Kunal Khemu (born Kunal Ravi Kemmu; 25 May 1983) is an Indian actor and filmmaker who works in Hindi cinema.

Early and personal life

Kunal Ravi Kemmu was born in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India on 25th May, 1983 into a Kashmiri Pandit family to actors Ravi Kemmu & Jyoti Kemmu. He is the older child to the couple and has a younger sister named Karishma Kemmu. He stayed in Srinagar in early years and got initial education from Burn Hall School, but shifted to Jammu after the Insurgency in Kashmir during the 1990s for being a Kashmiri Hindu. Later, his family stayed in Mira Road area of Mumbai, Maharashtra. He finished his schooling from N. L. Dalmia High School in Mira Road; and later attended SVKM's Narsee Monjee College of Commerce and Economics in Vile Parle for his further studies. He now lives in Khar, Mumbai.
His grandfather, Moti Lal Kemmu (original spelling of last name) is a Kashmiri playwright and a recipient of several awards by the government of Jammu and Kashmir: Rashtra Bhasa Prachar Samiti, Sahitya Akademi award in 1982 for his contribution to Kashmiri literature as a playwright and Padma Shri.

Khemu was in a relationship with actress Soha Ali Khan Pataudi since May 2013. The couple got engaged in July 2014 and got married in a private ceremony in Mumbai on 25 January 2015 in the presence of selected members of Soha's Family. Through his marriage to Khan, he is related to the Pataudi family.On 29 September 2017, Khan gave birth to their daughter Inaaya Naumi Khemu.

Early life and background

Kunal Ravi Kemmu was born in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India on 25 May 1983 into a Kashmiri Pandit family to actors Ravi Kemmu & Jyoti Kemmu. He is the older child to the couple and has a younger sister named Karishma Kemmu. He stayed in Srinagar in early years and got initial education from Burn Hall School, but shifted to Jammu after the Insurgency in Kashmir during the 1990s. Later, his family stayed in Mira Road area of Mumbai, Maharashtra. He finished his schooling from N. L. Dalmia High School in Mira Road; and later attended SVKM's Narsee Monjee College of Commerce and Economics in Vile Parle for his further studies. He now lives in Khar, Mumbai.His grandfather, Moti Lal Kemmu (original spelling of last name) is a Kashmiri playwright and a recipient of several awards by the government of Jammu and Kashmir: Rashtra Bhasa Prachar Samiti, Sahitya Akademi award in 1982 for his contribution to Kashmiri literature as a playwright and Padma Shri. He is the older child to the couple and has a younger sister named Karishma Kemmu. He stayed in Srinagar in early years and got initial education from Burn Hall School, but shifted to Jammu after the Insurgency in Kashmir during the 1990s. Later, his family stayed in Mira Road area of Mumbai, Maharashtra. He finished his schooling from N. L. Dalmia High School in Mira Road; and later attended SVKM's Narsee Monjee College of Commerce and Economics in Vile Parle for his further studies. He now lives in Khar, Mumbai.His grandfather, Moti Lal Kemmu (original spelling of last name) is a Kashmiri playwright and a recipient of several awards by the government of Jammu and Kashmir: Rashtra Bhasa Prachar Samiti, Sahitya Akademi award in 1982 for his contribution to Kashmiri literature as a playwright and Padma Shri.

Career

Kunal made his debut as a child actor appearing in the Doordarshan TV series ''Gul Gulshan Gulfaam'' (1987), directed by Ved Rahi. He made his film debut with Mahesh Bhatt's movie ''Sir (film)'' (1993). He went on to star as a child artist in movies including ''Raja Hindustani'', ''Zakhm'', ''Bhai'', ''Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke'', ''and Dushman.''He played the male lead in the 2005 film ''Kalyug'', which was directed by Mohit Suri.Kunal made his debut as a child actor appearing in the Doordarshan TV series ''Gul Gulshan Gulfaam'' (1987), directed by Ved Rahi. He made his film debut with Mahesh Bhatt's movie ''Sir (film)'' (1993). He went on to star as a child artist in movies including ''Raja Hindustani'', ''Zakhm'', ''Bhai'', ''Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke'', ''and Dushman.''He played the male lead in the 2005 film ''Kalyug'', which was directed by Mohit Suri. ''Kalyug'' was based on the pornography industry. In 2007, his first release was Madhur Bhandarkar's ''Traffic Signal'', where he played a street-smart money lender who lends money to poor families, but always gets it back with interest.His second release of 2007 was ''Dhol'' in which he again played lead. In 2008, in his only release, ''Superstar'', he featured in a double role. In 2009, he starred in ''Dhoondte Reh Jaaoge'' and ''Jai Veeru''. In 2009, he appeared in the comic-thriller ''99''. In 2010, he appeared in ''Golmaal 3'' in which he played a supporting role as Laxman.In 2012, he appeared in Mukesh Bhatt's ''Blood Money'', in which played the lead role as Kunal Kadam, an honest and hard worker who is unknowingly taken into the dark side of Diamond Trade by his Boss. He co-starred in ''Go Goa Gone'', a Zombie comedy film, which was released on 10 May 2013. Both the films fared well at the box office.In 2015, after over a two-year break, Kunal returned to the screen with the thriller ''Bhaag Johnny'' about a man who gets to live two lives by the help of a Jinn, portrayed by director Vikram Bhatt. Though the film began shooting in 2013, it released on 25 September 2015 to mixed reviews and low box office collections. ''Kalyug'' was based on the pornography industry. In 2007, his first release was Madhur Bhandarkar's ''Traffic Signal'', where he played a street-smart money lender who lends money to poor families, but always gets it back with interest.His second release of 2007 was ''Dhol'' in which he again played lead. In 2008, in his only release, ''Superstar'', he featured in a double role. In 2009, he starred in ''Dhoondte Reh Jaaoge'' and ''Jai Veeru''. In 2009, he appeared in the comic-thriller ''99''. In 2010, he appeared in ''Golmaal 3'' in which he played a supporting role as Laxman.In 2012, he appeared in Mukesh Bhatt's ''Blood Money'', in which played the lead role as Kunal Kadam, an honest and hard worker who is unknowingly taken into the dark side of Diamond Trade by his Boss. He co-starred in ''Go Goa Gone'', a Zombie comedy film, which was released on 10 May 2013. Both the films fared well at the box office.In 2015, after over a two-year break, Kunal returned to the screen with the thriller ''Bhaag Johnny'' about a man who gets to live two lives by the help of a Jinn, portrayed by director Vikram Bhatt. Though the film began shooting in 2013, it released on 25 September 2015 to mixed reviews and low box office collections. ''Kalyug'' was based on the pornography industry. In 2007, his first release was Madhur Bhandarkar's ''Traffic Signal'', where he played a street-smart money lender who lends money to poor families, but always gets it back with interest.His second release of 2007 was ''Dhol'' in which he again played lead. In 2008, in his only release, ''Superstar'', he featured in a double role. In 2009, he starred in ''Dhoondte Reh Jaaoge'' and ''Jai Veeru''. In 2009, he appeared in the comic-thriller ''99''. In 2010, he appeared in ''Golmaal 3'' in which he played a supporting role as Laxman.In 2012, he appeared in Mukesh Bhatt's ''Blood Money'', in which played the lead role as Kunal Kadam, an honest and hard worker who is unknowingly taken into the dark side of Diamond Trade by his Boss. He co-starred in ''Go Goa Gone'', a Zombie comedy film, which was released on 10 May 2013. Both the films fared well at the box office.In 2015, after over a two-year break, Kunal returned to the screen with the thriller ''Bhaag Johnny'' about a man who gets to live two lives by the help of a Jinn, portrayed by director Vikram Bhatt. Though the film began shooting in 2013, it released on 25 September 2015 to mixed reviews and low box office collections. ''Kalyug'' was based on the pornography industry. In 2007, his first release was Madhur Bhandarkar's ''Traffic Signal'', where he played a street-smart money lender who lends money to poor families, but always gets it back with interest.His second release of 2007 was ''Dhol'' in which he again played lead. In 2008, in his only release, ''Superstar'', he featured in a double role. In 2009, he starred in ''Dhoondte Reh Jaaoge'' and ''Jai Veeru''. In 2009, he appeared in the comic-thriller ''99''. In 2010, he appeared in ''Golmaal 3'' in which he played a supporting role as Laxman.In 2012, he appeared in Mukesh Bhatt's ''Blood Money'', in which played the lead role as Kunal Kadam, an honest and hard worker who is unknowingly taken into the dark side of Diamond Trade by his Boss. He co-starred in ''Go Goa Gone'', a Zombie comedy film, which was released on 10 May 2013. Both the films fared well at the box office.In 2015, after over a two-year break, Kunal returned to the screen with the thriller ''Bhaag Johnny'' about a man who gets to live two lives by the help of a Jinn, portrayed by director Vikram Bhatt. Though the film began shooting in 2013, it released on 25 September 2015 to mixed reviews and low box office collections. His second release of the same year was the comedy film ''Guddu Ki Gun'', in which Kunal appears in the title role along with Sumeet Vyas. In 2017, he did a voice over in an animated film ''Hanuman: Da' Damdaar'' in role of Lord Indra. He also appeared in the fourth installment of ''Golmaal (film series)'' named ''Golmaal Again'' reprising his famous role of Laxman Sharma. He portrayed a noteworthy negative character in ''Malang'' and gained critical acclaim for his role in ''Kalank'' .ZEE5 team will go on the release the Abhay Season 2 in September 2020 and the streaming will be in October 2020. Kunal Khemu playing main role in this web series. This series directed by Ken Ghosh. He will return as the investigating officer in Season 3 as well.

Personal life

The couple got engaged in July 2014 and got married in a private ceremony in Mumbai on 25 January 2015 in the presence of selected members of Soha's Family. Through his marriage to Khan, he is related to the Pataudi family. On 29 September 2017, Khan gave birth to their daughter Inaaya Naumi Khemu.