By Samreen Hamid

Born: October 18, 1975 in Mumbai

Education: Graduate degree in export management

Kunal Kapoor is one of the few actors in the Bombay film industry who does not have Bollywood dynastic linkages. It was never his dream to become an actor. He is self-admittedly not the kind of person who makes future plans, but lives each day as it comes and ventures into anything that happens to excite him at the time.

This is reflected by him trying his hand at many different professions until his breakthrough in feature films. He initially did ad films and theatre after which he was offered a role opposite Tabu in the film Meenaxi: A Tale of Three Cities. The film itself was too artistic and abstract for the masses but Kunal did get noticed for his work. His role in the cult film Rang De Basanti brought him into prominence and won him a Filmfare award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

He has proved to be a brand due to his very cool, casual, and unpretentious personality. He speaks intelligently and philosophically and thinks creatively. His tall, dusky and handsome appearance, his beard and unruly hair, his chiselled features and his deep voice all make him stand out in a crowd. He is certainly not a regular guy next door, unless you are very lucky!

Kunal’s childhood dream was to become a pilot and he took flying lessons in Sagar this year and expects his flying license within months. We have heard of stars walking in the air, soon he will be flying. He has made a name for himself and although his journey in Bollywood has been slow, it has been steady and he has a lot of promise in him.

SALT probed Kunal to get to know his unknown side. He got back with the following answers.