Sonali Bendre (born 1 January 1975) is an Indian actress, primarily known for her work inHindi andTelugu films. Bendre started her career as amodel before her acting debut withAag (1994), which won her theFilmfare Award for New Face of the Year.
Bendre has since appeared as a judge on various reality shows includingIndia's Got Talent andIndia's Best Dramebaaz. Later, Bendre starred in the television seriesAjeeb Daastaan Hai Ye (2014) andThe Broken News (2022-2024). Along with her acting career, Bendre is a celebrity endorser for brands and products. She is married to filmmakerGoldie Behl with whom she has a son.
Bendre was a model before entering theStar Dust Talent Search. She made her film debut withAag (1994) at the age of 19.[6] For this, she won theFilmfare Award for Lux New Face of the Year and Screen Award for Best Female Debut.[7][8] The same year, she also appeared inNaaraaz, for which she was awarded Filmfare's Sensational Debut Award.[9] Bendre had three releases in 1995 withThe Don,Gaddaar andTakkar.[10] Bendre later received recognition with the song "Humma Humma" from the film,Bombay.[11][12]
In 1999, Bendre appeared oppositeAamir Khan inSarfarosh.[25]Filmfare noted, "Sonali does justice to her first real role, the only one worth talking about, that is." She received IIFA Best Actress Award nomination.[26] Bendre next portrayed Dr. Preeti inHum Saath-Saath Hain oppositeSalman Khan, which became the highest-grossing film of the year.[27] WhileAnupama Chopra fromIndia Today quoted, "The women mostly doll up, dance and cook", Alok Kumar opined, "Sonali don't really do much, but looks good doing whatever she does".[28][29] She then appeared inDahek oppositeAkshaye Khanna.[30] The same year, she made her Tamil film debut withKadhalar Dhinam opposite new actorKunal, a box office success.[31] Then, she had another Tamil release withKannodu Kanbathellam oppositeArjun Sarja.[32][33]
Bendre appeared in three films in 2001. She made her Telugu film debut withMurari oppositeMahesh Babu.[41] A critic ofSify found her to be "charming". It was a box office success.[42][43] She next appeared inLove Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega opposite Saif Ali Khan.Taran Adarsh stated, "Sonali Bendre doesn't get enough scope to display histrionics."[44] She then appeared in the song "Saajan Ke Ghar Jaana Hai" inLajja.[45] Lastly, Bendre appeared opposite Ajay Devgn inTera Mera Saath Rahen. Priyanka Bhattacharya ofRediff.com noted, "Sonali Bendre looks pretty but is not given much scope to act."[46]
In 2002, Bendre starred in three successfulTelugu films. She first appeared inIndra oppositeChiranjeevi.[47] Reviewer fromIdlebrain.com noted, "Sonali suited the role to tee and did her bit to perfection."[48] She next appeared inKhadgam oppositeSrikanth.[49] Lastly, she appeared opposite Nagarjuna inManmadhudu.[50] A critic fromSify stated, "Sonali is excellent and has played her role with conviction."[51]
Bendre had five film releases in 2003. She made her Marathi film debut withAnahat,[52] for which she wonStar Screen Award for Best Actress - Marathi. Pankaj Upadhyaya opined, "Sonali Bendre has never looked so good, so sensual."[53] She next appeared inPyaar Kiya Nahin Jaatha oppositeDiwakar Pundir. Later, appeared in Telugu filmPalnati Brahmanayudu opposite Nandamuri Balakrishna.Rediff.com's reviewer found Bendre to be "good as the villain".[54] Bendre took on supporting parts in her two last released films of the year -Chori Chori opposite Ajay Devgn,Sukanya Verma noted, "Bendre is required to look both beautiful and jealous and does it admirably."[55] and inKal Ho Naa Ho alongside Shah Rukh Khan.[56]
In 2004, Bendre starred inShankar Dada M.B.B.S., a remake ofMunna Bhai M.B.B.S., opposite Chiranjeevi. It was commercially successful.[57] A reviewer ofidlebrain.com stated, "Sonali Bendre is totally cool. She is the perfect choice for this role and has acted with ease.".[58] She then made a special appearance inAga Bai Arrecha!'s song "Cham Cham Karta Hai". In 2007, Bendre starred in a theatre play calledAap Ki Soniya. Post this, Bendre took a break from acting in films and shifted to television.[59]
Bendre turned narrator for the showMission Sapne onColors TV in 2014.[61] Bendre made her film comeback withOnce Upon a Time in Mumbai Dobaara! in 2013, where she appeared opposite Akshay Kumar.[62] Her part was described by directorMilan Luthria as, "Sonali's character is called Mumtaz. The character doesn't fit into the usual mould of a mother or a sister or bhabhi but has an identity of its own. That is what makes it special. And that's why Sonali agreed to be a part of the film."[63]Anupama Chopra fromHindustan Times opined, "Sonali Bendre shines in the few scenes she has."[64]
In 2022, her delayed 1997 filmLove You Hamesha, opposite Akshaye Khanna, was released onYouTube.[67][68] She also turned judge forDID Li'ls Masters Season 5 in 2022, marking her television comeback after 4 years.[69] In her final work of the year, Bendre made her streaming debut withThe Broken News, portraying a news channel head.[70]Namrata Thakker noted, "Sonali stands out, delivering a nuanced performance. She aces the emotional scenes."[71] WhileSaibal Chatterjee added, "Bendre, brings remarkable maturity and balance to bear upon her interpretation of her role."[72]
In 2024, Bendre reprised her character, in the second season ofThe Broken News.[73] Writing forThe Indian Express,Shubhra Gupta was appreciative of her performance and called her the "strongest reason" to watch the series.[74]
Bendre will next appear in an untitled action-thriller film alongsideAli Fazal.[75]
On 4 July 2018, Bendre announced that, she has been diagnosed with a metastatic cancer and was undergoing treatment in a New York City hospital.[81][6] Despite having stage 4 cancer, the actress became cancer free in 2021.[82]
WhenMichael Jackson performed at a concert inMumbai in 1996, Bendre had the opportunity to welcome Jackson.[83] She was dressed in a traditional Marathi sari and welcomed Jackson by applying the traditional 'tilak' on his forehead.[84][85] Bendre co-owns Pune Jaguars, a team at "The Tennis Premier League".[86] She has ramp walked forMade In India and Pidilite - CPAA charity.[87][88] She has also beencover model for various magazines includingVogue.[89][90] Bendre supports a number of causes,[91] including children's education and has been actively supporting cancer survivors. She says, "In whatever capacity I can, I will always be there to help and support the cause of cancer survivors."[92]
In 1998, Bendre was charged withpoaching two blackbucks on the outskirts of Kankani village inJodhpur district ofRajasthan during the filming ofHum Saath Saath Hain along with co-starsSalman Khan,Saif Ali Khan,Tabu andNeelam Kothari.[93] A lower court charged her with the others under theWildlife Protection Act, 1972 and the IPC. She had filed a revision petition before a sessions court which discharged her of Section 51 (causing harm to wildlife) of Wildlife Act and both of 147 (punishment for rioting) and 149 (unlawful assembly of persons) of theIndian Penal Code.[94] The Rajasthan State Government then filed a revision petition before theRajasthan High Court at Jodhpur which again added Section 149 against her, which had been dropped earlier. In December 2012, the Jodhpur court summoned her along with all the accused for commencement of the trial with the revised charges on 4 February 2013.[95] Although Bendre was acquitted in the blackbuck poaching case on 5 April 2018,[96] the Rajasthan High Court issued her with a notice, challenging her acquittal on 11 March 2019.[97]
In 2001, Bendre was arrested by Mumbai Police for wearing thigh-length, lemon yellow kurta withOm andOm Namah Shivay printed on it.[98]
Bendre has often been regarded as one of the most stylish actresses in Bollywood.[99][100] Rahul Gangwani ofFilmfare termed her "beautiful and fresher than the first rains" and said, "Even though Sonali hasn't appeared on the big screen for a decade now, the craze for her remains unbeaten."[101]Rediff.com included her in their "Bollywood's Most Beautiful Actresses" list and noted, "One of the most underrated actresses, Sonali has traditional beauty."[102]India Today termed the actress, "The poster girl of the late 90s".[103]News18 called her the "Golden Girl of Bollywood" and added, "Bendre, renowned for her work in Hindi films and beyond, has carved a niche for herself as a style icon."[104]
"I take it as it comes. If I feel strongly about something I voice my opinion, if the director agrees fine, or let him convince me. It comes from having a relationship with the director. You talk out the scene with your directors and your co-stars."[107]
In addition to her acting career, Bendre is a celebrity endorser for brands and products, includingNirma soap.[108] She has also endorsed fairness cream,[109] clothing brand Radha, withAishwarya Rai Bachchan andOriflame India.[110][111] Bendre was placed 36th inFHM India's 100 sexiest women list.[112] In 2015, Bendre wrote a book named, "The Modern Gurukul: My Experiment with Parenting", which talks about her achievements and challenges as a first-time mother.[113] Bendre appeared onForbes India'sCelebrity 100 list of 2016, ranking 99th, with an estimated annual income of₹65 million (US$740,000).[114] In 2018, Bendre was among the most searched personality onGoogle inPakistan.[115]
^Kamat, Payal."Goldie Behl's Maha Mantra".Mid Day. Retrieved7 April 2019......brother-in-law's place in the prized locality of Dadar.... My father-in-law, for instance, was a civil servant who worked in the CWC.........[Sonali Bendre]'s family is CKP....
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