"Arshad Warsi & Boman Irani can become content creators and......": Kunal Bhan

Kunal Bhan, a name buzzing in the digital entertainment space, seamlessly juggles being a performer on screen and a creator online. Last seen in Gamerlog on MX Player, Kunal speaks candidly about his journey from the Middle East to Mumbai, his evolving relationship with social media, and how his grandmother has unintentionally become his biggest co-star. In this refreshingly honest conversation with India Forums, he breaks down trends, myths, and what really keeps him going.

Q: Kunal, you've worn many hats, engineer, gamer, actor, creator. How did it all begin?

Kunal Bhan: Professional acting was always something I wanted to do. I grew up in the Middle East, my parents and brother are still based there. My first love was always acting, but my second love was video games. So I thought, why not become a game developer?

I pursued engineering and did well at it, touchwood. But around the third year at Manipal, I had a realization that my heart was still with acting. That thought just snowballed, and in 2018–2019, I finally moved to Bombay and started working as an actor. The first couple of years were great and then, of course, COVID happened.

Q: What changed for you during the pandemic?

Kunal: Like many in the creative field, when you're consistently working and it suddenly stops, it hits hard. The phrase "An idle mind is a devil's workshop" kept ringing in my head. I couldn't sit still. That's when Reels happened, and it gave me an outlet. Suddenly, there was a platform where you could create content from home; even ads were being shot remotely or in bubbles. I told myself: If the industry is adapting, I must too. I saw that the two biggest traits every actor should have, observation and adaptability, were finally being tested.

Q: So, social media has become more than just a hobby?

Kunal: Exactly. It became a tool for visibility and staying relevant. Today, the industry works like a popularity contest if you're seen, you get work. Talent is important, yes, but unfortunately, it's secondary at the start. Still, I believe talent is what will keep you in the game long-term.

Q: Let's jump into a quick creator segment. One trend you wish influencers would stop doing?

Kunal: Lip-sync videos. I've never done one, and honestly, I don't find them creatively satisfying.

Q: A creator whose success story inspires you?

Kunal: I have two. One is a very close friend of mine, he's incredibly quick with his content and wit. I've had the honor of working with him. The other is Jose, back in the day, he was a VJ and now he's a comedian. Both are hilarious and can make you laugh without saying a word. That's Mr. Bean or Tom & Jerry-level talent.

Q: A creator you think is overhyped?

Kunal (laughing): My grandma. I don't get the hype! No, I'm just joking. Honestly, I don't follow many creators because I mostly follow actors. So I'll stick to that diplomatic answer, my grandma!

Q: Do you ever get annoyed being called an influencer instead of an actor?

Kunal: It used to bother me a little. But eventually, I realized most people just say that because they've seen you, they don't care about labels like 'content creator' or 'influencer.' From a layman's perspective, it's interchangeable.

For me, acting is the core of what I do. But if my grandma is the content creator who's giving me relevance, then so be it! I'll do all the packaging she gets the applause. I'm probably the only person practicing reverse nepotism.

Q: What's one influencer activity you just don't get?

Kunal: GRWMs — Get Ready With Me videos. I get that they're useful for marketing products, but I had this odd moment once. I was on the metro and saw someone watching a GRWM, and I suddenly felt like I was intruding in someone's private space. Some GRWMs are fun, but the traditional ones feel too personal to watch in public.

Q: An actor who you think can turn into a content creator with ease?

Kunal: Arshad Warsi, for sure, he's insanely funny. Also, Boman Irani. Both of them could create anything and make it entertaining.

Q: Finally, what's a big myth about creators you'd like to break?

Kunal: That we're all pretentious. Sure, there are some who are like in every profession. But most creators became creators by accident. It wasn't the plan. It was a pivot, a survival instinct, or just a creative itch. Everyone's still figuring it out, I know I am. I started as an actor. Acting paused. Creation began. That's how it worked out for me.

Kunal Bhaan proves that talent paired with adaptability is a formidable combination. Whether he's playing a lead in a show like Gamerlog or playing second fiddle to his grandma in a viral video. And if reverse nepotism is the future of content, Kunal is already ahead of the curve.