when his producer, Farhan Akhtar, comes in to say hi. The duo hug it out and Farhan praises his director non-stop before exiting the room. Writing is in his blood. His grandfather, Moti Lal Kemmu, is a noted Kashmiri playwright, who has been bestowed with honours such as the Sahitya Academy Award and the Padma Shri. Kunal was one of the writers for the zombie comedy Go Goa Gone and has written Madgaon Express as well. He doesn't display any jitters of being a first time director as he amicably answers my questions without pulling any punches.
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME A DIRECTOR WITH MADGAON EXPRESS?
I just love films. I'd been on the sets since I was six years old and fell in love with acting. I have stories in my head that I want to write. I ended up being a writer for a film like Go Goa Gone, which allowed me to learn the skill of writing. Madgaon Express is a film that I wrote imagining every little detail. It was Riteish Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar who said, 'Why don't you direct it?' I jumped at the opportunity. But at the end of the day, they are going to put their money into it. So I asked twice-are you confident? But they had faith in me. I am happy that I took this chance. And we enjoyed every single day on the sets.
JOURNEYS ARE A RECURRENT THEME OF ALL THE FILMS PRODUCED BY EXCEL. HOW DIFFERENT IS THE JOURNEY DEPICTED IN YOUR FILM?
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Denne historien er fra April 2024-utgaven av Filmfare.
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Hello Miss Sunshine!
Shraddha Kapoor Is All Things Nice With A Dash Of Spice. The Actress Chats Nineteen To The Dozen With Anuradha Choudhary
SHAPER Οf CONSCIENCE
The ever reticent filmmaker Rajkumar Gupta opens up to Rachit Gupta about his decision to make a series on Big Pharma and more
It's a wonderful life!
Neelam Kothari Soni confides in Farhana Farook that she's currently enjoying her best phase both personally and professionally
Stop the SHAME!
Bollywood celebrities often face intense scrutiny for their appearance, with recent trolling of Alia Bhatt highlighting this issue. Many speculated about her looks, suggesting she had undergone Botox.
ELVISH HAS LEFT THE BUILDING!
ROBERT ARAMAYO, WHO PLAYS THE HALF-HUMAN, HALF-ELF ELROND IN THE THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RINGS OF POWER SERIES TALKS TO TANZIM PARDIWALLA ABOUT BEING PART OF TOLKIEN'S WORLD
The Darjeeling Unlimited
SUDHANSHU SARIA talks about directing Ulajh and reflects on his journey so far in a conversation with VEDANSHI PATHAK
Melodies & Memories
Some memories make songs. Some songs make memortes. Music director Anandji, of the Kalyanji-Anandjt duo, handpicks such compositions in conversation with Farhana Farook
Soundcheck
HOTSHOT COMPOSERS SACHIN-JIGAR TELL SRIJANI ROY CHOWDHURY THAT COMPOSING IS ALL ABOUT SWAG
THE CHAMELEON
RAGHAV JUYAL ISN'T JUST A TOP DANCER, HE'S TURNING INTO A CONSUMMATE ACTOR AS WELL. HE CHARTS HIS JOURNEY WITH SRIJANI ROY CHOWDHURY
THE GRADUATE
AFTER WORKING WITH HIS GURU VISHAL BHARDWAJ FOR YEARS, DIRECTOR ADITYA NIMBALKAR OF SECTOR 36 FAME HAS PASSED WITH FLYING COLOURS. SUMAN SHARMA CAPTURES HIS EUPHORIA