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Some food, some magic

Kunal Kohli

Looking at his fair complexion, and enviable physique, one cannot but compliment Kunal Kohli and believe that he is a regular gym goer. “Who? Not me,” the filmmaker who shot to fame with his directorial efforts Hum Tum followed by Fanah pretends to look the other way. “Gym? No way. I am very lazy. The very idea of going to the gym makes me feel drowsy. The reason for my good physique is probably food. I am a great foodie and, yes, I eat on time,” he says while accepting the offer of having a very light meal at 24x7, the multi-cuisine restaurant at Intercontinental The Grand at Barakhamba Road, now called The Lalit, New Delhi.

These days Kunal is seen judging Tata Indicom Chhota Packet Bada Dhamaka, a reality show on Zee TV that has children aged between seven and 14 vying for the slot of the best singer-dancer pair. The programme is aired at 7 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. “I agreed to be a part of this show because it has no stage-managed melodrama. You can’t teach kids. Among eight pairs, we would choose one winning team of a dancer and singer. They would earn their scores individually also,” says Kunal beginning his meal with pineapple juice.

Food in any part of the country and abroad has never been an issue with Kunal. “It’s because I eat everything that is locally available. I never go to five stars or big restaurants abroad to taste the food. I stop at local street dhabas. I am not weight or diet conscious.”

Kunal also claims to be a good cook himself. “I can cook biryani, mutton, chicken and Nepalese food. I love Thai, Japanese and Mughlai food. But I can’t cook food that has no creativity, for instance dal,” he says while attempting to hide his inability sheepishly as “dal main kya rakha hai? Bas ubaal kar tadka dal do”. He engrosses himself in grilled chicken Benedict while parrying any queries on dal!

The only bitter taste that he remembers is the result of Thoda Pyar Thoda Magic his recently released film that didn’t do well at the box office. He co-produced and directed it under Yashraj Banner. Dismissing it as “a part of life”, Kunal feebly complains though, “It had too little and too late in terms of its promotion. Many parents came to me and said that they loved the film and I should make more such films.” Kunal is pensive. For now, only some pizza pepperoni can do the trick. Tasting it, his smile comes back. He says with some pride. “I may say this food is good. But I cook very well. I can even write a recipe book of my own now,” he grins.

RANA SIDDIQUI ZAMAN

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