The Coronavirus crisis has disrupted the life and careers of many. And the same holds true for Pranutan Bahl, who admits that the past two years have been disappointing. The actor, who made her acting debut with Notebook (2019), admits that all her work-related goals and plans have gone for a toss.

“Initially, it was frustrating. After 2019, when I made my debut, I had envisioned that 2020 would be the year for my second release and so on. But the situation changed. I’ve to accept it,” the 28-year-old shares.

The daughter of actor Mohnish Bahl reveals that she had learnt from her parents that an acting career never goes as per plan. “They’ve told me that I’ve to be open to change and be okay with things not working out sometimes. Covid was a big shocker. But, after a while, you realise that it is what it is. It’s better to make peace with it,” the actor opines.

However, she feels lucky that her debut film saw the light of day before the pandemic struck. She continues, “Thank God my debut happened before the pandemic. Now it’s even more difficult. There’s no surety as to when things would get back to normal. It’s all so uncertain. Theatres are not functioning and opportunities have dwindled even further.”

Despite the slump in movie shoots, Bahl has kept herself busy with projects like music videos, the latest being Rona Nahi. 2021 could also be the year when her second film, Helmet releases, something she’s looking forward to.

But given the scenario of cinemas, an OTT release might be on the cards. And Bahl confesses, she’d “not be okay with it”. However, she admits that she will have to accept whatever happens, as people can’t be endlessly waiting for cinemas to reopen. “It’s also a question of people putting money. Films get stale if held for too long. Of course, theatrical has its own magic but OTTs should not be undermined,” she says.

Sparking rumours of a third project, the actor was recently spotted visiting filmmaker Ali Abbas Zafar’s office. Not divulging much, she says, “We have a lot of meetings, schedule a lot of things; some work out, some don’t. It’s not nice to speak about it if I’m not 100% sure.”

Salman Khan’s protege Pranutan reveals his soft side; shares memories of her grandmother, father and aunt
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 28, 2019)

Pranutan Bahl who is making her acting debut with Salman Khan’s next, the Nitin Kakkardirected Notebook, has fond memories of her mentor-producer from when she was little girl. Once, she lost her Tweety cap and was in tears when Salman spotted her and immediately sent his spotboy to buy a replica of it. “And I had my cap back within an hour,” Pranutan beams. Ask her if she got any tips from her mentor, now that she’s a big girl and on the threshold of a new career and pat comes the answer, “He’s told me never to think that I’m too big to ask for work.”

Meanwhile, her aunt Kajol has loved the trailer of her first feature and can’t wait to see the film. Pranutan’s all-time favourites featuring her actress-aunt are Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. “I remember attending the premiere of Kuch Kuch…, I was around six. She was a star, she’s still one. But while I admire her, I don’t want to emulate her or anyone else for that matter. I’m here for a reason,” states Mohnish and Ekta Bahl’s daughter, who points out that like the Samarth women, she is strong-headed.

Naturally, the conversation veers to her grandmother, Nutan. “I’ve been told she was always punctual, she was very disciplined. I’ve read that when she was doing the 1968 romantic drama, Saraswatichandra, the story was based on only one volume of the Gujarati novel, but she read three volumes to get under the skin of the character, Kumud,”

Pranutan who shares half her name with the legendary actress recounts. Nutan passed away prematurely, but her younger sister and Kajol’s mother, Tanuja is around to remind Pranutan to be focussed when standing on mark on set. “You must be confident and strong,” her Tanu ma added. And what of her papa, Mohnish, who’s frequently costarred with Salman, including in the 1999 film, Hum Saath Saath Hain, and whom she accompanied to his sets as a kid? “I troubled the camera department of his films because I loved skidding off the trolley,” she laughs. “Now, he’s happy and excited for my debut.”

Soumya Vajpayee (BOMBAY TIMES; March 23, 2019)

Being on the film set is the ultimate high for me; it’s like living a dream,” says debutante actress Pranutan Bahl, whose excitement is evident from her face and demeanour the moment she arrives for the interview at an Andheri studio. She is an industry kid — the granddaughter of late actress Nutan and daughter of Mohnish Bahl — but the 26-year-old law graduate wants to carve a niche for herself in the industry on her own merit. In a tête-à-tête with BT, Pranutan talks about her upcoming film, Notebook, her learnings from her grandmother and father, the bond she shares with Salman Khan, and more. Excerpts…

Your debut film, Notebook, is all set to hit the theatres in a few days. Are you excited, nervous… what is your current state of mind?
Honestly, I’m feeling a lot of gratitude. Every day, I tell myself, ‘Thank God it happened. I really wanted it’. I have waited for this all my life, and I have spent the last two-and-a-half years preparing to enter films and giving auditions.

You gave auditions? The general perception is that industry kids have it easy...
A lot of people are surprised that I went for auditions. I tell them that if you want to become an actor, then that’s how it works. There’s a particular procedure and you cannot negate that. If you want to become a lawyer, you cannot say, ‘I won’t give CLAT because my dad is a barrister’.

Thousands of artistes from across the country come to Mumbai to become actors, how can anyone be an exception? In fact, while going for auditions, I never wrote my last name, because I didn’t want to be shortlisted because of my family background. I want to make it on my own, so that I can feel that I’ve earned what I deserve.

Nepotism is a much-talked-about topic these days. Many would find it hard to believe that your father never played a role in getting you into films…
I don’t know industry kids, because that’s not the group I hang out with. So, I don’t know how they made their way into films. But, I’ve never asked my dad or anyone from my family to make a single call to any of their connections from the film industry to fix up a meeting or an audition. I’ve probably been to every single casting office that exists in the city.

You always wanted to become an actor, but you went ahead and studied law...
I wanted to complete my education before pursuing my passion. I felt that law was a great course to do, and it has made me a different person. For example, if I have to buy a house, I know the technicalities of a sales deed or stamp duty kaise bharni hai. I am a hands-on person. When I studied, I did that with utmost devotion, and I wish to do the same with films as well.

When did you tell your father that you want to become an actor?
It was eight months before I graduated. When I had joined the law college, he told me, ‘It’s good that you’re studying law. If you want to become an actor, you can do that, but finish your education first’.

You are not formally trained in acting, but seeing your father during your growing-up years and listening to stories about your legendary grandmother must have been an acting lesson in itself, right?
While I was influenced by my dad’s talent, our conversations at home were never film-centric. He always taught me to be honest and sincere about my work. He would say, ‘You will hone your skills with time. The camera is your playground, so you’ll be more comfortable in your fourth film compared to the first one. Honesty is your greatest treasure’.

As a kid, did you ever visit his films’ sets?
Yes, a lot. I have visited him on the sets of Hum Saath-Saath Hain (1999), Astitva (2000), Kahin Pyaar Na Ho Jaaye (2000) and Raja Hindustani (1996), among others. I would get upset when he was beaten up, because he was the bad guy in most films. I would cry and tell my mom, ‘Call up papa now. He is getting beaten up’. She would then tell me, ‘He is fine; he is just acting (laughs!)’. I feel at home when I am on a film set. However, that doesn’t mean that I didn’t have to work hard on my craft.

Salman Khan and your father have been close friends for years, and now, your first film happens to be a Salman Khan production. What kind of a bond do you share with him?
I was around seven years old when I had lost my ‘Tweety’ cap at a studio and started crying. He came up to me and asked me what had happened. I told him that I had lost my favourite cap, and, in one hour, the same cap was given to me. He had asked his spot boy to buy a new one for me. From then till now, he has always been my favourite (laughs!).

How encouraging was he when you bagged Notebook, directed by Nitin Kakkar?
He was happy and proud. He told me, ‘Since acting is your passion, work hard and give it your all’.

You recently said that your grandmother’s film, Bandini (1963), is your all-time favourite. Did her talent leave an impression on you?
Any great work inspires you. I’m bowled over by the skill of Bimal da (Bandini director Bimal Roy), my daadi and dadamuni (late actor Ashok Kumar). My grandmother played a murderer in Bandini, but the viewer still feels empathetic towards her. She played her role with such purity.

What is that one quality of hers that you would want to imbibe as an actor?
I would want to imbibe every quality of my grandmother as an actor, but if I have to choose one, it would be her goodness. Every role she played reflected the goodness and purity in her.

Actor-producer has been quietly grooming Pranutan and Zaheer Iqbal for the spotlight and now, it’s a wrap
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 10, 2018)

2019 promises to be the year of the debutants with as many as 30 taking a bow. Among them is Pranutan, the granddaughter of yesteryear actress Nutan and the daughter of Mohnish and Ekta Bahl. She is set to make her acting debut with Salman Khan’s upcoming production, Notebook, in which she is paired opposite Zaheer Iqbal, who is the son of Iqbal Ratnasi, a builder and Salman’s childhood buddy. Excerpts from an interview:

When did you decide you wanted to act?
Pranutan: It was always on my mind but I wanted to complete my education. I was pursuing law from the Government College of Law.
Zaheer: The keeda had bitten me when I was a child. I used to converse in film dialogues and sway to the beat of Bollywood chartbusters whenever the opportunity presented itself. Salman bhai spotted me dancing at my sister’s sangeet and as soon as I got off the stage, he told me, “I am launching you, start training.”

I’m told that when I was kid, bhai called up dad one day and asked, “Hero kahan hai? Bhejo usko neeche.” When I came running down, he drove me to the studio where he was shooting. That was the first time I was on a film set. Back then, I didn’t know he was a superstar, for me he was just chachu. Years later, he came to my college for an annual function and seeing me wear my hair long, sighed, “Yeh drug zone mein chala gaya hai.” (Chuckles) He was happier when he saw me at the wedding—by then I had cut my hair short.

And after he signed you, did you hit the gym with him?
Z: People believe that if bhai is mentoring you, yeh banda body bana raha hai. But it is a different scene altogether. He trains you emotionally and mentally, teaches you to look at things from a perspective that no one would normally consider.

And how did you come on board, Pranutan?
P: Salman sir called my dad from the US and asked him to send me for an audition. Immediately after, he called dad again to say, “You are in trouble my friend, your daughter is soon going to be a heroine.”

And what was Mohnish’s reaction?
P: The first time I told dad that I wanted to be an actress, he asked me if I was sure because the industry is an uncertain place to be in. Some people are hugely over-rated, some under-rated and there are times when even talent doesn’t get you work. I used to believe that coming from a film family, I would easily bag at least a couple of projects, but dad was quick to point out that my background was an advantage only till I arrived on the set. The minute I faced the camera for the first shot, it didn’t matter whose daughter or granddaughter I was.

Did he ever visit you on the sets?
P: Dad was around for three days when we went to Kashmir for an outdoor shoot, along with my sister and mother. He saw some of the rushes and asked Nitin (director Nitin Kakkar) to give him a small role in the film as he loved what he saw. It was nice to have him around.

What was it like facing the camera for the first time?
Z: Before the shoot, everyone was saying, “Hero hai na, yeh karna, woh karna.” But after a three-month acting workshop with Hemant Kher, I learnt that it was all about getting under the skin of the character and by the time the film went on the floors, I was completely at ease. I was surprised to see just how confident I was in front of the camera. Our training sessions continued even on the film set as the coach was always present there. (Laughs) And apart from acting, my vocabulary also improved thanks to Pranutan and I got to learn new words like ‘contrived’, ‘euphemism’, ‘monotony’, and ‘cantankerous’.
P: I believe that no matter how much you prep, being on the set is a different kind of high. It’s almost surreal and more than acting, Notebook has been a beautiful journey of self-discovery.

Is there a sense of responsibility given that one of Bollywood’s biggest actors is banking on you?
Z: I felt responsible when bhai announced the film. We were hanging out at his place one evening when he suddenly turned to me and said, “Okay, we are announcing the film tomorrow, send me that (old) picture of ours (below).” I did, and the next day it went viral.

How would you define your equation with Salman?
Z: I have been his fan all my life, and after knowing him, I’m in awe of the human being that he is. More than films, our discussions are about life. Everyone in this industry wants to be the next Salman Khan, but I want to be the guy who takes Being Human (his charity) forward.

What’s your take on films?
P: Films are nothing but a reflection of the society. Flashback to the ’60s and you have films like Mother India, Guide and Bandini that featured Nargis ji, Waheeda ji (Rehman) and my grandmother Nutan. The content has changed over time, you can’t put creativity in a box, but the intention still is to entertain.
Z: I think, she summed it up well.

And what’s your take on the social media?
P: You can’t categorise it as black or white, it’s a grey space.
Z: If you use it well, it’s a boon, if not, it’s a bane. For me it’s the former, as I get all my information from Instagram.

Finally, why is your film titled Notebook?
P: Once you see the trailer, you’ll know why.
Z: And we can’t wait to see the audience reaction.