Kunal Kohli (Hindi: कुनाल कोहली) is an Indian film director, producer and writer.

Biography

Kunal Kohli is a Hindi film director based in Mumbai.

He started out as a film critic in the late 1990s and hosted the show Chalo Cinema on Zee TV. He also directed some music videos: Bally Sagoo's 'Mera Laung Gawacha', Kamaal Khan's 'Jaana', Bali Brahmabhatt's 'Tere Bin Jeena Nahin', Shiamak Davar's 'Jaane Kisne', Hema Sardesai's 'Bole Humse Kuch Na Gori' and Rajshri Music's 'Yeh Hai Prem', a song for Alisha Chinoy with Milind Soman. He directed about 24 music videos before moving to TV and films.

He made his directorial debut with the television series Trikon. He has made four movies for Yash Raj Films owned by famed director and producer, late Yash Chopra. His first film under their banner was Mujhse Dosti Karoge! (2002) which did not fare well at the box office. It starred Hrithik Roshan, Rani Mukerji and Kareena Kapoor.

After two years he came back with his second venture Hum Tum (2004). The film was one of the biggest hits of 2004 and established him as a known director. Hum Tum won five Filmfare awards including Best Director for Kohli. He won against his mentor Yash Chopra who was nominated for Veer-Zaara.

His next film was Fanaa, starred Aamir Khan and Kajol who made her comeback after a four-year break from the industry and earned her a Filmfare Best Actress award. It was released in May 2006. Fanaa became one of the biggest hits of 2006. This film was found controversial and was banned in the state of Gujarat due to protests against the lead actor Aamir Khan.

Kohli wrote, directed and co-produced the Yash Raj film Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic, starring Saif Ali Khan, Rani Mukerji, Rishi Kapoor and Amisha Patel.

He judged the popular TV show Nach Baliye's second season for Star Plus; the show was a reality dance show and very popular in 2005.

He has judged a children's reality show on Sony TV, Chota Packet Bada Dhamaka in 2005. He writes a blog on www.bollywoodhungama.com.

He started his production house Kunal Kohli Productions in 2007 to make films for himself and launch new directors, too. The first film was Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic (2008). It opened to rave reviews and was appreciated by the public but did not meet with the success of Hum Tum and Fanaa, reportedly due to bad publicity and the timing of the release. He produced and directed Break Ke Baad starring Imran Khan and Deepika Padukone in the lead roles. The film is a romantic dramedy set in the tropical island Mauritius and was released in the later half of 2010.

Kohli released his latest film Teri Meri Kahaani in 2012. The film stars Shahid Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra in the lead roles, and follows the love stories of a couple in three different generations.

Kunal has a three film contract with Reliance Big Pictures involving financing, distribution and marketing. This contract is estimated to be worth Rs 150 crores.