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

Aparshakti Khurana Pranutan Bahl and Abhishek Banerjeersquos film lsquoHelmetrsquo has been streaming successfully on Zee5 since September 3 The response has expectedly left the leading lady elated and shersquos currently in a happy spaceTalking exclusively to midday digital she opens up on her reactions to multiple rave reviews how it will take time for a manrsquos embarrassment to purchase a condom go away and her biggest takeaway from this comedy and her character RupaliQ 1 Itrsquos a very cliched question to start with but the response to Helmet has been very warm and welcoming so how does it feelIt feels great When you make a film with so much effort and you are showered with such great compliments that itrsquos an entertaining comedy that also imparts a beautiful social message as a team we all feel very happy Irsquom particularly elated since this is just my second film and to receive such appreciation is overwhelmingQ 2 One of the funniest scenes in the film is when Lucky brings everything to Rupalirsquos house but not a condom since hersquos too embarrassed to ask for it from the shopkeeper Will this embarrassment for men ever go awayI feel itrsquos 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 wersquove begun thinking in that direction With a film like lsquoHelmetrsquo 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 doesnrsquot completely go away it drastically reduces We need it as a countryQ 3 The end credits of Helmet show us how a lot of people in India still donrsquot use protection Someone wrote on social media that most of the ads about condoms donrsquot tell people about the importance of population control They are usually made to titillate them about sex Do you feel that needs to changeAbsolutely Itrsquos so unfortunate that every time we see a condom ad it only focuses on the sensuality of the act or the ambience Therersquos so much more to that I feel itrsquos a very healthrelated 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 donrsquot want to fall ill or be in more pain Itrsquos the same thing when you go and purchase a condom because yoursquore just safeguarding yourself against any kind of STD or unwanted pregnancy It should be treated like a healthrelated topic and not a sexrelated topicQ 4 Both your films till now have been produced by people who are also actors Salman Khan and Dino Morea Although this is just Moreas second film as producer do you see any similarity between their understanding of making filmsI 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 lsquobuddy I know what yoursquore going through whenever yoursquore on set or whatever your concerns arersquo on those lines maybe yes Because when yoursquore an actor and yoursquove turned producer you can identify with the actor on sets a lot moreQ 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 movieDefinitely for sure When yoursquore 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 wonrsquot strike in a city like Mumbai or Delhi Life here is more fastpaced more corporateoriented as opposed to in Benares Itrsquos more quirky they have their own nuances so for sureQ 6 What has been your biggest takeaway from the movie and your characterMy 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 thatrsquos something I really cherish Itrsquos just not a workrelated equation itrsquos 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 thatrsquos funAlso Read Pranutan Bahl on Helmet Kind of film that you must watch with family