Vibe Movie: Kunal Kemmu reveals why he was nervous to approach Sharmila Tagore for ‘VIBE: ‘I was intimidated but once she said yes, I was excited’ | Hindi Movie News

Kunal Kemmu is gearing up for the release of his second directorial, ‘VIBE’, which also marks his first outing as a producer. In a conversation with Mid-Day, the actor-filmmaker opened up about casting his mother-in-law and veteran actor Sharmila Tagore in the film, admitting that he was initially “intimidated” to approach her. Kunal also revealed whether directing himself has changed the way he approaches his performances as an actor.

Kunal Kemmu was ‘intimidated’ to ask Sharmila Tagore for ‘VIBE’

Sharmila Tagore is set to return to the big screen with Kunal Kemmu’s ‘VIBE’, and the actor-filmmaker admitted that approaching his mother-in-law for the role was not easy. Speaking to the publication, Kunal revealed that he was nervous about asking Sharmila to be part of the film and was unsure about how she would react to the role.“I was intimidated to ask her, but once she said yes, I was excited to have her. I was grateful too, and I am very happy to see her in the film,” Kunal told Mid-Day.The director also explained that he wanted to present Sharmila’s character in a cinematic manner and personally approached her with the part.“I wanted to present the role in a cinematic way. I told her that I wanted her to play the part, and I’m grateful that she agreed to do it,” Kunal added.Once Sharmila gave her approval, Kunal’s initial hesitation turned into excitement about having the veteran actor on board.

Sharmila Tagore returns to the big screen with ‘Vibe’

With ‘VIBE’, Sharmila Tagore is set to return to Hindi cinema after a long gap. She was last seen in the 2010 Bollywood film ‘Break Ke Baad’. She later appeared in the Bengali psychological drama ‘Puratawn’ in 2025, which received critical acclaim and performed well commercially. Her inclusion in ‘VIBE’ adds another layer of interest to Kunal’s upcoming directorial, particularly given their family connection.

Has directing changed Kunal Kemmu’s approach to acting?

Kunal Kemmu is wearing multiple hats in ‘VIBE’. Besides directing the film, he is also leading the cast as an actor. However, the filmmaker says he does not allow his responsibilities as a director to interfere with his approach to acting. Asked by the publication whether his experience behind the camera has influenced the way he performs, Kunal explained that he keeps the two processes separate.“Actually, I don’t mix acting and direction simultaneously. Film is a director’s medium, and I have to deliver what the director wants. I never go to the monitor to look at my shots, because then I will be thinking if it’s okay according to me or not. If the director says, ‘We got it,’ then we got it,” he said.Kunal added that he follows the same principle when directing himself, evaluating his performance in the larger context of the film rather than simply judging it from his own perspective.“So, similarly, when I am directing myself, I will go and see that performance and see if it works for everyone in the film, so my approach towards acting hasn’t particularly changed,” he added.

Kunal Kemmu says he has always been ‘critical’ of his performances

Kunal also opened up about his tendency to critically assess his own work. However, he said that he approached his performance in ‘VIBE’ differently, choosing to trust his instincts and stay true to the character he had envisioned.“I was always critical of my performances. But in this film, I am staying true to the writer in me because I envisioned everyone doing something,” Kunal said.He further explained that his approach to acting differs from what may work for other performers.“And especially with me, because I know myself, I try to play every character as honestly as I can. Some actors have to find characters that suit their tonality and style. But when it came to me, I just let my instinct take over and hoped it would work. And if it doesn’t, I’ll learn from it,” he said.

About Kunal Kemmu’s ‘VIBE’

‘Vibe’ marks Kunal Kemmu’s return to the director’s chair after his directorial debut ‘Madgaon Express’. The upcoming film also marks his first stint as a producer. Written and directed by Kunal, ‘VIBE’ is an action-comedy featuring an ensemble cast that includes Kunal Kemmu, Preity Zinta, Sparsh Shrivastava, Dinesh Lal Yadav aka Nirahua, Yashpal Sharma and Vanshika Dhir. The film is scheduled to release in theatres on September 18.