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Real Name: | Sonali Bendre |
Profession: | Indian actress and model |
Birthplace: | Bombay, Maharashtra, India |
Spouse: | Goldie Behl |
Age: | 47 |
Sonali Bendre (born 1 January 1975) is an Indian actress and model who has primarily worked in Hindi films, alongside Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and Marathi language films. She has won several awards, including a Filmfare Award. She established herself as one of the leading Indian actresses of the 90s and is known for her style statements.
Bendre as a teenager did a few modeling assignments and appeared in several television commercials, before making her acting debut in 1994 with Aag, and had her first commercial success and breakthrough with the action-romance Diljale (1996). She rose to prominence with starring roles in Major Saab (1998), Zakhm (1998), Sarfarosh (1999), Hum Saath-Saath Hain (1999), Hamara Dil Aapke Paas Hai (2000), and a guest appearance in Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003). Further success came with the Tamil films Kadhalar Dhinam (1999) and Kannodu Kanbathellam (1999), the Kannada film Preethse (2000), Telugu romances Murari (2001), Indra (2002), Khadgam (2002), and Manmadhudu (2002), and the Marathi film Anahat (2003).
Bendre married director Goldie Behl in 2002; the couple has a son. Post a break from full-time acting in 2004, she commenced work on television, which includes featuring as a talent judge on various reality shows, including Indian Idol 4 and India’s Got Talent. Bendre also played the leading role in Star Life OK’s television series Ajeeb Dastaan Hai Yeh in 2015.
Sonali Bendre Biography
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Born | 1 January 1975 (age 47)
Bombay, Maharashtra, India
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Alma mater | Ramnarain Ruia College |
Occupation | Actress |
Years active | 1994–present |
Spouse(s) |
Goldie Behl (m. 2002)
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Children | 1 |
Early and personal life (Sonali Bendre Biography)
Bendre was born on 1 January 1975 in present-day Mumbai in a Maharashtrian family. She has 2 sisters. Her father was a civil servant. She studied at Ramnarain Ruia College, Mumbai. She studied in Kendriya Vidyalaya, Bangalore.
She married filmmaker Goldie Behl in 2002 and has a son named Ranveer.
Cancer
On 4 July 2018, she revealed on Twitter that she has been diagnosed with metastatic cancer and was undergoing treatment in a New York City hospital.
Career (Sonali Bendre Biography)
Modeling and film debut (1994-1995)
Bendre was a model before entering the Star Dust Talent Search. She was then cast in a movie called Ram, produced by Sohail Khan. However, this movie was never made. Her first major role was in Aag (1994) at the age of 19. For this, she won the Filmfare Award for Lux New Face of the Year and Star Screen Awards for Most Promising Newcomer. In 1994, she also appeared in Naaraaz, for which she was awarded Filmfare’s Sensational Debut award. In 1995, she appeared in Bombay in the song Humma Humma.
Breakthrough, success, and establishment (1996-2003)
In 1996, she starred in Rakshak, English Babu Desi Mem, Diljale, Apne Dam Par, and Sapoot. In the same year, she welcomed Michael Jackson on his arrival in India in a traditional Marathi sari and applied tilak on his forehead. In 1997 and 1998, Bendre starred in Bhai, Tarazu, Qahar, Keemat, Humse Badhkar Kaun, Major Saab, Angaaray, and Zakhm. She was seen opposite Shah Rukh Khan in Duplicate. In 1999, Bendre starred in two Tamil films: Kadhalar Dhinam and Kannodu Kanbathellam. Bendre also starred in Hum Saath-Saath Hain: We Stand United, Dahek and Sarfarosh as well.
In 2000, Bendre made a brief cameo in Chal Mere Bhai and Dhai Akshar Prem Ke. She later appeared in Hamaara Dil Aapke Paas Hai. Bendre won a Star Screen Award for Best Supporting Actress and was nominated for Planet – Bollywood People’s Choice Awards (Best Supporting Actress). Then, Bendre starred in Jis Desh Mein Ganga Rehta Hain. In the same year, she made her debut in Kannada with the movie Preethse, a remake of Darr.
In 2003, Bendre made her Marathi debut with Anahat, for which she got nominated for Star Screen Awards for Best Actress in Marathi.
2004 was the last active year of Bendre’s career. She starred in Shankar Dada MBBS and made a special appearance in Aga Bai Arrecha!. In addition to her acting, she was also recognized as a dancer through films such as Gaddar, Sapoot, Bombay, Lajja, and Major Saab. She took a break after this. In 2007, Bendre starred in a play called Aap Ki Soniya.
Bollywood comeback (2013-present)
In 2012, Bendre opted out of India’s Got Talent in order to facilitate her comeback movie Once Upon a Time in Mumbai Dobaara!. Her part was described by the director Milan Luthria: “Sonali’s character is called Mumtaz. The name spells enigma and is very crucial to the plot of the film. The character doesn’t fit into the usual mold 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.”
Television career (2001-present)
In 2001, Bendre hosted the television dance show Kya Masti Kya Dhoom….! and featured as a talent judge for Mr & Mrs. Television, the reality shows Indian Idol 4, India’s Got Talent, Hindustan Ke Hunarbaaz, and India’s Best Dramebaaz. She also hosted the 50th Filmfare Awards with Saif Ali Khan and Farida Jalal on 26 February 2005. She narrated the TV Show Mission Sapne on Colors in 2014.
Sonali made her television acting debut with the Star Life OK’s television series Ajeeb Dastaan Hai Yeh. She played Shobha Sachdev. She will next be seen in DID Li’ls Masters Season 5 in 2022.
In the media
Bendre has been considered a style icon. In 2012, she was the brand ambassador of Oriflame India. She has authored a book, The Modern Gurukul: My Experiments with Parenting. She has run the Sonali Book Club since 2017.
Filmography (Sonali Bendre Biography)
Films
Year | Title | Role | Language(s) | Notes |
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1994 | Aag | Parul | Hindi | Won—Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut |
Naaraaz | Sonali | Hindi | ||
1995 | The Don | Anita Malik | Hindi | |
Gaddaar | Priya | Hindi | ||
Takkar | Mohini | Hindi | ||
Bombay | Herself | Tamil | ||
1996 | Rakshak | Dr. Pooja Malhotra | Hindi | |
English Babu Desi Mem | Bijuriya | Hindi | ||
Diljale | Radhika | Hindi | ||
Apne Dam Par | Herself | Hindi | Special appearance in the song “Aara Hile Chapara Hile” | |
Sapoot | Kajal | Hindi | ||
1997 | Bhai | Meenu | Hindi | |
Tarazu | Pooja | Hindi | ||
Qahar | Neelam | Hindi | ||
1998 | Keemat – They Are Back | Mansi | Hindi | |
Duplicate | Lily | Hindi | ||
Humse Badhkar Kaun | Anu | Hindi | ||
Major Saab | Nisha | Hindi | ||
Angaaray | Roma | Hindi | ||
Zakhm | Soniya | Hindi | ||
1999 | Sarfarosh | Seema | Hindi | |
Kadhalar Dhinam | Roja | Tamil | ||
Kannodu Kanbathellam | Kalyani | Tamil | ||
Hum Saath Saath Hain | Dr. Preeti Shukla | Hindi | ||
Dahek | Sabina/Neelima | Hindi | ||
2000 | Chal Mere Bhai | Piya | Hindi | Cameo |
Hamara Dil Aapke Paas Hai | Khushi | Hindi | ||
Dhai Akshar Prem Ke | Nisha | Hindi | Cameo | |
Jis Desh Mein Ganga Rehta Hain | Saawni | Hindi | ||
Preethse | Kiran | Kannada | ||
2001 | Murari | Vasundhara | Telugu | |
Love You Hamesha | Shivani | Hindi | ||
Love Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega | Sapna Chopra | Hindi | ||
Lajja | Herself | Hindi | Special appearance in the song “Mujhe Saajan Ke Ghar Jaana Hai” | |
Tera Mera Saath Rahen | Madhuri | Hindi | ||
2002 | Indra | Pallavi | Telugu | |
Khadgam | Swathi | Telugu | ||
Manmadhudu | Harika | Telugu | ||
2003 | Anahat | Queen Sheelavathi | Marathi | |
Pyaar Kiya Nahin Jaatha | Disha | Hindi | ||
Palnati Brahmanayudu | Siva Nageswari | Telugu | ||
Chori Chori | Pooja | Hindi | ||
Kal Ho Naa Ho | Priya | Hindi | Cameo | |
2004 | Shankar Dada MBBS | Dr. Sunita / Chitti | Telugu | |
Aga Bai Arrecha! | Herself | Marathi | Special appearance in the song “Cham Cham Karta Hai” | |
2013 | Once Upon A Time in Mumbai Dobaara! | Mumtaz Khan | Hindi | Cameo |
Television
Year | Serial | Role | Notes |
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2001–2002 | Kya Masti Kya Dhoom | Host | |
2008 | Mr & Mrs Television | Judge | |
2008-2009 | Indian Idol | Judge | season 4 |
2009-2012 | India’s Got Talent | Judge | season 1-3 |
2012 | Hindustan Ke Hunarbaaz | Judge | |
2014 | Mission Sapne | Narrator | |
2014–2015 | Ajeeb Daastaan Hai Ye | Shobha Sachdev | |
2013–2016 | India’s Best Dramebaaz | Judge | |
2021 | Super Dancer | Guest | season 4 |
Awards and nominations (Sonali Bendre Biography)
Year | Film | Award | Category | Result |
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1995 | — | Screen Awards | Discovery of the Year | Won |
Aag | Most Promising Newcomer – Female | Won | ||
Filmfare Awards | Lux New Face of the Year | Won | ||
Naaraaz | Sensational Debut | Won | ||
1998 | Zakhm | Planet Bollywood People’s Choice Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Nominated |
2000 | Hamara Dil Aapke Paas Hai | Nominated | ||
Sarfarosh | International Indian Film Academy Awards | Best Actress | Nominated | |
2001 | Hamara Dil Aapke Paas Hai | Best Supporting Actress | Nominated | |
Bollywood Movie Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Nominated | ||
Screen Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Won | ||
2004 | Anahat | Best Actress – Marathi | Won | |
2011 | India’s Got Talent | Golden Petal Awards | Most Chahiti Personality | Won |
2012 | Indian Telly Awards | Best Judge Panel | Won | |
2015 | Ajeeb Daastaan Hai Ye | Best Onscreen Couple | Nominated | |
2017 | India’s Best Dramebaaz | Zee Rishtey Awards | Best Judge | Won |
2018 | — | Women Achiever’s Awards | Pride of Maharashtra | Won |
2019 | — | Woman of Substance | I Am Woman awards | Won |