EXCLUSIVE: Mohnish Bahl talks about his close friendship with Salman Khan; says “I’ve stuck with calling him Salman while he’s stuck with addressing me as Monya”

By Fenil Seta -

August 17, 2022 - 7:00 PM IST

Mohnish Bahl recently celebrated his 61st birthday. He became a known actor after his memorable performance in Maine Pyar Kiya (1987). It starred Salman Khan in the lead role and it was the superstar who recommended his name for Sooraj Barjartya’s directorial debut.

EXCLUSIVE: Mohnish Bahl talks about his close friendship with Salman Khan; says “I’ve stuck with calling him Salman while he’s stuck with addressing me as Monya”

In an exclusive interaction with Bollywood Hungama, the actor was asked about it. To which Mohnish Bahl said, “That’s an old friendship and it began before we entered the film industry. Salman was struggling and I didn’t have anything to struggle for as I was already out. He was trying to be a part of Maine Pyar Kiya. He recommended my name. And then the rest is history.”

This was a time when Mohnish Bahl appeared in five films and didn’t help him in any way as most of them were flops. Hence, he had contemplated quitting the industry. But once he signed Maine Pyar Kiya, there was no looking back.

When asked how he became friends with Salman, Mohnish Bahl replied, “We used to work out at the gym in Hotel Sea Rock, Bandra. That’s how we got to know each other.” Salman Khan lovingly even calls Mohnish ‘Monya’. Mohnish Bahl smiled as we talked about it and confessed that the superstar is the only one who calls him that.

And what does Mohnish Bahl address Salman Khan as? He answered, “I call him Salman. He has been given a lot of names as he grew older like Bhai, Sallu etc. These are terms of endearment. But I’ve stuck with calling him Salman while he’s stuck with addressing me as Monya.”

It’s known that the Barjatyas were apprehensive about casting Mohnish Bahl in a negative role in Maine Pyar Kiya. The late Raj Kumar Barjatya even spoke to his mother, Nutan, and promised her that he’ll cast her son in an all-white role, which he later did in Hum Aapke Hain Koun (1994).

Interestingly, it came to light that even Salman Khan had talked to Nutan about it. To which Mohnish Bahl said, “Yes, that’s what he told me (laughs)!”

He continues, “The thing is that we used to hang out at each other’s houses often. There were times when he wouldn’t be at his home, and I’d be there and vice versa. So, he may have spoken to my mom at one of those times. She treated him like a brother to me, like her other son. His first film before Maine Pyar Kiya was Biwi Ho Toh Aisi (1988). He was very keen that my mom should see it.”

Also Read: Mohnish Bahl celebrates the 27 glorious years of iconic film Hum Aapke Hain Koun, says the film proved to be a turning point in his career