Kunal Kapoor on Career Growth, Creativity and Building His Own Opportunities in Bollywood

Actor Kunal Kapoor says he never felt frustrated about waiting for the right opportunities in his career. Instead, he used the time to explore his creative side, develop new skills, and build meaningful projects.

He believes in taking charge of his own journey rather than waiting passively for work to come his way.

“I think the last couple of years have been really fortunate. I have had a chance to work with interesting people like Tigmanshu Dhulia, Jayaraj, Gauri Shinde, and Reema Kagti. I am also starting a bunch of new films soon,” Kunal said in a phone interview from Mumbai.

“I Prefer Creating Work, Not Waiting for It”

The actor says he has always believed in action over waiting.

“There is very good work coming my way. I am not the sort of person who sits and waits for things to happen. If I want something and I am not getting it, I go out and create it,” he explained.

During periods between films, Kunal focused on developing scripts, characters, and film ideas he wanted to be part of.

“It could have been very frustrating, but it wasn’t. I invested that time in growing and getting better at what I do,” he added.

He also emphasized that he does not dwell on the past. “I am always looking at what I can do next. When you are in a state of action, you don’t get frustrated.”

A Journey from Debut to Acclaimed Films

Kunal Kapoor made his debut in Meenaxi: A Tale of Three Cities (2004) and was soon tagged by many as the “Indian Matthew McConaughey.”

Over the years, he has appeared in notable films such as Rang De Basanti, Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana, Kaun Kitney Paani Mein, and Dear Zindagi. He has also seen his share of setbacks with films like Hattrick and Raag Desh.

His most recent appearance was in Gold, starring Akshay Kumar and directed by Reema Kagti. The film chronicled India’s first Olympic gold medal win in hockey after independence and marked the sport’s historic journey.

“My first reaction after reading the script was surprise. I couldn’t believe nobody had made a film on such an important story before,” he said.

Gold also became the first Bollywood film to release in Saudi Arabia.

Passion Beyond Acting: Writing and Entrepreneurship

Apart from acting, Kunal Kapoor is also passionate about writing and entrepreneurship. He co-founded the crowdfunding platform Ketto and continues to explore multiple creative avenues.

“I enjoy all of them. I love acting. Before I became an actor, I explored many professions but didn’t find what I truly loved,” he said.

Writing, he shares, came naturally to him from a young age. “I started writing when I was around 10 or 11 years old. Technology also fascinates me, and Ketto came from that interest.”

On Sports and Gold

Speaking about hockey, the actor said the sport deserves more recognition in India.

“Hockey gave India a lot of glory in the early decades after independence. It’s an incredible sport and should be encouraged more,” he said.

A Balanced Creative Life

For Kunal Kapoor, creativity is not limited to acting alone. Whether it is writing, filmmaking ideas, or entrepreneurship, he believes in staying active and engaged.

“I am passionate about everything I do. When you are constantly creating and learning, you don’t feel stuck,” he said.

From critically acclaimed films to new-age ventures, Kunal Kapoor continues to build a career driven by curiosity, patience, and creative independence.