In a rare joint interview, lovebirds Soha Ali Khan and Kunal Khemu reveal the secrets of their strong relationship and talk about their off-screen chemistry
‘HE WAS IN A BATHROBE WHEN MOM SAW HIM’
In a rare joint interview, lovebirds Soha Ali Khan and Kunal Khemu reveal the secrets of their strong relationship and talk about their off-screen chemistry
T hey never thought they would ever be friends, leave aside being in a relationship. Now, after dating for approximately four years (approximately because they don’t remember when their friendship developed into a relationship), they say they are already “family” to each other. She balances his cheque book. He cooks. He writes songs for her while she plans their holidays. Soha Ali Khan and Kunal Khemu reveal all this and more as they sit down for a chat. What was your first impression of each other?
SOHA: When we did our first film Dhoondte Reh Jaaoge (DRJ; 2009), we
didn’t speak much. I thought we would never be friends, forget being in a
relationship. Then we did 99 (2009) and we got closer. I thought he was
a very attractive man. I noticed his eyes and his smile. He was quiet,
silent and mysterious in many ways. He kind of drew me in.
KUNAL: My first impression was that here is this Oxford graduate and I don’t know why she is acting in films. When I met her on the set she was writing an article on her laptop to send to Oxford University for their magazine. So I thought this is serious stuff, I should think before I start a conversation with her. We didn’t speak much. I respected her as a professional. It was only towards the end of DRJ that we happened to spend some time on the sets. It was very interesting because she’s had an upbringing completely different from mine so the stories of her life were very different. But even then we used to have a lot of healthy debates and that’s how we got talking. Gradually it developed into a relationship. Did one of you have to make the first move?
KUNAL: I don’t think either of us started off our friendship, thinking that it will be a relationship some day. So there was no proposal from either of us. Even when the press had started speculating during DRJ that we were going for press screenings and dinners together, we were doing all that, but it was just two people hanging out. Besides, we had friends with us. As time progressed, we did understand that we really enjoyed each other’s company. So there was no moonlit candlelight dinner or proposal. you spend time with a person, and the more you know a person, the trust gets stronger and you become relaxed and insecurities take a backseat. Possessiveness is important in every relationship. If there is no possessiveness from either side, it’s time to worry. It means the person doesn’t care about you.
SOHA: When it comes to jealousy and insecurity, I have realised that nothing is worse than your imagination, what you imagine... thinking, ‘Oh! He’s working with this hot actress, he’s gone to Bangkok with a bunch of male friends... what could be happening... (smiles)’
KUNAL: Really? You said that? Oh My God! (laughs)
SOHA: I’m saying imagination can wreck havoc. It’s important to understand that.
KUNAL: I’ve never made a trip to Bangkok with friends.
SOHA: It’s legitimate to go to Bangkok (laughs).
KUNAL: When you say Bangkok, it sounds cheap. I may have been shooting in Thailand.
SOHA: Well! How did you tell your parents about each other?
KUNAL: I didn’t make it an event. I told my dad first and my mother later. Even in college, I didn’t discuss my girlfriends with my sister or my parents. When we were seeing each other for eight or nine months, I thought I should tell them because it was in the papers and they’d asked me before and I said it’s not true, because initially it wasn’t. Then there were more articles in the press and I thought I should tell them that I’m seeing this girl. It was quite casual and informal and I think they were slightly uncomfortable, especially my dad, because it was the first time I was telling them that I’m seeing a woman. “She liked him immediately, and he is very good with mothers.” KUNAL: White bathrobe. SOHA: Yeah. White bathrobe with shorts. She liked him immediately, and he is very good with mothers. How would you describe your relationship?
SOHA: I would’ve never told my father directly because we didn’t have discussions about boys. I relied on my mother to tell him. I must’ve told her and she is very liberal and trusting of my choices and not overtly concerned. She met Kunal on the set of 99 and unfortunately he was doing a scene which needed him to be in a pink bathrobe.
KUNAL: I would describe it as very easy... for the first time, it’s very natural. I don’t feel any effort, it’s been almost four years that we’ve been together. Initially, there’s a lot you get to know about a person and then you find yourself at peace with that person. Sometimes, it doesn’t go well and within a year, you feel you are trying too hard to match up to the likings of the other person. But in our case, we talk about everything. She still is my best friend. I feel very comfortable around her. It’s peaceful. There are times when we fight and it is irritating. She is like family now... so ( just as) I fight with my mother, sister and dad, I fight a lot with her. SOHA: It’s very important for me to respect the person I’m with. More so for a woman, when she looks at a man. Our relationship is strong because I respect Kunal for various reasons. He’s a self made man. (Pauses) It’s weird to compliment someone when they are sitting right there. He’s achieved a lot, I like that he is capable, I like to be looked after. Whether it is riding a bike or driving a car, being good at your job, being able to lift, I don’t know how many pounds he lifts in the gym, but he’s very strong. He holds firmly into the male category and that allows me to be a woman.
SOHA: It’s legitimate to go to Bangkok (laughs).
KUNAL: When you say Bangkok, it sounds cheap. I may have been shooting in Thailand.
SOHA: Well! How did you tell your parents about each other?
KUNAL: I didn’t make it an event. I told my dad first and my mother later. Even in college, I didn’t discuss my girlfriends with my sister or my parents. When we were seeing each other for eight or nine months, I thought I should tell them because it was in the papers and they’d asked me before and I said it’s not true, because initially it wasn’t. Then there were more articles in the press and I thought I should tell them that I’m seeing this girl. It was quite casual and informal and I think they were slightly uncomfortable, especially my dad, because it was the first time I was telling them that I’m seeing a woman. “She liked him immediately, and he is very good with mothers.” KUNAL: White bathrobe. SOHA: Yeah. White bathrobe with shorts. She liked him immediately, and he is very good with mothers. How would you describe your relationship?
SOHA: I would’ve never told my father directly because we didn’t have discussions about boys. I relied on my mother to tell him. I must’ve told her and she is very liberal and trusting of my choices and not overtly concerned. She met Kunal on the set of 99 and unfortunately he was doing a scene which needed him to be in a pink bathrobe.
KUNAL: I would describe it as very easy... for the first time, it’s very natural. I don’t feel any effort, it’s been almost four years that we’ve been together. Initially, there’s a lot you get to know about a person and then you find yourself at peace with that person. Sometimes, it doesn’t go well and within a year, you feel you are trying too hard to match up to the likings of the other person. But in our case, we talk about everything. She still is my best friend. I feel very comfortable around her. It’s peaceful. There are times when we fight and it is irritating. She is like family now... so ( just as) I fight with my mother, sister and dad, I fight a lot with her. SOHA: It’s very important for me to respect the person I’m with. More so for a woman, when she looks at a man. Our relationship is strong because I respect Kunal for various reasons. He’s a self made man. (Pauses) It’s weird to compliment someone when they are sitting right there. He’s achieved a lot, I like that he is capable, I like to be looked after. Whether it is riding a bike or driving a car, being good at your job, being able to lift, I don’t know how many pounds he lifts in the gym, but he’s very strong. He holds firmly into the male category and that allows me to be a woman.
No comments:
Post a Comment