Mumbai, August 13: In the mid-1980s, a young actor faced a series of five or six consecutive film flops. This actor was none other than Mohinish Bahl. Disheartened by his failures, he contemplated leaving Bollywood for good.
Believing his film career was over, he decided to pursue aviation and began preparing for his commercial flying license. However, fate had other plans. One day at the gym, he met the rising star Salman Khan, who became a good friend. When casting for the film ‘Maine Pyar Kiya’ (1989) was underway, Salman recommended Mohinish for the role of the antagonist, ‘Jeevan.’ This opportunity revived his dwindling career.
Born on August 14, 1961, in Mumbai, Mohinish hails from a prominent family. His mother was the legendary actress Nutan, and his father was Lieutenant Commander Rajnish Bahl. His grandmother, Shobhana Samarth, and aunt, Tanuja, were also well-known actresses, making Kajol his cousin.
Mohinish made his acting debut in 1983 with the film ‘Bekarar,’ which was a box office disaster. His subsequent film ‘Teri Baahon Mein’ (1984) also failed to impress. Although the horror film ‘Purana Mandir’ (1984) became a hit, horror films were often categorized as ‘B-grade’ cinema during that era, providing little benefit to his career.
Throughout his teenage heartbreaks, Mohinish shared his stories with his mother, Nutan, who always reassured him that time heals and life goes on.
The monumental success of ‘Maine Pyar Kiya’ (1989) established Mohinish as a Bollywood actor. However, his career truly turned around when Rajshri Productions reshaped his image, presenting him as a ‘cultured and ideal brother.’ Films like ‘Hum Aapke Hain Koun’ (1994) and ‘Hum Saath-Saath Hain’ (1999) endeared him to Indian families.
After making a mark on the big screen, Mohinish ventured into television, achieving significant success. In 2002, he starred as Dr. Shashank Gupta in the popular medical drama ‘Sanjivani: A Medical Boon.’ This show was the first on Indian television to address sensitive issues like HIV and other serious medical topics.
In 2003, he won the Best Actor award at the Indian Television Academy (ITA). Later, he played Dr. Ashutosh in ‘Kuch Toh Log Kahenge’ (2011), which received acclaim from audiences. However, due to a severe back issue caused by the demanding shooting schedule, he had to leave the show midway.
In 2019, after a 17-year hiatus, he returned as Dr. Shashank in ‘Sanjivani 2,’ rekindling fond memories for fans.
On the personal front, Mohinish married actress Ekta Sohini (Aarti Bahl) on April 23, 1992. They have two daughters, Pranutan and Krisha. His elder daughter, Pranutan, followed in the family tradition, making her acting debut in the 2019 film ‘Notebook,’ produced by Salman Khan.
Mohinish’s last film was ‘Panipat,’ released in 2019. Currently, he is focusing on managing his family’s properties and business ventures while prioritizing his personal life.
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