Kunal Kemmu Recalls How Mahesh Bhatt Bribed Him With a Video Game to Skip School Picnic

Long before establishing himself as a versatile leading man and comedy favorite in Bollywood, Kunal Kemmu charmed audiences as a gifted child actor. Opening up about his early days in the film industry, the actor recently shared a hilarious, nostalgic anecdote from the making of the 1993 classic Hum Hain Rahi Pyaar Ke, starring Aamir Khan and Juhi Chawla. At just seven years old, Kunal found himself stuck in a classic childhood dilemma when a major shooting schedule clashed directly with his school's annual picnic day, prompting the film's director, Mahesh Bhatt, to step in and secure the child star's attendance through an unexpected negotiation.How a Samurai Video Game Convinced Young Kunal to StayRecounting the incident to Hindustan Times, Kunal revealed that when his father refused to interfere in the scheduling conflict and left the decision entirely up to the filmmaker and the seven-year-old actor, Mahesh Bhatt took matters into his own hands. Knowing how much the young boy wanted a Samurai video game—which was immensely popular at the time but which Kunal did not yet own—the veteran director offered it as an inducement to skip the picnic. Laughing about the memory, Kunal admitted that he was effectively "bribed" on set, as the filmmakers promised to buy him the coveted gaming console in exchange for abandoning the school trip and staying back to complete the shooting schedule.Why Seven-Year-Old Kunal Regretted His Choice the Next MorningWhile getting a brand-new video game sounded like a dream come true for a seven-year-old, the reality of the trade-off hit hard the very next morning. Kunal recalled looking out from his house and watching his school buses fill up as all of his friends happily departed for the picnic he had missed out on. Looking back at the humorous childhood exchange, the actor jokingly dubbed it the worst deal of his life. Following his standout performances as a child artiste in films like Hum Hain Rahi Pyaar Ke, Sir, and his critically acclaimed role in Zakhm, Kunal later transitioned into a successful adult lead actor under the Vishesh Films banner, headlining Mahesh Bhatt's intense 2005 drama Kalyug.