Veteran actress Sharmila Tagore is all set to return to the big screen with Vibe after a decade. Director Kunal Kemmu recently spoke about having his mother-in-law on board for the film, admitting he was initially intimidated to ask her and wondered how she would react. However, once she said yes, he was thrilled to have her as part of the film. For the unversed, Sharmila Tagore was last seen in the 2010 Bollywood film Break Ke Baad. Later, she starred in Bengali psychological drama Puratawn (2025), which earned critical and commercial success.
Kunal Kemmu was hesitant to ask his mother-in-law, Sharmila Tagore, for Vibe
In an exclusive conversation with Mid-Day, Kunal Kemmu opened up about the nerves he felt while approaching his mother-in-law, veteran actress Sharmila Tagore, for the role. He said, “I was intimidated to ask her, but once she said yes, I was excited to have her. I was grateful too, and I am very happy to see her in the film.” Kunal admitted he was intimidated and unsure of how she would react to the part. But once Sharmila gave her nod, Kunal’s hesitation turned into excitement, with the director saying he felt ‘grateful’ to have her in the film.
‘I wanted to present the role in a cinematic way. I told her that I wanted her to play the part, and I’m grateful that she agreed to do it,” Kunal added.
Kunal Kemmu on being an actor and a director
With his second directorial, Kunal is once again juggling the roles of actor and director. When asked if his experience as a filmmaker has influenced the way he approaches his performances as an actor, he said, “Actually, I don’t mix acting and direction simultaneously. Film is a director’s medium, and I have to deliver what the director wants. I never go to the monitor to look at my shots, because then I will be thinking if it’s okay according to me or not. If the director says, ” We got it then we got it. So, similarly, when I am directing myself, I will go and see that performance and see if it works for everyone in the film, so my approach towards acting hasn’t particularly changed.”
Kunal Kemmu is ‘critical’ of his work
Kunal admitted that he has always been critical of his performances as an actor. However, this time, he decided to trust instincts, give the performance honestly, and accept whatever the outcome is. “I was always critical of my performances. But in this film, I am staying true to the writer in me because I envisioned everyone doing something. And especially with me, because I know myself, I try to play every character as honestly as I can. Some actors have to find characters that suit their tonality and style. But when it came to me, I just let my instinct take over and hoped it would work. And if it doesn’t, I’ll learn from it.”
About the film Vibe
Kunal is returning as a director with Vibe, which also sees him take on the role of a producer for the first time. The film stars him alongside Preity Zinta, Sparsh Shrivastava, Dinesh Lal Yadav aka Nirahua, Yashpal Sharma and Vanshika Dhir. Written and directed by Kunal himself, the action-comedy is set to hit theatres on September 18.
