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Kunal Kemmu recalls being jobless for a year: ‘People told me to host parties, send gifts’

Kunal Kemmu discusses his career ups and downs, including a lengthy work hiatus. He also reflected on advice about networking and PR.

Updated on: Jul 7, 2026, 12:26:48 IST
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Kunal Kemmu has been quite busy in recent years. He has multiple projects lined up, while also hosting the reality show The Alliance. In a recent interaction, Kemmu opened up about the period when he was sitting at home without work for six months to a year and how people advised him to send gifts, attend parties, and become more active in social circles to land projects.

'Was told to host people and send them gifts'

Kunal Kemmu spoke about work hiatus.
Kunal Kemmu spoke about work hiatus.

Speaking to News18, Kunal said, “That’s the thing about advice. If it works for you, it’s good, and if it doesn’t, it’s bad. What I got wasn’t really bad advice but it didn’t work for me. I was told that I must have a PR and a PR machinery behind me because it’s very important. I was also told to show up at places, be in the circles, host people and send them gifts. But I don’t think all this is bad advice."

'Was home for a year'

Further talking about the lull period in his acting career and how the anxiety of not getting work is one of the biggest challenges actors face, he said, “Now I’m busier but there have been times in my life where I was working continuously for two years without getting a day off. And then, a film didn’t work and I was home for six-eight months or even a year. I know that phase can come back. When you’re out of work is also when you’re nervous, wondering will I work again? That’s the unpredictable nature of the business that all actors go through – right from the biggest stars to newcomers."

Kunal was last seen directing Madgaon Express. He will next be seen in Golmaal 5. The film also stars Ajay Devgn, Arshad Warsi, Shreyas Talpade, Tusshar Kapoor, and others.

Kemmu will also direct Vibe, which marks Preity Zinta's return to films. The film will also feature Kunal himself, along with Sparsh Shrivastava, Vanshika Dhir, Dinesh Lal Yadav, and Yashpal Sharma.

 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Vibha Maru

Vibha Maru is an Assistant Editor with Hindustan Times Entertainment, based in Delhi. With a decade of experience across digital and print media, she covers Bollywood, Hollywood and web shows. A self-confessed cinephile who breathes Hindi cinema, Vibha can often be found sacrificing sleep after binge-watching films and web series. Though she holds a Commerce degree, she discovered her true calling in journalism after enrolling at the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC). She began her career covering Delhi's cultural scene, food, nightlife, concerts, and city life at The Times of India, before moving into full-time entertainment journalism with India Today. At India Today, Vibha interviewed some of the biggest names in Bollywood and television while carving a niche for herself through film reviews, opinion pieces, nostalgic features, celebrity interviews, and trend-driven stories. She later brought her storytelling and editorial expertise to The Indian Express, where she continued to deepen her understanding of cinema through long-form entertainment explainers, retrospectives and feature writing. Now, as Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times Entertainment, Vibha continues to chronicle the world of movies and pop culture. Her work spans breaking entertainment news, exclusive interviews, celebrity features, and stories that capture the conversations shaping Indian cinema.

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