'Kids need to be given grace marks at times' - Kunal Kohli

Ace director, Kunal Kohli will be seen on judges' seat for the second time. After judging the dance couples in Nach Baliye, Kunal is now judging kids on Ek Se Badhkar Ek Chota Packet Bada Dhamaka on Zee TV. The director gets candid on Telly Buzz.

What was the main rea son behind taking up the judges' seat on this show?
Well, the reason is pretty simple and straightforward. I have a lot of spare time on my hands as my upcoming movies are still at the scripting level. Secondly, the money I was being offered was also good. Hence, I did not see any reason to deny the offer.

So will we see you as the judge on Nach Baliye this season too?
I am aware that Nach Baliye is coming up with another season but I have not received an offer from them as yet.

In this show, what would be your judging criteria?
Obviously, this being a different show, my judging criteria will be different from Nach. You cannot compare children to adults. They are not perfect as they are still young, hence we have to oblige and give them some grace marks.

What is your general take on reality shows for kids?
I think it is a very good concept. The prize money being offered is 25 lakhs which is a huge amount. I don't see any harm in kids participating in reality shows as they get a platform to showcase their talents. Initially it all began with one reality show, but now there are a myriad of them. And yes, the industry is also gaining from reality shows by getting new singing talents.

The government has come up with some stringent rules on participation of kids in reality shows. What do you have to say about it?
Yes, I am aware that the government has imposed some restrictions. In fact at times, even I have reservations about working with kids in my films. I lay strict rules on the sets too. When I worked with four kids in my last film, i made sure that if the kids ever came to the sets without breakfast, they were given something to eat. They are also given a break of an hour and a half after lunch, wherein they take a nap. And evening, again they are served snacks.

So, how many television shows do you watch?
Seriously, I don't get the time to watch a single television show.

And what do you have to say about the latest reality show, Bigg Boss?
Well, it is quite interesting to watch but I think it is rather difficult to live in such a big house without phones, newspapers and watches. I like watching Rahul, as he is very entertaining and I find Alina very sweet.

So any of the contestants have a chance to feature in your next movie, maybe Payal?
If there is a role suitable for any one of them, then they will definitely have a chance to feature in my next film. I usually don't have item numbers in my movies, so I don't think there is any scope for Payal.

Reporter and Author: Ranjini Nair

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