The lights of Television City in Mumbai seem a little dimmer this week. The entertainment industry is mourning the loss of veteran actor Navnindra Behl, who passed away at the age of 76 on March 16. While her son, acclaimed filmmaker Kanu Behl, confirmed the news with a somber post, it is the heartfelt tribute from her on-screen grandson that has truly captured the essence of the woman she was. Nakuul Mehta, who shared a cherished three-year journey with her on the set of the iconic show Ishqbaaz, has opened up about their unique bond, describing their partnership as nothing short of destiny.
More Than a Co-Star: The Dadi-Grandson Bond
For millions of fans, Navnindra Behl was the formidable yet loving Tejindar “Dadi” Singh Bhalla, the matriarch of the Ishqbaaz clan. But for Nakuul Mehta, she was family. In a lengthy and touching Instagram post on Tuesday, Mehta shared unseen photos from their time together, offering a rare glimpse into the magic that happens when actors genuinely connect.
Mehta began by reflecting on the unique gift of long-running television shows. He wrote, "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."
This sentiment was the bedrock of his tribute, as he detailed the small, intimate moments that defined their relationship. From playful complaints about the “boring sabzis” (like lauki and karela) she would bring for lunch, to her persistent, loving attempts to get him to try her food—it was a portrait of a quintessential, caring grandmother.
The Actor's Connection: Discipline and Presence
What made their on-screen chemistry so compelling, according to Mehta, was a shared professional ethos. He recalled their very first scene together, shot at midnight in Turbhe—a solemn moment between a matriarch and her grandson. In that moment, he felt her unique power.
"There was something about her presence that made you feel so present in every scene," Mehta shared. "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."
He revealed that despite her extensive background as a director, writer, and producer, Behl never brought that “heft” onto the set. She remained the “lightest co-star” to work with, even as she gently complained about the “crazy schedules of television.” Their mutual respect for the craft created a safe and productive space, a rarity in the fast-paced world of daily soaps.
Drives, Dreams, and a Lasting Friendship
The tribute’s most poignant moments came as Mehta described their time away from the cameras. He spoke fondly of the drives home when their pack-up times aligned. "Those drives are some of my fondest memories of her," he confessed.
During those car rides, the actor would fade away, and the woman would emerge. He saw her excitement about embracing technology to reply to fans on Instagram. He witnessed her thrill at the prospect of collaborating with maestro Vishal Bhardwaj. He listened as she spoke “so fondly of her husband and their love story, and mostly of her son, Kanu Behl, and the wonderful filmmaker she believed he was.”
These moments cemented a friendship that lasted long after Ishqbaaz went off air in 2019. Mehta and his wife, Jankee, made it a point to stay in touch, and he fondly remembers celebrating her 75th birthday in October 2024. In a beautiful testament to their bond, he concluded, "I doubt I ever called her Maam! None of us did. It was always Dadi. We will miss you, Dadi."
The Legacy of a Matriarch
Navnindra Behl’s passing marks the end of an era, not just for her family, but for the television industry that adored her. Her role in Ishqbaaz, which aired from 2016 to 2019, made her a household name, but her career spanned decades and multiple creative fields.
For fans of the show, the Dadi-grandson relationship was the emotional anchor of the Singh Bhalla family. Mehta’s tribute reveals that this wasn't just skilled acting; it was a reflection of a genuine, nurturing bond. As the industry pays its respects, Nakuul Mehta’s words stand as a beautiful reminder that some on-screen families become real, and some connections are, indeed, written in the stars.
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