Mohnish Bahl

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Mohnish Bahl was born in Bombay as the only son of legendary Hindi actress Nutan Samarth Bahl belonging to the Mukherjee-Samarth film clan of Bollywood and his father was an Lt.Cdr at the Indian army. Being born to an affluent film background, Bahl went on to make his film debut through the movie Bekaraar in 1983.

Mohnish Bahl is married to yesteryear actress Ekta Sohini , the duo got married in 1992. The couple has two children; Krishna Bahl and Pranutan Bahl.

Film debut and rise to prominence ( 1983- 1988) Mohnish Bahl made his Hindi film entry with the Sanjay Dutt starrer Bekaraar in 1983 which was a smooth take off. He was then called upon to play the male lead in the Hindi remake of the classic English film Blue Lagoon which saw him pairing opposite Ayesha Dutt in the main lead. The movie which dealt with the theme of two cousins stranded in a secluded island, both of whom go on to learn to live within the island after years of struggle had him emoting well to the intricacies of the plot. The flick got him noted among film goers. Next he was seen in a major role in Rajnikanth’s Hindi revenge drama Meri Adalat in the same year. He then appeared in the main lead in movies like the horror thriller Purana Mandir and Yeh Kaisa Farz in the years 1984 and 1985 respectively. Return after two year hiatus in cinema and career turnaround ( 1987-1995) Bahl made his comeback to cinema in 1987 with Joshi’s directorial flick Itihaas which saw him pairing with Raaj Kumar and Anil Kapoor in the lead. However Mohnish Bahl had his biggest break after a series of unsuccessful lead and supporting roles as of then in the year 1989, when he was offered to play the antagonist for the first time in Salman Khan starrer cult musical romantic movie Maine Pyar Kiya.The movie which incidentally was also Salman Khan’s debut as an independent hero saw Bahl playing a character with negative shades and the phenomenal success of the movie turned out to be a major break for Bahl as he was in the near future called upon to play negative characters mainly. He followed up by playing a brothel owner in Salman Khan’s blockbuster romantic movie Baaghi in 1990 and other mediocre releases in Henna and Dancer in 1991. Bahl’s underplayed part of a spoiled brat in David Dhawan’s Govinda starrer blockbuster Shola aur Shabnam also made him a common face to Bollywood cine-goers. Bahl then garnered wide spread appreciation for ShahRukh Khan’s official film debut release Deewana in the year 1992 which saw him playing a greedy conspiring character with much élan and the tremendous success of the movie added much value to Bahl’s career prospects at the time. Rishi Kapoor’s drama film Bol Radha Bol saw Bahl playing among the lead antagonist with his usual evil plotting ways. His releases in 1993 were through supporting roles in Ajay Devgn’s Ek Hi Raasta , Platform and had major screen time in the Saif Ali Khan starrer Aashiq Awara. Sooraj R Barjatya called upon him after Maine Pyar Kiya for yet another Salman Khan starrer Hum Aapke Hain Koun in the year 1994. The classic romcom had him playing a brother who is drawn into a marriage with his dead wife’s sister after a series of mishaps, who incidentally is in love with his own brother. The success of the movie brought him more credibility and was one of his strongest films till date. Bahl completed his 1994 with movies like Elaan, Eena Meena Deeka and Prem Yog all of which saw him in side-lined characters that were mere additions to his filmography. Next set of releases ( 1995-1999) Mohnish Bahl shone in a dark character in Akshay Kumar’s action film Sabse Bada Khiladi in 1995. The movie saw his return to his plotting ways which had become a major template for all of his successful character. The success of the movie brought him back strongly after an array of uneventful releases. His other major releases of the time in supporting and negative roles were : Hum Dono Raja Hindustani Ajay Kaun Sachcha Kaun Jhootha Koyla Udaan Phool Bane Patthar Dulhe Raja Doli Saja Ke Rakhna Jaanwar Vaastav: The Reality Post 2000 releases Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai Astitva Kahin Pyar Na Ho Jaye Kyo Kii Main Jhuth Nahin Bolta Shararat LOC Kargil Hum Tum Aur Mom Vivah Sandwich Vaada Raha Raan Desi Boyz Krrish 3 Crazy Bitches Jai Ho