Kunal Kemmu dismisses Alliance-Lock Upp rivalry: No competition with Farah, Riteish
Actor Kunal Kemmu said he does not see Alliance and Lock Upp: Sach ya Sazaa as rivals. He said audiences would choose what to watch as he reflected on the appeal and ethics of reality television.
With Alliance (Prime Video) and Lock Upp: Sach ya Sazaa (Netflix) now streaming, comparisons between the two captive reality shows were almost inevitable. However, Alliance host Kunal Kemmu isn't viewing it as a rivalry, especially as he steps into the reality-show space for the first time.
In a conversation with India Today, Kemmu said there's no competition as audiences will ultimately decide what they want to watch.
"I don't know if we can call it a competition. Sometimes, you have loyalists who might prefer to just watch that specific show. Then there will be an audience who will want to give both a chance. And there would be an audience who might watch both and then decide what they like more," he said.
When told that Lock Upp also boasts experienced hosts Farah Khan and Riteish Deshmukh, the actor responded with his trademark humour, insisting he isn't looking at them as rivals.
He said, "There is no competition; they have already won. I am just debuting, yeh mera pehla match hai (This is my first match). So, I don't know myself [about how it will pan out]. Farah and Riteish are really good and I really enjoy watching them. They know what they're doing. For me, everything is new. I have nothing to lose as there are no expectations from me."
The 43-year-old actor also shared his thoughts on why captive reality shows continue to attract audiences across the world. After TV channels, they are also now dominating global OTT platforms. While admitting that he has watched and enjoyed several reality formats over the years, Kemmu also mentioned how his relationship with the genre has changed with time.
"I would be lying if I said I don't enjoy reality shows at all. There have been times when I've gotten completely hooked. That said, I may not have stayed invested for the entire run, especially since some of these shows go on for a very long time. On the other hand, I enjoy challenge-based reality shows that are episodic. They may air over a few weeks, but they wrap up within a set period. So yes, there have definitely been reality shows that I've found myself hooked on," the host added.
The Single Papa actor said that he has been watching reality shows since the early days of Roadies, although adding that some formats haven't aged well for him.
He elaborated, "I am no stranger to it. I have enjoyed it right from the beginning. I was also young when Roadies and other shows would air. Some of them have not aged that well, which I may have liked then. Now I don't find them as interesting. So, yes, I find myself also as an audience for it.”
Explaining what makes the genre so addictive, Kunal Kemmu said the appeal lies in watching real people and real emotions unfold. However, he also believes reality shows come with an ethical responsibility.
"I think reality shows come closest to satisfying our curiosity about other people's lives. There's always an interest in knowing what others are thinking or going through, and these shows let you witness that firsthand. In some formats, viewers even get a sense of control through voting, which makes them feel more involved. That's probably why they have such a strong audience,” he said.
Adding, “But there's also a very thin line. As the saying goes, one man's pain can become another man's entertainment. Someone may be crying, one person may empathise with them, while someone else may simply enjoy watching that moment. That's where we need to ask ourselves: where do we draw the line, and when does it become too much?"
While acknowledging that demand drives the genre, Kemmu also shared that he believes creators also have a responsibility towards the kind of content they put out. "I think people will keep creating a supply for a demand that exists. But somewhere we also have to question what we want to supply? You can't always say that there is a demand. Sometimes you don't wait for the demand to change because then the industry gets closed," he concluded.
Alliance streams every day on Prime Video.
With Alliance (Prime Video) and Lock Upp: Sach ya Sazaa (Netflix) now streaming, comparisons between the two captive reality shows were almost inevitable. However, Alliance host Kunal Kemmu isn't viewing it as a rivalry, especially as he steps into the reality-show space for the first time.
In a conversation with India Today, Kemmu said there's no competition as audiences will ultimately decide what they want to watch.
"I don't know if we can call it a competition. Sometimes, you have loyalists who might prefer to just watch that specific show. Then there will be an audience who will want to give both a chance. And there would be an audience who might watch both and then decide what they like more," he said.
When told that Lock Upp also boasts experienced hosts Farah Khan and Riteish Deshmukh, the actor responded with his trademark humour, insisting he isn't looking at them as rivals.
He said, "There is no competition; they have already won. I am just debuting, yeh mera pehla match hai (This is my first match). So, I don't know myself [about how it will pan out]. Farah and Riteish are really good and I really enjoy watching them. They know what they're doing. For me, everything is new. I have nothing to lose as there are no expectations from me."
The 43-year-old actor also shared his thoughts on why captive reality shows continue to attract audiences across the world. After TV channels, they are also now dominating global OTT platforms. While admitting that he has watched and enjoyed several reality formats over the years, Kemmu also mentioned how his relationship with the genre has changed with time.
"I would be lying if I said I don't enjoy reality shows at all. There have been times when I've gotten completely hooked. That said, I may not have stayed invested for the entire run, especially since some of these shows go on for a very long time. On the other hand, I enjoy challenge-based reality shows that are episodic. They may air over a few weeks, but they wrap up within a set period. So yes, there have definitely been reality shows that I've found myself hooked on," the host added.
The Single Papa actor said that he has been watching reality shows since the early days of Roadies, although adding that some formats haven't aged well for him.
He elaborated, "I am no stranger to it. I have enjoyed it right from the beginning. I was also young when Roadies and other shows would air. Some of them have not aged that well, which I may have liked then. Now I don't find them as interesting. So, yes, I find myself also as an audience for it.”
Explaining what makes the genre so addictive, Kunal Kemmu said the appeal lies in watching real people and real emotions unfold. However, he also believes reality shows come with an ethical responsibility.
"I think reality shows come closest to satisfying our curiosity about other people's lives. There's always an interest in knowing what others are thinking or going through, and these shows let you witness that firsthand. In some formats, viewers even get a sense of control through voting, which makes them feel more involved. That's probably why they have such a strong audience,” he said.
Adding, “But there's also a very thin line. As the saying goes, one man's pain can become another man's entertainment. Someone may be crying, one person may empathise with them, while someone else may simply enjoy watching that moment. That's where we need to ask ourselves: where do we draw the line, and when does it become too much?"
While acknowledging that demand drives the genre, Kemmu also shared that he believes creators also have a responsibility towards the kind of content they put out. "I think people will keep creating a supply for a demand that exists. But somewhere we also have to question what we want to supply? You can't always say that there is a demand. Sometimes you don't wait for the demand to change because then the industry gets closed," he concluded.
Alliance streams every day on Prime Video.
