Kunal Kemmu has spoken candidly about the unpredictable nature of an acting career, admitting that long periods without work and creative compromises are realities most actors have to deal with. The actor, who won praise for his directorial debut ‘Madgaon Express’ and was most recently seen hosting Prime Video’s reality series ‘The Alliance’, reflected on the constant struggle to balance artistic fulfilment with professional survival.Kunal said actors are often forced to choose between waiting for meaningful roles and accepting projects simply to remain active.“Sometimes you’re faced with the challenge of thinking, ‘I don’t really feel creatively fulfilled or satisfied doing this part.’ But at the end of the day, I’m not working for a long time, so I just do it because, ultimately, I’m trying to do what I need to. I think that’s something that most actors struggle with, especially when you’re not doing enough work or there isn’t enough work around. There’s often a battle between what you really want to do and the opportunities that are in front of you,” Kunal said in an interview with News18. Expanding on the dilemma, the actor explained that every performer eventually has to decide whether to wait for the perfect opportunity or make the most of whatever comes their way.“Do you just not do anything and wait until you land what you want? Or do you say, ‘Okay, let me make the best of what I have, even though this isn’t creatively 100% there for me?’ For me, I’ve always been somebody who really needs to connect with the work and enjoy it, because the only reason I became an actor, now I do other things as well, is that acting brought me joy and made me happy. That’s why I chose not to do anything else and to pursue this, and I knew what came with it. So yeah, that’s the only bit, I think, which is challenging for me, and I know for a fact it’s the same for many other actors.”Asked whether he has gone through phases without work, Kunal said such ups and downs are a recurring part of an actor’s life and can return at any stage of a career.“No, it happens all the time. I mean, now I’m busier. But there were times in my life when I went for almost two years where I was just working. Then one film doesn’t work, and sometimes I’ve been at home for six months, eight months, or even a year. And that phase can come back.”Kunal also revealed that despite repeated advice from industry insiders, he has never believed in relying heavily on public relations or networking to advance his career. Instead, he has preferred to stay true to his instincts.“It’s just that it hasn’t worked for me. The advice is that you must do a lot of PR and really have the PR machinery behind you, that it’s very important. Or even showing up at places, being in the right circles, hosting people, or sending gifts. I don’t think it’s bad advice. It’s just not important to me because it never really was. I’m somebody who’s instinctive, and I do what I feel is right.”Stressing that skill ultimately matters more than visibility, the actor said he has always focused on becoming better at his craft rather than chasing popularity.“And I honestly believe in working on your craft more than anything else. Because if you’re a craftsman and somebody needs you, it’s like a carpenter, right? If I need a good table made, I’ll find a good carpenter. I won’t find the most popular carpenter.”
