Green says go!

, former child actor Kunal Khemu is happy to be doing powerful roles that are getting him noticed.

It's difficult to pin Kunal Khemu down. His phone has been ringing incessantly and media hounds are waiting for him to provide a byte. The actor, fresh after the release of his latest film Traffic Signal (it's too early to call it a success), has received a fair share of praise from the majority of critics.

As Silsila, the man on the street who organises and instructs beggars at a Mumbai traffic signal, Khemu has once again shown a lot of promise. His director and co-stars are naturally on a praise-Khemu mission.

Madhur Bhandarkar, who directed him in Traffic Signal (produced by Percept Picture Company) and was wowed by his performance in Kalyug, says, "Kunal is the best newcomer in the industry and despite being two films old will always surprise everyone pleasantly."

His co-star Neetu Chandran has been quoted in media reports, "Both of us are just two films old and I am completely bowled over by his dedication."

And while there are many positive responses coming in from all quarters for the 23-year-old actor, there are stray reports of Khemu, the star, being called a publicity hound. Then there was a recent blow to the film as it was banned in the theatres of Himachal Pradesh.

The use of the word "kinnar" for eunuchs has upset the Kinnaur district residents and the film has been taken off the halls for two months. And no, not everyone is impressed with him. A film critic on a TV channel recently said, "....Kunal Khemu, Ranvir Shorey, newcomer Neetu Chandra and the others fail to rise above the sorry script."

Is Khemu in a mood to react?

Back from a workout session at his gym, Khemu says he doesn't have an idee fixe to garner only positive reactions for his latest performance.

"As a child artiste my parents always sheltered me, I was pampered and loved. Now I'm grown up, on my own and some ups and downs can be expected. The industry," he adds, "can't always be favourable." And while as a child artiste Khemu invariably found favour (though I remember getting irritated with his act in Raja Hindustani), it was Zakhm where he was stupendous, outshining the likes of Ajay Devgan and Pooja Bhatt (the protagonists of the film).

That was a film where the industry and audiences sat back and took note of his intense performance and flooded him with many more offers.

"I was clear that after Zakhm I needed to take a break for six years and then come back as a solo hero," he says. Bhandarkar, who at that time was assisting Mahesh Bhatt in the same film, says, "Mahesh Bhatt used to say that he was ready to replace Ajay Devgan but not Kunal Khemu."

While the temptation of still facing the arc lights was intense, Khemu decided to concentrate on his education (he is a commerce student from Mumbai University), flex his muscles but, more importantly, plunge into theatre.

And though many people don't know this, Khemu's parents were theatre artistes ("My father even assisted Shyam Benegal in some films") and with that background he grew up in a household where world cinema, theatre and the arts were freely discussed on the dining table.

"My parents wanted me to concentrate on my education even at that time, but obviously respected my decision to finally take the plunge into the world of cinema," he says.

And no, he doesn't like terming his tryst with films as a struggle. "It was a long wait, that's it. I would hate to call it a struggle," he says. And though Khemu feels it's too early to label himself a success story, he is happy to be doing powerful roles that are getting him noticed.

"Kalyug was a fantastic script and Mahesh Bhatt promised me after Zakhm that he would try his best to launch me as a solo hero. Kalyug was a fairly small budget film but did well because the script never let us down," he says.

The film unmasked the industry of pornography by tracing the tumultuous ride of a newlywed couple caught inadvertently in the act that is clandestinely taped and circulated on the Internet.

Accolades apart, Kalyug got Khemu the green signal from the industry, that he was now ready to act as a solo hero. "Within a week of Madhur watching the film, I was called into his office where he showed me the script of Traffic Signal. He knew what he was looking for and somehow I was fascinated with the role he offered me."

And Khemu, knowing fully well what the role demanded, decided to get a darker shade of makeup applied to his face and body ("You can't have a street urchin who spends his entire day in the sun being played by someone with a fair-and-lovely complexion") and added a dash of kajal for a style statement. "I'm glad it's worked and the look has been very earthy, very real yet very stylish too," he says.

Up next is a comic act in a Priyadarshan-directed flick. And though he doesn't take any names, Khemu's clear he'd like to join the "big camps" of the industry and earn money and fame too. "I've just started out and there's a long way to go," he says.

The path for Khemu might not be obstacle-free, but for the young lad the journey has certainly begun on a high note.