Mohnish Bahl was born on 14 August 1961 in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. He is the only son of legendary actress Nutan and Rajnish Bahl, a former Lieutenant Commander in the Indian Navy. He belongs to the prominent Mukherjee-Samarth film family.
He made his Bollywood acting debut with Bekaraar (1983). His early career included several films in which he played leading or supporting roles. His major breakthrough came with Maine Pyar Kiya (1989), where he played Jeevan, the elder brother of Salman Khan's character. The success of the film significantly increased his recognition.
Mohnish Bahl subsequently became a familiar face in Rajshri Productions films. His performances in Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! (1994) and Hum Saath-Saath Hain (1999) established him particularly strongly as a dependable actor in family dramas. He has appeared in more than 100 films and has also worked extensively in television.
On television, he gained popularity through shows such as Sanjivani, where he played Dr. Shashank Gupta, and Kuch Toh Log Kahenge, where he portrayed Dr. Ashutosh Mathur. He has continued to work in Indian entertainment and remains active as an actor.