Pranutan Bahl on 'Helmet': Kind of film that you must watch with family

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For Pranutan Bahl, the second time may be the charm. The actor, whose debut vehicle Notebook (2019) went almost unnoticed, is confident that she has an important story in Helmet. The social comedy, also featuring Aparshakti Khurana, Abhishek Banerjee and Ashish Verma, highlights people's hesitance to buy condoms.

A still from Helmet

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Aware that some may consider it a risqué theme, Bahl asserts that the Satramm Ramani directorial venture is designed for the family audience. "This is the kind of film that you can, and more importantly must, watch with your family. The writers and director have ensured that no boundaries [of decency] were crossed in the movie. That's the reason the CBFC [Central Board of Film Certification] passed it without any cuts. I was never hesitant to be part of this film. I believed in the script from day one." The actor has lined up a movie date with actor-parents Mohnish Bahl and Ekta. "I am looking forward to their reaction. They are brutally honest, but encouraging too."

With films having opened a dialogue on sperm donation, in vitro fertilisation and surrogacy, she hopes that the ZEE5 offering can change people's mindset about using condoms. "Today, only 5.7 per cent of men [in India] are buying condoms; that's alarming. This movie conveys a socially relevant message in a fun manner." Her second project gave her a chance to explore her comic timing. "Within a week of my audition, I had to fly to Benares for the shoot. So, I didn't have time to prepare for the film. My director and writers guided me, and once I got the ‘sur' of the character, I started enjoying the process."

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