Birth Date:27 March 1971
About Me
From Awwal Number to Vaastav: Tracing the Brilliant Filmography of Ekta Sohini!
Ekta Sohini (professionally known also as Aarti Bahl or Ektaa) is a popular Indian actress who became a familiar face in Bollywood and Indian television during the 1990s and 2000s. Known for her graceful performances and striking looks, she successfully carved a niche for herself in multi-starrer commercial blockbusters, action thrillers, and beloved daily television dramas.
Biography: Born in Mumbai, Bound for Cinema
• Real Name: Aarti Sharma
• Date of Birth: March 27, 1971
• Birthplace: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
• Early Life & Roots: Ekta grew up in Mumbai in a middle-class household. Although she did not come from an acting dynasty, her family had close tangential roots to the film industry. Her father, Arun Sharma, worked as a professional film printer and notably shared a room with a struggling, young Dharmendra during their early days in Bombay. She adopted her stage name, "Ekta," from her sister.
• Marriage and Legacy: In 1992, at the height of her early film career, she married popular Bollywood actor Mohnish Bahl (the son of the legendary actress Nutan). Following her marriage, she came to be known personally as Aarti Bahl.
• The Next Generation: The couple has two daughters, Pranutan Bahl—who made her Bollywood debut as a lead actress in the 2019 film Notebook—and Krishaa Bahl.
Filmography: A Look Back at Her Movie Career
Ekta Sohini started with minor roles on television in the late 1980s before transitioning seamlessly into mainstream Bollywood features, often starring alongside iconic leading men.
I. Key Directorial Debuts & Early 90s Breakthroughs
• Solah Satra (1990): She marked her official screen entry in this coming-of-age romance drama opposite Arbaaz Ali Khan.
• Awwal Number (1990): Directed by the legendary Dev Anand, Ekta played Aarti Rani, the romantic love interest of Aamir Khan's character Sunny in this sports-centric action drama.
• Naamcheen (1991) & Tahalka (1992): Starred as the primary love interest opposite Aditya Pancholi in these high-stakes commercial action movies.
• Saajan (1991): Appeared in a supporting capacity in this musical romance mega-blockbuster starring Sanjay Dutt, Madhuri Dixit, and Salman Khan.
II. Character Roles & Gritty Thrillers
• Nazar Ke Samne (1995): Played the pivotal supporting role of Chamia in this suspense thriller featuring Akshay Kumar and Manisha Koirala.
• Vaastav: The Reality (1999): Delivered one of her most remembered character portrayals as Pooja Shivalkar (the sister-in-law to Sanjay Dutt’s Raghu) in Mahesh Manjrekar's critically acclaimed and cult-classic underworld crime masterpiece.
• Gang (2000): Starred in director Mazhar Khan’s long-delayed, gritty urban crime drama alongside Juhi Chawla and Jackie Shroff.
• Vaah! Life Ho Toh Aisi! (2005): Showcased her range in family comedies, playing a maternal figure in this fantasy-comedy alongside Shahid Kapoor and Sanjay Dutt.
Television Exploits: Winning Over Household Audiences
While she stepped away from heavy film commitments to focus on raising her family, Ekta experienced a significant second innings on Indian national television.
• Dill Mill Gayye (2009–2010): This massive youth medical drama on Star One saw Ekta playing the highly popular and graceful character Padma Bansal Gupta (Head Nurse/Dr. Shashank's love interest), which introduced her to a whole new generation of television viewers.
• Sanjeevani 2 (2019): Played the character of Roshni Mathur, returning briefly to the fictional medical universe that fans adored.
• Itihaas: Starred as the prominent character Aunt Sheila Devi in this classic mid-90s television series produced by Balaji Telefilms.
5 Interesting Facts About Ekta Sohini
1. Dharmendra’s Roommate Connection: Her father, Arun Sharma, was one of actor Dharmendra’s closest friends and flatmates during their mutual "struggle period" in the 1960s film industry.
2. Transition to Entrepreneurship: Moving past her acting schedule, she remains a creative force. In recent years, she expanded her footprint into fashion by launching her own exclusive line of curated fashion jewelry.
3. Preserving Nutan's Legacy: Alongside her husband Mohnish Bahl, Ekta remains a key custodian of the cultural history and memory of her late mother-in-law, the iconic actress Nutan.
4. Acting with Family: Though she and Mohnish Bahl rarely paired up extensively on-screen during their prime, they both featured in the extended television universe of Sanjeevani and Dill Mill Gayye at various points.
5. A True Mentor: Her daughter Pranutan frequently highlights in interviews that it is her mother Ekta’s strict discipline and camera posture tips that guided her through her own cinematic training.
