‘MR BHATT WOULD CALL ME DUFFER’

Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke ‘kid star’ Kunal Kemmu walks down memory lane, as the film completes 24 years

Actor Kunal Kemmu (far right) was only seven when he played the role of a naughty kid, Sunny, in the 1993 film Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke. Today, 24 years after the film’s release, Kunal recalls how it was to work with actors Aamir Khan, Juhi Chawla and filmmaker

Mahesh Bhatt (right). “I was vacationing in Delhi, when my dad told me about the film’s offer. At that age, I didn’t know who Mahesh Bhatt was or what a director does. I was only familiar with Aamir and Juhi’s names,” says Kunal, who had cut short his trip to start shooting.

Reminiscing the first day of his shoot, Kunal says, “It was the scene where Veeru Krishnan was performing Bharatanatyam and we kids, were sitting visibly bored. I met everyone for the first time and had no idea of what was going on. I was only following instructions of Mr. Bhatt.”

All praise for Bhatt, Kunal remembers how he pampered him while giving specific instructions required for the shot. “That was the nicest thing about him. He would just tell me, ‘Listen, I want this shot like this, so do it.’ He would call me ‘duffer’ and I didn’t even know what that meant. On the sets, I used to feel better than home. I used to ask for chips, cold drinks or chocolates and the spot boy would get it instantly.”

During the film’s shoot, Kunal accepted ‘bribe’ for the first time in life. “My school had organised a picnic to Esselworld and since the shoot was on, Mr Bhatt told me bunk it. Like a crybaby, I said no to him. Then, he persuaded me by saying, ‘What can I give you for which you will come to the shoot?’ How about I give you a TV video game?’ and I instantly gave in,” recalls Kunal.

PHOTO: PRODIP GUHA/HT

A stiill from the film starring Aamir Khan, Juhi Chawla and Kunal Kemmu