Kunal Khemu Biography

Kunal Khemu is a name in Indian cinema who has traveled a long journey from child artist to lead actor and then to successful director. He has not only made a distinct identity for himself in the field of acting, but has also proven his talent in writing and direction.

Personal Information

Kunal Khemu was born on 25 May 1983 in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir. He belongs to a Kashmiri Pandit family. His full name is Kunal Khemu, although at many places his name is also written as Kunal Kemmu.

Birthplace and Residence

Kunal was born in Srinagar, but due to growing tension and migration in Kashmir in the 1990s, his family first moved to Jammu and then settled in Mira Road, Mumbai. Currently, he lives in Mumbai with his wife Soha Ali Khan and daughter Inaaya.

Age and Zodiac Sign

Date of Birth: 25 May 1983

Age: Currently (in 2026) approximately 43 years

Zodiac Sign: Gemini — since his birth is on 25 May, his zodiac sign is Gemini.

Height and Weight

Height: Approximately 168 cm (5 feet 6 inches)

Weight: Approximately 65 kilograms

Nickname

Kunal is affectionately called "Kunal" or "Kunnu" by his close ones. In the media, he is often referred to as "son-in-law of the Pataudi family".

Family Background

Parents

Kunal's father Ravi Khemu and mother Jyoti Khemu have both been associated with the world of acting. His father Ravi Khemu studied acting at the National School of Drama and also worked with the famous director Shyam Benegal. This is why Kunal inherited an acting environment from childhood.

Education

School and College

Kunal's initial education took place in Kashmir. When his family shifted to Mumbai, he completed the rest of his education in Mumbai. However, since his career as a child artist started very early, detailed information about his formal education is not publicly available.

University

There is no reliable information available confirming whether Kunal Khemu has received higher education from any university. His main focus has been on acting since childhood.

Marital Status and Family

Wife: Soha Ali Khan

Kunal Khemu has married actress Soha Ali Khan, who is the daughter of Sharmila Tagore and Tiger Pataudi and the sister of Saif Ali Khan. This relationship connects him to the Pataudi family.

Love Story and Marriage

Kunal and Soha met on the sets of a film in 2009. The two dated each other for several years. They got engaged in July 2014 and married on 25 January 2015 in a private ceremony in Mumbai. Only close family members and select people attended the wedding.

Daughter: Inaaya Naumi Khemu

Kunal and Soha have a daughter named Inaaya Naumi Khemu. She was born in September 2017. Kunal and Soha often share pictures of special moments spent with their daughter on social media.

Family Life and Parenting

Talking about raising their daughter, Kunal has said that he and Soha never gave importance to societal pressure and always made decisions from the heart. They are also giving their daughter education related to Hindu religion, because Kunal is Hindu and Soha is Muslim — both give their daughter education about both religions.

Career

Beginning as a Child Artist (1987-1998)

Kunal Khemu started facing the camera at a very young age. He first worked in the famous Doordarshan show 'Gul Gulshan Gulfam' in 1987, which was directed by Ved Rahi.

After this, he stepped into the film world with Mahesh Bhatt's film 'Sir' in 1993. As a child artist, he worked in many superhit films, including:

• 'Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke' (1993)

• 'Raja Hindustani' (1996)

• 'Zakhm' (1998)

• 'Bhai'

• 'Dushman'

His acting in 'Zakhm' was especially praised. In this film, he played the son of Pooja Bhatt and Nagarjuna and impressed the audience greatly.

Return as Lead Actor (2005)

After staying away from films for some time, Kunal returned as a lead actor with 'Kalyug' in 2005. This film was directed by Mohit Suri and was based on the pornography industry. The film was successful at the box office and helped establish Kunal as a lead actor.

Diverse Roles and Comedy (2007-2020)

After this, Kunal worked in many different types of films:

2007: 'Traffic Signal' (directed by Madhur Bhandarkar) and 'Dhol'

2008: 'Superstar' — in this he played a double role

2009: 'Dhoondte Reh Jaaoge', 'Jai Veeru' and '99'

2010: 'Golmaal 3' — in this he played the supporting role of Laxman, which became quite popular

2012: 'Blood Money' — in this he played the main character of Kunal Kadam

2013: 'Go Goa Gone' — this was a zombie comedy film, in which Vir Das appeared with him. The film earned 25.16 crore rupees, although it was considered a flop

2015: 'Bhaag Johnny' and 'Guddu Ki Gun' — both films failed at the box office. 'Guddu Ki Gun' earned only 1.80 crore and 'Bhaag Johnny' earned 1.83 crore rupees

2019: Made digital platform debut with web series 'Abhay'

2020: 'Lootcase' — this was released on digital platform and received a good response from the audience

As Director and Writer

Along with acting, Kunal Khemu also tried his hand at direction. In 2024, he directed the film 'Madgaon Express', which received a tremendous response from the audience. Kunal was also the writer of this film. For this film, he was honored with the IIFA Award for Best Directorial Debut. This proved to be a major milestone in his career.

Tattoo and Controversy

Kunal has also been quite famous for his love of tattoos. He likes getting tattoos of different designs. In 2014, he got a tattoo of Lord Shiva on his leg. As soon as the picture of this tattoo appeared on social media, controversy started. Many people expressed anger by linking it to religious sentiments. As the matter grew, Kunal clarified and said that he loves Lord Shiva very much and this tattoo is a symbol of his respect and devotion.

Net Worth and Assets

Net Worth

According to various sources, Kunal Khemu's total assets (net worth) is estimated at approximately 3 million dollars, i.e., about 25 crore rupees in Indian currency. However, some reports also mention his property being 60 crore rupees. This difference is possibly based on different times and sources.

Sources of Income

Kunal's main sources of income are:

• Fees from acting in films

• Income from web series (like 'Abhay')

• Income from direction and writing (like 'Madgaon Express')

• Advertisements and brand endorsements

• Participation in events and shows

Lifestyle

Kunal Khemu's lifestyle is considered simple. Despite being connected to the Pataudi family, he believes in making his own identity. Along with his wife Soha and daughter Inaaya, he prioritizes family life and is often seen spending time with them.

Hobbies and Interests

• Getting Tattoos: Kunal has a hobby of getting tattoos of different designs

• Writing: He is also interested in writing film scripts

• Direction: He also likes working behind the camera

• Spending time with family: He likes spending time with his wife and daughter

Achievements and Awards

• As a child artist: Praise for excellent acting in films like 'Zakhm'

• IIFA Award (2024): Best Directorial Debut award for 'Madgaon Express'

• Comedy Timing: His timing in comedy films gave him a distinct identity

Struggles and Challenges

Kunal Khemu's journey has not been easy. After success as a child artist, when he became a lead actor, he had to face many flop films. Films like 'Guddu Ki Gun', 'Bhaag Johnny', 'Jai Veeru', 'Blood Money' and 'Go Goa Gone' could not earn as expected at the box office. However, he never gave up and turned towards writing and direction besides acting, where he found success.

Kunal Khemu's New Film 'Vibe'

Kunal Khemu's new film 'Vibe' is an action-comedy spy thriller, which was released in theaters on 18 September 2026.

Main Information About the Film

Direction and Writing: Kunal Khemu has written and directed this film. This is his second directed film after 'Madgaon Express' (2024).

Main Cast

• Kunal Khemu — Hardik (main character)

• Sparsh Shrivastava — Bugs (Hardik's friend)

• Preity Zinta — Madam H (head of intelligence agency)

• Vanshika Dheer — Kareena (intern)

• Yashpal Sharma and Dinesh Lal Yadav (Nirahua) — agency officers

What is the Story?

The story revolves around two friends, Hardik and Bugs. Hardik is a careless boy who has come out of rehab, while Bugs works in a software company. Hardik falls in love with an intern named Kareena, but soon both friends unknowingly get trapped in a mission directly related to national security. Preity Zinta's Madam H assigns them the task of foiling a dangerous terrorist conspiracy. The funny thing is that these two are not at all prepared for spying.

Review and Rating

The film has received mixed reactions. While some critics called it funny and entertaining, others considered its screenplay weak.

Positive Aspects: Kunal Khemu's comic timing and his chemistry with Sparsh Shrivastava have been highly praised. Preity Zinta's action avatar is also being liked by people. It has been called a light-hearted and entertaining film.

Weak Aspects: Some reviews said that the second half of the film is weak and the story loses its pace. The screenplay has also been called scattered at places.

Rating: Different critics have given it 2.5 to 3.5 stars out of 5.

Other Information

Producer: Kunal Khemu and Chirag Nihalani (under Drongo Films)

Music: Amit Trivedi

Film Duration: Approximately 2 hours 21 minutes to 2 hours 26 minutes

50 Interesting Facts About Kunal Khemu

Childhood and Family Background

1. Kunal Khemu was born on 25 May 1983 in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir in a Kashmiri Pandit family.

2. His father Ravi Khemu and mother Jyoti Khemu have both been associated with the world of acting.

3. Due to growing tension in Kashmir in the 1990s, his family first shifted to Jammu and then to Mira Road, Mumbai.

4. In an interview, Kunal had said that his house was blown up in a terrorist attack, but when he saw his house on TV, he became happy because he felt that his family had become 'famous'.

5. His wife Soha Ali Khan is the daughter of Sharmila Tagore and Tiger Pataudi and the sister of Saif Ali Khan.

6. Soha is about 5 years older than Kunal.

7. The two met on the sets of 'Dhoondte Reh Jaaoge' in 2009.

8. The two married on 25 January 2015 in a private ceremony in Mumbai.

9. Their daughter Inaaya Naumi Khemu was born on 29 September 2017.

Career as a Child Artist

10. Kunal started his career at the age of just 4 with the Doordarshan show 'Gul Gulshan Gulfam' (1987).

11. In 1993, at the age of just 10, he made his big screen debut with Mahesh Bhatt's film 'Sir'.

12. During the shooting of 'Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke' (1993), Kunal wanted to go on a school picnic, but Mahesh Bhatt lured him with a Samurai video game and called him to the shoot.

13. At that time, Kunal found this 'deal' very bad, especially when he saw his friends going on a picnic in the school bus.

14. In 'Zakhm' (1998), he impressed everyone by playing the role of Pooja Bhatt and Nagarjuna's son.

15. As a child artist, he also worked in films like 'Raja Hindustani', 'Bhai', 'Dushman' and 'Tamanna'.

Debut as Lead Actor

16. In 2005, he made his debut as a lead actor with Mohit Suri's film 'Kalyug'.

17. For 'Kalyug', he received the 'Superstar of Tomorrow - Male' award at Stardust Awards 2006.

18. In this film, Mohit Suri's sister Smiley Suri was in the lead role with him.

Comedy and Diverse Roles

19. In 'Dhol' (2007), he proved his grip on comedy by playing the character of Gautam "Goti" Sisodia.

20. In 'Golmaal 3' (2010) and 'Golmaal Again' (2017), he became a household name by playing the character of Laxman.

21. 'Go Goa Gone' (2013) was one of India's first zombie-comedy films, in which he played the character of Hardik and also wrote its dialogues.

22. This film earned 25.16 crore rupees at the box office.

23. For the character of Abdul in 'Kalank' (2019), he received the 'Best Villain (Critics)' award.

24. In 'Malang' (2020), he received a lot of praise for the fierce villain character of Michael Rodrigues. His wife Soha had said that after watching the film, she was scared to go home with him.

25. For the character of Nandan Kumar in 'Lootcase' (2020), he received the 'Best Actor in Comic Role' award at the Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival.

26. He had a cameo in 'Simmba' (2018) and appeared in a special appearance in the song 'Aankh Marey'.

27. In 'Kanjoos Makhichoos' (2023), he played the character of Jamuna Prasad Pandey.

28. In 'Single Papa' (2025), he played the character of Gaurav Gehlot.

As Writer and Director

29. He also co-produced the film '99' (2009).

30. In 2024, he made his directorial debut with 'Madgaon Express', which he also wrote himself.

31. 'Madgaon Express' earned approximately 35 crore rupees at the box office.

32. For this film, he received the IIFA Award for Best Directorial Debut.

33. Apart from this, he also received the Filmfare Best Debut Director award for the same film.

34. On receiving the Filmfare Award, Kunal had said that he had wanted to claim this trophy "secretly" since childhood.

35. He is working on the script of 'Madgaon Express 2'.

Web Series and Hosting

36. In 2019, he made his digital platform debut with ZEE5's crime thriller web series 'Abhay'.

37. In 'Abhay', he played the role of supercop Abhay Pratap Singh, which received a good response from the audience.

38. In 2026, he made his hosting debut with Amazon Prime Video's reality show 'The Alliance'.

39. About hosting, he said that in the show "nothing seems scripted" and people's real personalities come out.

Music and Other Interests

40. In 2026, he released his single album 'Nindiya' for children, which refreshed his childhood memories.

41. Besides writing the dialogues of 'Go Goa Gone', he also wrote the script of 'Bhaag Johnny' (2015).

42. He lent his voice to Indra in 'Hanuman Da Damdaar' (2017).

Personal Life and Hobbies

43. Kunal has a hobby for bikes and cars. He has bikes like BMW R 1250 GS, Ducati Scrambler and Harley-Davidson Iron 883.

44. In 2025, he became the first celebrity to buy the BMW CE 02 electric scooter, which cost about 4.5 lakh rupees.

45. He got a tattoo of Lord Shiva on his leg, which also sparked controversy. He clarified that it is a symbol of his devotion.

46. About raising his daughter Inaaya, Kunal has said that he and Soha never give importance to societal pressure and make decisions from the heart.

47. They are also giving their daughter education related to Hindu religion, because Kunal is Hindu and Soha is Muslim — both give their daughter education about both religions.

Net Worth and Income

48. According to various sources, his total assets are estimated at approximately 3 million dollars, i.e., about 25 crore rupees.

49. His main sources of income are films, web series, direction, writing, advertisements and events.

50. Through his production house 'Drongo Films', he wants to make new and different stories.

These 50 things tell the story of Kunal Khemu's multifaceted personality and struggle-filled journey.

Kunal Khemu FAQ

Personal Life and Family

1. What is Kunal Khemu's age?

Kunal Khemu was born on 25 May 1983. In 2026, his age is 43 years.

2. Where was Kunal Khemu born?

He was born in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir in a Kashmiri Pandit family.

3. Who is Kunal Khemu's wife?

His wife is actress Soha Ali Khan, who is the sister of Saif Ali Khan and daughter of Sharmila Tagore.

4. When did Kunal Khemu get married?

He married Soha Ali Khan on 25 January 2015 in a private ceremony in Mumbai.

5. What is Kunal Khemu's daughter's name?

His daughter's name is Inaaya Naumi Khemu, who was born on 29 September 2017.

6. Who are Kunal Khemu's parents?

His father's name is Ravi Khemu and mother's name is Jyoti Khemu.

7. What is Kunal Khemu's zodiac sign?

He was born on 25 May, so his zodiac sign is Gemini.

8. What is Kunal Khemu's height?

His height is approximately 5 feet 6 inches (168 cm).

9. Which family does Kunal Khemu belong to?

He belongs to a Kashmiri Pandit family and after marriage is called the son-in-law of the Pataudi family.

10. What is Kunal Khemu's net worth?

According to various reports, his total assets are estimated at approximately 60 crore rupees.

Career and Films

11. How did Kunal Khemu start his career?

He started his career as a child artist at the age of just 4-5 with the Doordarshan show 'Gul Gulshan Gulfam'.

12. What were his major films as a child artist?

He appeared in films like 'Sir' (1993), 'Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke' (1993), 'Raja Hindustani' (1996), 'Zakhm' (1998) and 'Bhai'.

13. For which film did Kunal Khemu receive the Best Child Artist award?

He received the Screen Award for playing the childhood character of Ajay Devgn in 'Zakhm' (1998).

14. With which film did Kunal Khemu debut as a lead actor?

In 2005, he made his debut as a lead actor with Mohit Suri's film 'Kalyug'.

15. What are Kunal Khemu's major comedy films?

'Dhol' (2007), 'Golmaal 3' (2010), 'Golmaal Again' (2017) and 'Go Goa Gone' (2013) are his popular comedy films.

16. What was his character in 'Go Goa Gone'?

He played the character of Hardik, which later returned in his other films.

17. In which films did Kunal Khemu play villain roles?

He played the fierce villain characters of Abdul in 'Kalank' (2019) and Michael Rodrigues in 'Malang' (2020).

18. What was the reaction to his villain character in 'Malang'?

His wife Soha Ali Khan had said that after watching the film, she was scared to go home with him, because the character was very scary.

19. When did Kunal Khemu debut in web series?

He made his digital platform debut in 2019 with ZEE5's crime thriller 'Abhay'.

20. What was his character in 'Abhay'?

He played the role of supercop Abhay Pratap Singh, which received a good response from the audience.

Direction and 'Vibe'

21. When did Kunal Khemu debut as a director?

In 2024, he made his directorial debut with 'Madgaon Express'.

22. Which awards did 'Madgaon Express' receive?

For this film, he received the Best Directorial Debut award at the IIFA Awards and Filmfare Awards.

23. When was Kunal Khemu's new film 'Vibe' released?

'Vibe' was released in theaters on 18 September 2026.

24. What is the story of 'Vibe'?

It is the story of two friends, Hardik (Kunal) and Bugs (Sparsh Shrivastava), who unknowingly get trapped in a national security mission.

25. Who are the main actors in 'Vibe'?

Kunal Khemu, Sparsh Shrivastava, Preity Zinta, Vanshika Dheer, Yashpal Sharma and Dinesh Lal Yadav.

26. What is Preity Zinta's character in 'Vibe'?

She is playing the character of Madam H, who is the head of the intelligence agency.

27. Under which banner was 'Vibe' made?

It was made with the collaboration of Kunal Khemu and Chirag Nihalani's production house 'Drongo Films' and Amazon MGM Studios.

28. What was the critics' reaction to 'Vibe'?

The film received mixed reactions. Some called it funny and entertaining, while others considered the screenplay weak.

29. What was the rating of 'Vibe'?

Different critics gave it 2.5 to 3 stars out of 5.

30. How was the box office collection of 'Vibe'?

The film had a slightly lower opening on the first day compared to Madgaon Express (1.63 crore), but remained ahead in its class.

31. Will there be a sequel to 'Vibe'?

Kunal has said that he has ideas, but it will depend on the film's success.

32. Is Kunal Khemu building a comedy universe?

Hardik's character has appeared in 'Go Goa Gone', 'Madgaon Express' (cameo) and 'Vibe'. Kunal said that if he had all the IPs, he would definitely build this universe.

33. What film is 'Vibe' inspired by?

It is a spy-comedy inspired by 'The Family Man', in which an ordinary man gets trapped in a spy mission.

34. Why are there references to 'Pathaan' and 'Tiger' in 'Vibe'?

Kunal said that an ordinary man in such a situation would only name pop culture spies. This is not a joke on any film.

35. Which roles did Kunal Khemu play in 'Vibe'?

He played actor, director, writer and producer — all four roles in this film.

Assets and Lifestyle

36. Which bikes does Kunal Khemu have?

He has bikes like BMW R 1250 GS, Ducati Scrambler and Harley-Davidson Iron 883.

37. Which electric scooter did Kunal Khemu buy?

In 2025, he bought the BMW CE 02 electric scooter.

38. Why was there controversy over Kunal Khemu's tattoo?

He got a tattoo of Lord Shiva on his leg, which was said to hurt religious sentiments.

39. Where does Kunal Khemu live?

He lives in a luxury apartment in Mumbai with his wife Soha and daughter Inaaya.

40. What is Kunal Khemu's production house?

His production house is 'Drongo Films', through which he wants to make new stories.

TV, Hosting and Others

41. When did Kunal Khemu debut in hosting?

In 2026, he made his hosting debut with Amazon Prime Video's reality show 'The Alliance'.

42. Which single album did Kunal Khemu release?

In 2026, he released a single album named 'Nindiya' for children.

43. For which films did Kunal Khemu write dialogues?

He wrote the script/dialogues of 'Go Goa Gone' (2013) and 'Bhaag Johnny' (2015).

44. In which animated film did Kunal Khemu lend his voice?

He lent his voice to Lord Indra in 'Hanuman Da Damdaar' (2017).

45. Which film did Kunal Khemu co-produce?

He co-produced the film '99' (2009).

46. How did Kunal Khemu appear in 'Simmba'?

He had a cameo in 'Simmba' (2018) and a special appearance in the song 'Aankh Marey'.

47. Is Kunal Khemu part of 'Golmaal 5'?

Yes, he will be part of 'Golmaal 5', which will also feature big stars like Ajay Devgn and Akshay Kumar.

48. What character did Kunal Khemu play in 'Kanjoos Makhichoos'?

He played the character of Jamuna Prasad Pandey.

49. What is considered Kunal Khemu's biggest achievement?

His journey from child artist to successful director, in which he received IIFA and Filmfare for 'Madgaon Express'.

50. What does Kunal Khemu want to do ahead?

Apart from comedy, he wants to make films in horror, action and dark genres, whose scripts he already has ready.

Conclusion

Kunal Khemu's life is a story of struggle, dedication and reinvention. His journey from a child artist to a lead actor and then to a successful director is inspiring. Despite his connection to the Pataudi family, he made his own identity and earned respect in the film world through his hard work. His family life with his wife Soha Ali Khan and daughter Inaaya is also happy and stable. In the coming times, he will continue to achieve more success in both direction and acting, this can be hoped for.