Exclusive! Pranutan Bahl: Unfortunate condom ads only focus on sensuality

Pranutan Bahl Picture Courtesy: Yogen Shah

Aparshakti Khurana, Pranutan Bahl, and Abhishek Banerjee's film ‘Helmet' has been streaming successfully on Zee5 since September 3. The response has expectedly left the leading lady elated and she's currently in a happy space.

Talking exclusively to mid-day digital, she opens up on her reactions to multiple rave reviews, how it will take time for a man's embarrassment to purchase a condom go away, and her biggest takeaway from this comedy and her character Rupali.

Q. 1- It's a very cliched question to start with but the response to 'Helmet' has been very warm and welcoming so how does it feel?

It feels great. When you make a film with so much effort and you are showered with such great compliments that it's an entertaining comedy that also imparts a beautiful social message, as a team we all feel very happy. I'm particularly elated since this is just my second film and to receive such appreciation is overwhelming.

Q. 2- One of the funniest scenes in the film is when Lucky brings everything to Rupali's house but not a condom since he's too embarrassed to ask for it from the shopkeeper. Will this embarrassment for men ever go away?

I feel it's going to take time because any kind of social change takes a lot of time. Unfortunately, such taboos and stigmas are so ingrained in our systems that we've begun thinking in that direction. With a film like ‘Helmet', our endeavour is to start a conversation on how normal it really is and also wise to purchase a condom. I really hope that if it doesn't completely go away, it drastically reduces. We need it as a country.

Q. 3- The end credits of 'Helmet' show us how a lot of people in India still don't use protection. Someone wrote on social media that most of the ads about condoms don't tell people about the importance of population control. They are usually made to titillate them about sex. Do you feel that needs to change?

Absolutely. It's so unfortunate that every time we see a condom ad, it only focuses on the sensuality of the act or the ambience. There's so much more to that. I feel it's a very health-related issue and why not make it as normal as buying a Crocin from across the counter. When you have a headache, you do go and buy a Crocin because you don't want to fall ill or be in more pain. It's the same thing when you go and purchase a condom because you're just safeguarding yourself against any kind of STD or unwanted pregnancy. It should be treated like a health-related topic and not a sex-related topic.

Q. 4- Both your films till now have been produced by people who are also actors- Salman Khan and Dino Morea. Although this is just Morea's second film as producer, do you see any similarity between their understanding of making films?

I would say more empathy for the actor because they are here and they know what it takes to be an actor. So maybe that way I see a similarity that ‘buddy I know what you're going through whenever you're on set or whatever your concerns are' on those lines maybe yes. Because when you're an actor and you've turned producer, you can identify with the actor on sets a lot more.

Q. 5- Notebook was shot in Kashmir, and this one has been shot in Benares. Do you feel we are at that stage of filmmaking where locations also play a crucial role in a movie?

Definitely, for sure. When you're showing a certain scenario, you need to do absolute justice to that story and to those characters. In a film like this, even with the quirk and the funny moments, I would see a relatively smaller town because it won't strike in a city like Mumbai or Delhi. Life here is more fast-paced, more corporate-oriented as opposed to in Benares. It's more quirky, they have their own nuances so for sure.

Q. 6- What has been your biggest takeaway from the movie and your character?

My biggest takeaway would be the wonderful memories, relationships and friendships I formed with these beautiful people. We all want to hang out with each other despite the film schedule being complete and that's something I really cherish. It's just not a work-related equation, it's something that goes beyond. I really value that. My biggest takeaway from my character would be to just chill in life. I love her attitude. She has a solution for everything in a quirky manner so I think that's fun.

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