Why Kunal Kemmu took his first reality TV hosting gig with Alliance?
Kunal Kemmu has stepped into reality television as the host of Prime Video's Alliance. The show premiered on June 26.
Actor and director Kunal Kemmu is stepping into a new role with Alliance, Prime Video's reality show that premiered on June 26. Ahead of its release, the actor opened up about what drew him to the project, why he agreed to host despite never seeing himself as a reality TV anchor, and the curiosity that finally convinced him to take the plunge.
One of the biggest reasons, Kunal said, was a question that has long surrounded reality television: how much of it is actually real?
Speaking to Hindustan Times, the actor revealed that he initially wondered why Prime Video and Banijay Asia had approached him, given that he did not fit the conventional image of an Indian reality show host.
"The first thing I asked them was, 'Why do you want me? Am I not the exact opposite of this?'" he recalled. According to Kunal, the makers told him that was precisely why they wanted him. He was referring to the larger-than-life image often associated with reality show hosts in India, where charisma is frequently paired with a commanding and sometimes intimidating on-screen persona.
What ultimately convinced him, however, was the novelty of the format.
"It's a completely brand-new format that hasn't been done before. It is coming to India for the first time. For Prime Video, it's also one of the first reality shows. Banijay has also not done a show like this. So I felt good knowing I'm not the only one doing this for the first time. At least I won't be judged so badly if I suck at it," he said with a laugh.
Having spent more than three decades in films after beginning his career as a child actor, Kunal said reality television was an unexplored space for him, which made the experience all the more exciting.
"There was some romance in knowing how these shows get made and what happens behind the scenes," he said. "What would it be like to have front-row seats to watch the drama unfold? There's this lifelong question with reality TV: Is this scripted, or isn't it? At least I'll know."
Asked whether he had made it clear to the makers that he would only host the show if it was unscripted, Kunal said he deliberately chose not to make any assumptions.
"The moment I say, 'I don't want this to be scripted,' I'm already deciding that everything else is scripted. I don't know. I went in with an open mind," he said.
The actor also addressed inevitable comparisons with captive reality shows such as Bigg Boss, Traitors and Lock Upp. Kunal said he sees such comparisons as natural but believes every format has room to find its own audience.
Kunal said comparisons with other reality shows are inevitable, but he believes Alliance has its own identity. According to him, the makers chose the format because it offers something different from what's already available. He added that, much like films, successful reality shows inspire similar projects because there is a clear audience for the genre. As long as viewers continue to watch them, creators will keep experimenting with new formats to offer a fresh viewing experience.
Based on a Dutch format, Alliance has been developed by Banijay Asia and is streaming on Prime Video. The contestant lineup features Vanshaj Singh, Dolly Javed, Kushal Tandon, Daisy Shah, Niti Taylor, Mini Mathur and Nikhil Chinapa, among others.
Actor and director Kunal Kemmu is stepping into a new role with Alliance, Prime Video's reality show that premiered on June 26. Ahead of its release, the actor opened up about what drew him to the project, why he agreed to host despite never seeing himself as a reality TV anchor, and the curiosity that finally convinced him to take the plunge.
One of the biggest reasons, Kunal said, was a question that has long surrounded reality television: how much of it is actually real?
Speaking to Hindustan Times, the actor revealed that he initially wondered why Prime Video and Banijay Asia had approached him, given that he did not fit the conventional image of an Indian reality show host.
"The first thing I asked them was, 'Why do you want me? Am I not the exact opposite of this?'" he recalled. According to Kunal, the makers told him that was precisely why they wanted him. He was referring to the larger-than-life image often associated with reality show hosts in India, where charisma is frequently paired with a commanding and sometimes intimidating on-screen persona.
What ultimately convinced him, however, was the novelty of the format.
"It's a completely brand-new format that hasn't been done before. It is coming to India for the first time. For Prime Video, it's also one of the first reality shows. Banijay has also not done a show like this. So I felt good knowing I'm not the only one doing this for the first time. At least I won't be judged so badly if I suck at it," he said with a laugh.
Having spent more than three decades in films after beginning his career as a child actor, Kunal said reality television was an unexplored space for him, which made the experience all the more exciting.
"There was some romance in knowing how these shows get made and what happens behind the scenes," he said. "What would it be like to have front-row seats to watch the drama unfold? There's this lifelong question with reality TV: Is this scripted, or isn't it? At least I'll know."
Asked whether he had made it clear to the makers that he would only host the show if it was unscripted, Kunal said he deliberately chose not to make any assumptions.
"The moment I say, 'I don't want this to be scripted,' I'm already deciding that everything else is scripted. I don't know. I went in with an open mind," he said.
The actor also addressed inevitable comparisons with captive reality shows such as Bigg Boss, Traitors and Lock Upp. Kunal said he sees such comparisons as natural but believes every format has room to find its own audience.
Kunal said comparisons with other reality shows are inevitable, but he believes Alliance has its own identity. According to him, the makers chose the format because it offers something different from what's already available. He added that, much like films, successful reality shows inspire similar projects because there is a clear audience for the genre. As long as viewers continue to watch them, creators will keep experimenting with new formats to offer a fresh viewing experience.
Based on a Dutch format, Alliance has been developed by Banijay Asia and is streaming on Prime Video. The contestant lineup features Vanshaj Singh, Dolly Javed, Kushal Tandon, Daisy Shah, Niti Taylor, Mini Mathur and Nikhil Chinapa, among others.
