Rakhi Sawant is a mu-phat: Kunal

Director-turned-anchor Kunal Kohli speaks to Rahul Sabharwal about cinema, future projects, reality shows and more..

Director-turned-anchor Kunal Kohli speaks to Rahul Sabharwal about cinema, future projects, reality shows and more..

Chota Packet Bada Dhamaka is your second reality show. You seem to be on a roll.
I was unsure when I started out with this one. I’m sitting there in the centre with Rakhi Sawant on one side and Anu Kapoor on the other — it’s quite a varied and mad panel.

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How is Rakhi as a co-judge?
She’s full of fire. I used to think that this whole Rakhi image is all an act, but now I realise that its not. She is genuinely mu-phat.

So what’s your reason for being on the show?
Well, actors have appearances. They can charge five lakhs to cut a ribbon at a boutique. They can get multi crore for ads. What do we get? Might as well do a reality show. I wouldn’t do it if the money wasn’t good.

What’s your take on Indian television?
I watch very little of it. I find it a little… old world. But there is talent out there. I watch Bigg Boss because Rahul Mahajan is just too entertaining. I love Friends so much that my dog is called Phoebe.

Delhi is featured a lot in your movies…
I really like Delhi. I want Mumbai to have the roads and the transport system of Delhi. But I can’t live anywhere other than Mumbai.

What else are you working on?
I’m currently working on two scripts and my company will be producing more films with other directors. I’m giving them a break.

So you’re branching out of the Yash Raj banner?
Yes, I am. I’m moving out of Yash Raj films. In fact, I have moved out of it. I think our business styles were very different. The way I would like to market or distribute my films was not the way they would like to do it.

Reportedly you are also working with Aamir Khan…
I don’t know where that came from. We’re good friends and when we are seen together, people tend to think we are making a film together.

Did Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic live up to your expectations?
Not in box office, for sure.

In retrospect, do you wish you had done anything differently in your career?
Not till Thoda Pyaar… There are certain things that you take as a learning curve. This was just a very expensive learning curve.