Two films old and many more to go, Bollywood’s budding actress Pranutan Bahl sounds confident carrying the legacy of late legendary actress Nutan who is her grandmother, and her upcoming film ‘Helmet’ that will release today on Zee5 co-starring Aparshakti Khurana, Abhishek Banerjee and Ashish Verma.&nbsp;

Calling ‘Helmet’ a “fun, quirky film with a beautiful social message conveyed in a non-preachy manner”, actress Pranutan Bahl opened up to WION in a candid conversation about being part of a film that enables a dialogue around normalising using a birth-control device and coming from a family of staunch feminists in real life.&nbsp;

Helmet, a film with a social message

Pranutan Bahl is hopeful that the audience will “laugh your guts out” after watching the film as it aims to make people understand something important -- “no taboo attached to buying or selling a condom”. “My character is a fun loving, spunky girl who people can identify as desi pataka and moohfat (blunt). I play a loud, stubborn, dominating girlfriend who is selling condoms in Benaras. I had to drop a lot of inhibitions to get the tone right for my character,” said Pranutan on her character.&nbsp;

As Helmet finds its root in the heartland of India, Pranutan feels “it’s all about the script and not the setting or locale”. “There is definitely a certain connection that a common Indian person would have towards these stories with their quirks and nuances that such a setting can offer but if the script is entertaining and the actors are performing to the best of their ability, a film will work irrespective of any setting,” quipped the actress on more number of filmmakers toying with ideas set in small towns of the country.

Watch the Helmet film trailer here:

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="440" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Rf_snzTOkPA" title="YouTube video player" width="782"></iframe>

Making a film during the pandemic

Helmet was majorly shot in September 2019 but the cast and crew shot a special song that was vital to the storyline during the COVID-19 pandemic. “It is a challenge to film in the pandemic especially for actors as we can’t wear masks while working but hats off to the team of Helmet. We had to sanitise everything from makeup to costumes but the team did a good job,” she said.

Pranutan Bahl is thankful that the team, cast and crew were supportive and encouraging of her. On her equation with the boys Aparshakti Khurana, Abhishek Banerjee and Ashish Verma, she said, “It was fantastic working with them. They have been extremely supportive and encouraging. I was never made to question how I would do it. They had belief in me. I'm just one film old, now two films old and these guys are honed actors…..but they never made me feel inexperienced and it was always about collaborating on the set.”

<img alt="helmet" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b7c3ec39-4de9-4b9e-86eb-3ad0a403e5c3" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/New-458.jpg" />

Pranutan wishes the film also got a theatrical release as “cinema has its own charm but is happy that Helmet is coming on Zee5 as there’s not much content on comedy and this film will be a welcome change for all.”

Carrying the legacy of legendary actress Nutan

The 50s and 60s are identified by almost all as the Golden Age of Indian Cinema and Nutan in her acting and charisma on screen was an actress unparalleled. Granddaughter of Nutan and daughter of Mohnish Bahl who is a popular face in Indian cinema and television, Pranutan Bahl identifies the weight her name carries.&nbsp;

“I understand the responsibility on my shoulders but it has never translated to any form of pressure because I have had a support system in terms of my family. They have always been very encouraging towards my personal individual journey but I do understand the perception around being Nutan Ji’s granddaughter. Being dadi’s granddaughter, dad’s daughter….I’ve always felt wow and felt motivated about what I want to do with it -- to make them proud. I feel proud to belong to a family of such talented artists and I wear it with great pride,” said Pranutan confidently.&nbsp;

<img alt="pranutan" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d41fc64e-1dba-42c2-b98f-24b42ff382f5" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/New-457.jpg" />

As an industry insider in lieu of her family name, Pranutan Bahl reflected on the change we see today in creative content in the country especially with female protagonists in picture and she refuses to believe that it’s new. “Honestly, I come from a family of staunch feminists. I have had my grandmom doing films like ‘Bandini’, ‘Sujata’, ‘Tere Ghar Ke Saamne’, which were all in a way female-centric films. So my understanding of cinema has always been by the kind of work my family has done because they were so legendary. We are primarily a family full of girls, holding the torch, being flag bearers of change in cinema.”&nbsp;

“I believe that women have always been strongly depicted in movies but it depends on which movies you choose to talk about. When you talk of Bandini, Sujata, other female-centric films as recently as ‘Queen’ or ‘Fashion’ with Priyanka, it's always been happening. I just feel bad that we have to highlight them as female-centric films. We never say that about Bajrangi Bhaijaan, it being a male-centric film. I don't like that distinction although I understand it because it's so feeded into our system. In the 50's, 60’s nobody used to call Bandini or Sujata a female centric film, it was just a Nutanji film,” said Pranutan.&nbsp;

‘Helmet’ will premiere on September 3, 2021 and will stream on Zee5.

Two films old and many more to go, Bollywood’s budding actress Pranutan Bahl sounds confident carrying the legacy of late legendary actress Nutan who is her grandmother, and her upcoming film ‘Helmet’ that will release today on Zee5 co-starring Aparshakti Khurana, Abhishek Banerjee and Ashish Verma.

Two films old and many more to go, Bollywood’s budding actress Pranutan Bahl sounds confident carrying the legacy of late legendary actress Nutan who is her grandmother, and her upcoming film ‘Helmet’ that will release today on Zee5 co-starring Aparshakti Khurana, Abhishek Banerjee and Ashish Verma. Calling ‘Helmet’ a “fun, quirky film with a beautiful social message conveyed in a non-preachy manner”, actress Pranutan Bahl opened up to WION in a candid conversation about being part of a film that enables a dialogue around normalising using a birth-control device and coming from a family of staunch feminists in real life. Helmet, a film with a social message Pranutan Bahl is hopeful that the audience will “laugh your guts out” after watching the film as it aims to make people understand something important -- “no taboo attached to buying or selling a condom”. “My character is a fun loving, spunky girl who people can identify as desi pataka and moohfat (blunt). I play a loud, stubborn, dominating girlfriend who is selling condoms in Benaras. I had to drop a lot of inhibitions to get the tone right for my character,” said Pranutan on her character. As Helmet finds its root in the heartland of India, Pranutan feels “it’s all about the script and not the setting or locale”. “There is definitely a certain connection that a common Indian person would have towards these stories with their quirks and nuances that such a setting can offer but if the script is entertaining and the actors are performing to the best of their ability, a film will work irrespective of any setting,” quipped the actress on more number of filmmakers toying with ideas set in small towns of the country. Watch the Helmet film trailer here: Making a film during the pandemic Helmet was majorly shot in September 2019 but the cast and crew shot a special song that was vital to the storyline during the COVID-19 pandemic. “It is a challenge to film in the pandemic especially for actors as we can’t wear masks while working but hats off to the team of Helmet. We had to sanitise everything from makeup to costumes but the team did a good job,” she said. Pranutan Bahl is thankful that the team, cast and crew were supportive and encouraging of her. On her equation with the boys Aparshakti Khurana, Abhishek Banerjee and Ashish Verma, she said, “It was fantastic working with them. They have been extremely supportive and encouraging. I was never made to question how I would do it. They had belief in me. I'm just one film old, now two films old and these guys are honed actors…..but they never made me feel inexperienced and it was always about collaborating on the set.” Pranutan wishes the film also got a theatrical release as “cinema has its own charm but is happy that Helmet is coming on Zee5 as there’s not much content on comedy and this film will be a welcome change for all.” Carrying the legacy of legendary actress Nutan The 50s and 60s are identified by almost all as the Golden Age of Indian Cinema and Nutan in her acting and charisma on screen was an actress unparalleled. Granddaughter of Nutan and daughter of Mohnish Bahl who is a popular face in Indian cinema and television, Pranutan Bahl identifies the weight her name carries. “I understand the responsibility on my shoulders but it has never translated to any form of pressure because I have had a support system in terms of my family. They have always been very encouraging towards my personal individual journey but I do understand the perception around being Nutan Ji’s granddaughter. Being dadi’s granddaughter, dad’s daughter….I’ve always felt wow and felt motivated about what I want to do with it -- to make them proud. I feel proud to belong to a family of such talented artists and I wear it with great pride,” said Pranutan confidently. As an industry insider in lieu of her family name, Pranutan Bahl reflected on the change we see today in creative content in the country especially with female protagonists in picture and she refuses to believe that it’s new. “Honestly, I come from a family of staunch feminists. I have had my grandmom doing films like ‘Bandini’, ‘Sujata’, ‘Tere Ghar Ke Saamne’, which were all in a way female-centric films. So my understanding of cinema has always been by the kind of work my family has done because they were so legendary. We are primarily a family full of girls, holding the torch, being flag bearers of change in cinema.” “I believe that women have always been strongly depicted in movies but it depends on which movies you choose to talk about. When you talk of Bandini, Sujata, other female-centric films as recently as ‘Queen’ or ‘Fashion’ with Priyanka, it's always been happening. I just feel bad that we have to highlight them as female-centric films. We never say that about Bajrangi Bhaijaan, it being a male-centric film. I don't like that distinction although I understand it because it's so feeded into our system. In the 50's, 60’s nobody used to call Bandini or Sujata a female centric film, it was just a Nutanji film,” said Pranutan. ‘Helmet’ will premiere on September 3, 2021 and will stream on Zee5.

‘Helmet’ actress Pranutan Bahl on her family of staunch feminists and being Nutan's granddaughter

Fighting off a social stigma, influencing one person at a time in a small town of India is what ‘Helmet’ is all about. Starring Aparshakti Khurana. Pranutan Bahl, Abhishek Banerjee, and Ashish Verma in leading roles as they play a gang of friends, ‘Helmet’ looks objectively at the guilt or shame attached to buying/ selling a birth-control device, a condom.

Director Satramm Ramani establishes the ground for need of change when people from an NGO that works on AIDS/ STDs are thrashed by the locals for questioning about the practice of safe sex in the town. The film enforces the idea of ‘chahiye sabko, par koi mangega nahi’ pretty early in the film shedding light on the need for a psychological overhaul.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-interview-%E2%80%98helmet%E2%80%99-actress-pranutan-bahl-on-being-nutan%E2%80%99s-granddaughter-and-belonging-to-a-family-of-staunch-feminists-410349">Pranutan Bahl to WION: I come from a family of staunch feminists</a>

It’s a fun, light hearted film with more misses than hits as it drags because of lazy dialogues, loose scripting and comedy that looks off in most places even though it has the trio of boys who we have seen performing with on-point comedy in a similar semi-urban setting before. The only female character in the film, Pranutan Bahl is good in her role but there is a lot of room for improvement.&nbsp;

Watch the Helmet trailer here:

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="440" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Rf_snzTOkPA" title="YouTube video player" width="782"></iframe>

The film’s music is pretty average and offers almost no song that will stick with the audience.&nbsp;

What works is the film has its heart in the right place as it talks of important subjects like safe sex, using birth-control, saving oneself from STDs and AIDS without being preachy for a moment. There are no lengthy speeches and that’s a sigh of relief.&nbsp;

What doesn’t work is the lacklustre storytelling that makes the film indistinguishable from any other recent social objective films we’ve seen. It promises to be funny but doesn’t live up to it.&nbsp;

Produced: Sony Pictures Networks Productions and actor Dino Morea’s DM Movies, ‘Helmet’ will stream on Zee5 from September 3, 2021.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Fighting off a social stigma, influencing one person at a time in a small town of India is what ‘Helmet’ is all about. Starring Aparshakti Khurana. Pranutan Bahl, Abhishek Banerjee, and Ashish Verma in leading roles as they play a gang of friends, ‘Helmet’ looks objectively at the guilt or shame attached to buying/ selling a birth-control device, a condom.

Fighting off a social stigma, influencing one person at a time in a small town of India is what ‘Helmet’ is all about. Starring Aparshakti Khurana. Pranutan Bahl, Abhishek Banerjee, and Ashish Verma in leading roles as they play a gang of friends, ‘Helmet’ looks objectively at the guilt or shame attached to buying/ selling a birth-control device, a condom. Director Satramm Ramani establishes the ground for need of change when people from an NGO that works on AIDS/ STDs are thrashed by the locals for questioning about the practice of safe sex in the town. The film enforces the idea of ‘chahiye sabko, par koi mangega nahi’ pretty early in the film shedding light on the need for a psychological overhaul. Pranutan Bahl to WION: I come from a family of staunch feminists It’s a fun, light hearted film with more misses than hits as it drags because of lazy dialogues, loose scripting and comedy that looks off in most places even though it has the trio of boys who we have seen performing with on-point comedy in a similar semi-urban setting before. The only female character in the film, Pranutan Bahl is good in her role but there is a lot of room for improvement. Watch the Helmet trailer here: The film’s music is pretty average and offers almost no song that will stick with the audience. What works is the film has its heart in the right place as it talks of important subjects like safe sex, using birth-control, saving oneself from STDs and AIDS without being preachy for a moment. There are no lengthy speeches and that’s a sigh of relief. What doesn’t work is the lacklustre storytelling that makes the film indistinguishable from any other recent social objective films we’ve seen. It promises to be funny but doesn’t live up to it. Produced: Sony Pictures Networks Productions and actor Dino Morea’s DM Movies, ‘Helmet’ will stream on Zee5 from September 3, 2021.

‘Helmet’ film review: A social satire that could have been more funny

From giving auditions for several films for two years to being launched by Salman Khan in 'Notebook', actor Pranutan says she has consciously refrained from introducing herself as the granddaughter of legendary actor Nutan or daughter of Mohnish Bahl.&nbsp;

The debutante, who will be starting her journey with 'Notebook', directed by National Award-winning filmmaker Nitin Kakkar and produced by Salman's banner SKF, said the makers chose her for the part after an intense audition process.&nbsp;

"I did give lot of auditions for two and half years or so for lot of films. I never used to say I am from a film family. For this film they knew that I was Mohnish's daughter.&nbsp;

"I gave a five-hour long audition for this film. But they called some other girls also as they were like if they take me then it will be like 'I am from film family'. So they auditioned some 80 to 100 girls but Nitin sir (director Nitin Kakkar) felt I was the right choice," Pranutan said while interacting with media at the trailer preview of "Notebook".&nbsp;

She said she is aware of the expectations and the responsibility that comes along with her family name.&nbsp;

"I am very happy that I am making my debut as an actor but I am also nervous as there is responsibility on my shoulders. Not only in terms of the actor she (Nutan) was but her personality was so huge. All this is tough for me," she added.&nbsp;

Pranutan is also aware about the competition that exits in Bollywood.&nbsp;

"Every fraternity has its own level of competition we are just public figures so it is talked about. I feel every actor brings their own uniqueness on screen. I don't believe you are a replaceable commodity. The basic competition exists everywhere."

She is thankful to Salman, 53, for launching her in the Hindi film industry.

"He is a big personality with a purest soul. I am an admirer of him."

Her father Mohnish has worked with Salman in quite a few films like 'Maine Pyaar Kiya', 'Hum Aapke Hain Koun', 'Hum Saath Saath Hai', 'Jai Ho'&nbsp;and Pranutan said she has fond memories of visiting the sets while she was growing up and meeting the superstar.

"I was born when 'Hum Aapke Hain Koun' had happened. I visited my father a lot on the sets of 'Hum Saath Saath Hai'. They were shooting in Kamalistan studio. I remember I had lost my cap, I was crying and Salman sir saw me and got the same cap for me. I was very happy. So from tweety caps to my debut film he has given me a lot."

'Notebook' releases on March 29.

From giving auditions for several films for two years to being launched by Salman Khan in 'Notebook', actor Pranutan says she has consciously refrained from introducing herself as the granddaughter of legendary actor Nutan or daughter of Mohnish Bahl.

From giving auditions for several films for two years to being launched by Salman Khan in 'Notebook', actor Pranutan says she has consciously refrained from introducing herself as the granddaughter of legendary actor Nutan or daughter of Mohnish Bahl. The debutante, who will be starting her journey with 'Notebook', directed by National Award-winning filmmaker Nitin Kakkar and produced by Salman's banner SKF, said the makers chose her for the part after an intense audition process. "I did give lot of auditions for two and half years or so for lot of films. I never used to say I am from a film family. For this film they knew that I was Mohnish's daughter. "I gave a five-hour long audition for this film. But they called some other girls also as they were like if they take me then it will be like 'I am from film family'. So they auditioned some 80 to 100 girls but Nitin sir (director Nitin Kakkar) felt I was the right choice," Pranutan said while interacting with media at the trailer preview of "Notebook". She said she is aware of the expectations and the responsibility that comes along with her family name. "I am very happy that I am making my debut as an actor but I am also nervous as there is responsibility on my shoulders. Not only in terms of the actor she (Nutan) was but her personality was so huge. All this is tough for me," she added. Pranutan is also aware about the competition that exits in Bollywood. "Every fraternity has its own level of competition we are just public figures so it is talked about. I feel every actor brings their own uniqueness on screen. I don't believe you are a replaceable commodity. The basic competition exists everywhere." She is thankful to Salman, 53, for launching her in the Hindi film industry. "He is a big personality with a purest soul. I am an admirer of him." Her father Mohnish has worked with Salman in quite a few films like 'Maine Pyaar Kiya', 'Hum Aapke Hain Koun', 'Hum Saath Saath Hai', 'Jai Ho' and Pranutan said she has fond memories of visiting the sets while she was growing up and meeting the superstar. "I was born when 'Hum Aapke Hain Koun' had happened. I visited my father a lot on the sets of 'Hum Saath Saath Hai'. They were shooting in Kamalistan studio. I remember I had lost my cap, I was crying and Salman sir saw me and got the same cap for me. I was very happy. So from tweety caps to my debut film he has given me a lot." 'Notebook' releases on March 29.

Never told anyone I am granddaughter of Nutan while auditioning for films, says Pranutan Bahl

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‘Helmet’ actress Pranutan Bahl on her family of staunch feminists and being Nutan's granddaughter

‘Helmet’ film review: A social satire that could have been more funny

Never told anyone I am granddaughter of Nutan while auditioning for films, says Pranutan Bahl