Tough Luke

In a way,it’s quite apt that Kenny be the spokesperson of a large section of the population of the city of dreams. After all,Kenny,when he burst into the scene as a Channel V veejay in the early 1990s,stood for the kind of urban coolness that most Mumbai youths possessed and youngsters from rest of the country aspired for. “I always took music seriously. When my relatives from abroad were visiting,I would ask them to bring cassette tapes of the latest Billboard hits,” he says.

Today,his transformation to a Bollywood actor,is a testament to the changing times,feels Kenny. “Even a decade ago,most educated,urban Indians would disown Bollywood because it wasn’t cool enough. Today,things have changed,and not just cosmetically. Films today have groovy music,sleek look and believable characters,” he states. So,a Rob in Rock On is a living,breathing character and not just a stereotype,points out Kenny. “There was no need to justify the character’s background. We didn’t need to say that he is an Anglo-Indian guy with an identity crisis. That itself is a big deal,” he says.

The success of Rock On,gives Kenny the incentive to pursue his kind of films. “It’s not easy to get a break in this industry you know. Even if you have influential friends,” he says. His script,which has been his baby for years now,may finally be made into a film. “I’m keeping my fingers crossed,” he beams. He also has a few acting assignments in hand. “I’m trying to avoid stereotypical roles,” he claims. But what excites Kenny the most,seems to be the fact that he finally has the time to put a band together. “We are not an outfit yet,but we are getting there,” he beams.