Feeling the beat

SONALI BENDRE TALKS TO JITESH PILLAAI ABOUT FINDING HER RHYTHM AGAIN

- JITESH PILLAAI

She's the quintessential '90s sweetheart, graceful, charming, and unforgettable. In a career spanning over 30 years, Sonali Bendre has carved a niche few have occupied with such quiet dignity and lasting appeal. From the golden age of Hindi cinema to the multilingual world of Indian films, she's worked across Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Marathi industries, balancing critical acclaim with commercial success. Sonali has collaborated with an enviable list of directors, from auteurs like Mani Ratnam to the masters of masala, and starred opposite leading men like Aamir Khan, Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan and Ajay Devgn. Whether playing the spirited love interest or the emotional anchor, she brought sincerity that transcended screen time. Even after stepping back at her peak, she never disappeared. Her return via digital platforms and television has only cemented her relevance. After bravely facing a life-threatening cancer diagnosis, Sonali has reemerged, not just as a survivor but as a symbol of resilience and reinvention. Today, she isn't just red hot, she's blazing with a strength and spirit that define true icon status.

You took a break, had a baby, then you came back and did television... did you feel any kind of difference in the mediumes?

Yes, there's a difference. But being in front of the camera is still just that, being in front of the camera. There's a shared energy. Funny you mention television. I'd done it before my baby, after Sarfarosh and Hum Saath Saath Hain, hosting