Marrying into Sharmila Tagore’s family comes with a certain weight, but Kunal Kemmu says he never let it touch his work. The actor opened up about staying true to his craft despite the famous surname..
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Some actors carry the weight of a famous surname their entire career. Kunal Kemmu married into one instead, and he says it never once crept into how he approaches his work.
In a conversation with IANS, Kunal was asked the question that probably comes up more than he would like. Does being Sharmila Tagore’s son-in-law add pressure to his career? His answer left little room for ambiguity.
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He explained that his bond with his craft sits in a separate space entirely, untouched by family ties or outside expectations. “No, the relationship that I have with my craft or the artist within is the most important to me, and that’s paramount,” he said. “In the structure of that relationship, I have never thought about it, to be very honest with you. So, I would be lying if I say that I try. It doesn’t stay in my mind.”
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For those who need the context, Kunal is married to actress Soha Ali Khan. She is the daughter of veteran actress Sharmila Tagore and the late cricket legend Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, a family name that carries weight in both Indian cinema and Indian cricket.
Kunal and Soha married on January 25, 2015, capping off a relationship that had quietly built over several years before they made it official. Their love story traces back to the sets of the 2009 film Dhoondte Reh Jaaoge, where the two first crossed paths. The couple welcomed their daughter, Inaaya Naumi Kemmu, in September 2017.
Kunal began as a child actor, putting in the early years long before anyone associated him with Sharmila Tagore’s household.
Over time, he built a name for himself through films like Kalyug, Traffic Signal, Golmaal 3, Go Goa Gone, Malang and Lootcase. Each project added a different shade to his range, moving between dark thrillers, ensemble comedies, and zombie horror, a versatility not every actor manages to pull off.
In 2024, Kunal took on a new challenge and stepped into directing for the first time with Madgaon Express. The comedy drama earned strong reviews, particularly for its writing and the way Kunal handled the tone as a first-time director.
Kunal has since added another role to his resume. He is now hosting the reality show Alliance.
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