'Vibe' not a spoof of 'Pathaan' or 'Tiger', says Kunal Kemmu

Actor-filmmaker Kunal Kemmu says his upcoming directorial "Vibe" is not a spoof or parody of any Bollywood film, with references to popular spy characters "Pathaan" and "Tiger" included because they are among the best-known pop culture figures associated with the genre.

Written and directed by Kemmu, the spy-comedy follows two ordinary friends, played by Kemmu and "Laapataa Ladies" actor Sparsh Shrivastava, who unexpectedly find themselves caught up in a high-stakes mission despite having no training or experience as spies.

The film's trailer features a dialogue in which Kemmu's character questions why he should be sent on a dangerous mission when there are capable spies such as "Pathaan" and "Tiger", played by Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan respectively in YRF's hit spy franchise.

In an interview with PTI, Kemmu said the story had been with him since 2015, while the idea of referencing the two popular characters came much later.

"I've had this story with me even before I became a director. I've narrated this to friends. I didn't write it then because I didn't know whether it would be made or not," said Kemmu, who made his directorial debut with the 2024 crime comedy "Madgaon Express".

He said the references were rooted in how an ordinary person would react when suddenly placed in an extraordinary situation.

"At that point of time, 'Pathaan' had definitely not come. But it was just about what this character would feel. It was not taking a swing at anybody. Like, it was genuinely saying that for this normal man, like if I get picked up, I will say, 'you pick up somebody who's good at this'," he said.

Kemmu said the spy world depicted in "Vibe" has been approached logically, even though the situations involving the protagonists are deliberately over-the-top.

"The idea of getting into the spy world, when you actually see the film, you'll understand why what is happening, it's all logical, it's not farcical. It is kind of over-the-top in the way that what is happening with them. But it's not a spoof, it's not a parody of any film," he added.

Comedy has been a major part of Kemmu's career as an actor and now as a filmmaker, but he said he does not want to be confined to the genre.

"I did not think that I would land up in a category. I'm very honoured... But I've never taken that pressure or trying to say that this is what I want to be known for. I've let my instinct and voice just go out with the flow," he said.

Kemmu acknowledged that his love for comedy inevitably influences his writing.

"I consume a lot of comedies. But then again, when it comes to my own writing, subconsciously maybe, yes, I am inspired by them," he said.

Among the filmmakers he admires is American director Wes Anderson, particularly for the way he incorporates humour into stories without necessarily making conventional comedies.

"He's a wonderful filmmaker who has humour in his storytelling. He's not necessarily a comic filmmaker, but he does humour in a very interesting way," Kemmu said.

The actor-director said he already has scripts ready in genres including horror, action and dark drama and hopes to explore them in the future.

"But as of now, people feel more comfortable investing in me in this humour zone. But I do want to tell other stories, I'll do one or two comedies now, and then I will want to make one in a different genre," he said.

The cast of "Vibe" also includes Preity G Zinta, Vanshika Dhir, Dinesh Lal Yadav and Yashpal Sharma, among others.

Produced by Kemmu and Chirag Nihalani under their banner Drongo Films, in association with Amazon MGM Studios, "Vibe" is set to release in cinemas.