'I'd often complain about..': Nakuul Mehta recalls memories with late Ishqbaaz costar Navninder Behl

The television industry is mourning the loss of veteran actor Navninder Behl, who passed away on March 16. Known for her warmth on and off screen, she was a familiar and beloved presence for audiences who followed her work over the years. Her contribution to Indian television and theatre leaves behind a legacy shaped by dedication, humility, and an enduring passion for storytelling.

On Tuesday, her Ishqbaaaz co star Nakuul Mehta took to Instagram to remember her with a deeply personal note. Sharing a picture with the late actor, he reflected on their years together on set and the bond they built beyond their professional association.

“The beauty of long running television shows is that they sometimes give you the opportunity to spend time with people who may have existed in worlds very different from yours until then and then, almost magically, they end up shaping a significant part of who you were during those years. And long after the experience ends, some of what they stood for continues to find a home within you.

We spent so many days sharing a set floor and many lunches over the three years we worked together on Ishqbaaaz. I’d often complain about the boring sabzis read lauki, karela she’d bring, and she would continue to insist that we try her food. She did not give up. I never gave in.

My earliest memory of her was filming my very first scene with her on Ishqbaaaz at around midnight in Turbhe. A solemn moment between the matriarch and her grandson. There was something about her presence that made you feel so present in every scene. She liked rehearsals. So did I. It was a match written in the stars. I say so because in television, rarely do you have the discipline and mostly the time for multiple rehearsals.”

The beauty of long running television shows is that they sometimes give you the opportunity to spend time with people who may have existed in worlds very different from yours until then and then, almost magically, they end up shaping a significant part of who you were during those years. And long after the experience ends, some of what they stood for continues to find a home within you. We spent so many days sharing a set floor and many lunches over the three years we worked together on Ishqbaaaz. I’d often complain about the boring sabzis read lauki, karela she’d bring, and she would continue to insist that we try her food. She did not give up. I never gave in.

- Nakuul Mehta

In a second part of his note, Mehta remembered her artistic roots and the ease she brought to the set despite decades of experience.

“She came from the rich tradition of Punjabi theatre. She wrote, directed and produced in her time, but never for once brought that heft onto set. She had more years in the business than the entire ensemble put together, but may have been the lightest co actor to work with. Only sometimes complaining about the crazy schedules of television. Okay, often.

I’d quite often drop her back home if we packed up at the same time, and those drives are some of my fondest memories of her. She’d be excited about writing back to every audience member who messaged her on Instagram. She was thrilled about collaborating with Vishal Bhardwaj. She spoke so fondly of her husband and their love story, and mostly of her son, @kanubehl, and the wonderful filmmaker she believed he was.

We kept in touch over the years much after the show ended, and @jank_ee and I had the good fortune of celebrating her on her 75th birthday in October 2024. I doubt I ever called her Maam. None of us did. It was always Dadi. We will miss you, Dadi.”

His tribute captures not just the memories of a co actor, but of a cherished presence who left a lasting impression on everyone she worked with.