Mohnish Behl will be seen co-hosting Star Plus’ Star Vivaah with Additi Shirwaiker on May 13. The matrimonial-styled show, which will air every Monday through Friday at 2pm, will have Behl interviewing eligible bachelors and bachelorettes. Then, the personal IDs of these singletons will be given out so that audience members interested can contact them.
Mohnish hopes that his questioning is detailed enough to help make good matches. He also hopes to address serious issues through the show. He says, “Star Vivaah has a social cause as well. On the show, you can actually look into the home of a boy or a girl. No matrimonial site can provide you with that much information. Marriage is a huge step, but not many people know about the rituals and their significance. We’re going to talk about that. We’ll also have experts coming on the show to talk about various aspects of married life.”
In this interview, Mohnish talks about the show, the movies he has lined up, the values he wants to instill in his daughters and much more…
What advice will you give Star Vivaah’s contestants?
I’m no authority on marriage; I’m just a man who has 17 years of experience. But I’ll tell them a few things that are not only applicable to married people but for every relationship. You need to think of the other person by putting yourself in their position. Looking at a situation from another person’s point of view improves understanding and helps you adjust.
What made you decide to host Star Vivaah?
First of all, it is a tremendously social platform. Secondly, my exposure, on a personal level, to different people will help me grow as a human being. Thirdly, I accepted because it is airing on Star Plus. I keep joking with them saying, ‘You have shown so many fights on saas-bahus, now do some good work by bringing people together!’
As a host, what is your role on the show?
While Aditi asks questions about romantic dates and things like that, I am more concerned about practical issues which matter in the long run: whether the candidate is settled in life, does he drink or smoke? Things like that. And most of all, I have to avoid passing judgment which is a big responsibility. For example, we had a boy on the show who was showing us his karate moves. He said that he wanted to be an actor so I asked him whether he was trying to get exposure via the show. He said, ‘Bravo, bull’s eye’. I was taken aback and told him that a wedding is a serious subject. So we do come across incidents like this but in the end, the audience has to choose whom they would like to contact.
Do you believe in the arranged marriage system?
I cannot say much about the process because I have not gone through one myself. But I do not think that it is bad. I just feel that there should be more transparency. It should not be that because a boy and a girl match certain criteria, their marriage is fixed.
You have two daughters. What expectations do you have for them with regards to marriage?
I only want them to be true human beings. I want them to be independent and capable of doing everything.
What kind of father you are?
I am very strict and disciplined. I think it is a good thing because I was brought up in the same way. I don’t like girls who wiggle out of things and are dodgy about telling their parents their whereabouts. I have always told my elder daughter that she should tell me everything because there is nothing that she could do that would make me turn my back on her. I say, ‘I will always be your father; you can take that for granted but just be honest.’
Tell us about your newborn baby daughter.
Her name is Krisha, she is four-months-old and she has just started smiling. I love her; she has come into our lives 16 years after my elder daughter was born. My wife had a miscarriage five years ago. After that, we tried but she wasn’t able to get pregnant. Even so, we wanted a natural pregnancy so we didn’t undergo any treatment. Interestingly, my first daughter was born after my mother passed away and my second daughter was born just after my father past away. I think my family was always supposed to be of four members. My elder girl Nutan is doing her graduation in commerce right now. She wants to do her MBA aboard. She is also learning dance. She came in the other day and did the salsa.
Tell us something about your upcoming film Rann.
Amiitji’s (Bachchan) is the personification of what the media should be in terms of pure and honest news reporting, upholding social and moral fabric. On the other hand, my character is the exact opposite of what TV reporters can become: someone who’ll do anything to boost the ratings of the TRP-hungry channels. The film revolves around the clash of these two thoughts. It is shown in a very dramatic manner.
Any other projects lined up?
I am doing a Ken Ghosh movie that is tentatively titled Yahoo, with Shahid Kapoor. I am also starring in another film directed by Sameer Karnik which also features Bobby Deol and Kangna Ranaut. I am very lucky that I am being offered different roles. When we were shooting for Hum Saath Saath Hai, Salman (Khan) told me something very interesting. He said, ‘Moni, you know that you are the lead in this film.’ I told him I wasn’t the lead but he was. Then he said, ‘Kahani wise you are the lead, I might be romantic lead .You are the principle figure in the movie.’ He asked me whether I would accept a similar role after the movie was complete and I said no, I’d be mad to do it. That’s when he said that I made a wise decision.
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