EXCLUSIVE: Pranutan Behl reveals that she auditioned for Rajshri’s Dono; fondly recalls interacting with Rani Mukerji on Kahin Pyaar Na Ho Jaaye sets: “When I reminded her, she caught my cheeks in her typical loving way and gave me a small kiss”

Pranutan Bahl had a memorable debut in the much-loved Notebook (2019), produced by Salman Khan. She was then seen in Helmet (2021) and Amar Prem Ki Prem Kahani (2024), both of which were released online. She had confirmed that she had bagged an international film Coco & Nut. In an exclusive interview with Bollywood Hungama, she confirmed that she has two more projects in her kitty – a cop drama and a folk thriller. She further confessed that she feels that she deserves to be seen more.

 

EXCLUSIVE: Pranutan Behl reveals that she auditioned for Rajshri’s Dono; fondly recalls interacting with Rani Mukerji on Kahin Pyaar Na Ho Jaaye sets: “When I reminded her, she caught my cheeks in her typical loving way and gave me a small kiss”

 

In an interview during the release of her debut film, Pranutan Bahl, while speaking about Salman Khan, said, “He’s told me never to think that I’m too big to ask for work.” Does she call up filmmakers and ask for work? The actress told Bollywood Hungama, “I have messaged a lot of them. I keep doing it. If I see a filmmaker’s work that I like, I would definitely reach out and tell them that if there was any role for me, I would love to audition for it.”

 

Pranutan’s father, Mohnish Bahl, did some memorable work with blockbuster filmmaker Sooraj Barjatya. When asked if she had messaged him, she replied, “Yes. Before I began my career, when I was auditioning between 2016-2018, I went and met Sooraj ji. He’s like family to us. I wanted to talk about work and seek his advice. We had some beautiful conversations. I had even met Raj Babu (Rajkumar Barjatya), his father, as I literally grew up in front of them. In fact, I even auditioned for Dono (2023), directed by Sooraj ji’s son, Avnish. Even though Avnish and I were in the same school and in the same class, I auditioned for it. So, yeah, I would love to work with them. Who wouldn’t (laughs)?”

 

The Barjatyas are considered as the nicest people in the industry. Pranutan agreed, “Yes, they are very lovely. The kind of films that Sooraj ji made and the stereotypes he broke, I don’t even know whether he realizes it because he’s so casual about his success!”

 

Re-releases and regional films

 

It is the era of re-releases, especially of those films that were loved but didn’t get due in cinemas during the original run. Notebook fits this category completely. When asked if a re-release of the film is possible, Pranutan Bahl stated, “I guess it’s in the hands of the producer. I don’t think it’s under my domain to speak about it or make it happen. My ultimate wish is that people should watch my film, love my work and provide constructive feedback. That would help me improve my acting skills.”

 

Since she mentioned constructive feedback, we asked her to elaborate about it. After all, we are living in times when people with agendas go all out, attacking a film and an actor’s work.

 

 

Pranutan confirmed this development and also said, “Sometimes, there are many people who can be a little brutal. They really harm you. At the same time, I was quite prepared because when your whole family is in films, you are taught how to filter out. At the end of the day, we are humans and we will feel bad. But touchwood, I have not come across something that has hurt me or has attacked my work or my craft.”

 

Pranutan’s grandmother, Nutan, was a Maharashtrian. Hence, does she have plans to do a Marathi film? Her eyes lit up at this question and she smilingly said, “I would love to. The flavour of the Maharashtrian film is so beautiful. They have always created great films. Even Marathi theatre has been so supreme in terms of the craft.”

 

The Bahl-Mukherjee connection

 

Not many are aware but Pranutan Bahl and the families of Kajol-Rani Mukerji are related. How has been her bond with Kajol, her family and Kajol’s hubby Ajay Devgn?

 

Pranutan replied, “When I was a kid, Kajol bua got married. I was 6 or 7. I am talking about the 90s, when there was no Coastal Road or the Sea Link in Mumbai! I live in Colaba, which is at the tip of South Mumbai. I was a kid then and meeting her was not very often. Maybe, sometimes at a family event, we would meet but unfortunately, I didn’t hang out with her much. I spent more time with my other aunt who lived in South Mumbai, due to the sheer convenience (laughs).”

 

 

 

She continued, “With respect to Ajay sir, he has worked a lot with my dad. They have had a wonderful personal and professional equation. I have not interacted with him once, that too, when I was a kid. However, I have some lovely memories with Rani bua, actually. She has worked a lot with my dad and she calls him dada, which means brother in Bengali and Marathi. I had a lovely time with her on the sets of Kahin Pyaar Na Ho Jaaye (2000). She was wonderful to me. When I met her during Durga Puja, I reminded her that she was very kind to me as a child. She caught my cheeks in her typical loving way and gave me a small kiss on my cheeks (smiles).

 

Interestingly, Rani Mukerji’s co-star in Kahin Pyaar Na Ho Jaaye was Salman Khan, who launched Pranutan Bahl 18 years later in Notebook.

 

Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: Pranutan Bahl hits back at being unfairly labelled a product of nepotism: “Salman Khan did NOT know I was auditioning for Notebook…none of my films were funded by my friends or family members, not even from the back end!”

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