Sonali Bendre, who started her career as a model and later transitioned into acting with her debut in the 1994 film “Aag,” has since starred in numerous projects like “Diljale,” “Duplicate,” “Major Saab,” “Sarfarosh,” and “Hum Saath Saath Hain.” Her popularity has led to immense stardom, but it sometimes results in extreme fan behavior. In a candid interview, Bendre addressed this issue.
During an appearance on Mid-Day’s The Bombay Film Podcast, Sonali Bendre discussed her journey in showbiz.
She was informed that a fan had committed suicide in the 1990s after being unable to meet her during a visit to Bhopal. Shocked by this revelation, she expressed her disbelief and commented on the obsessive nature of some fans:
“Yeh sach hai? [Is it true]? How can someone… There’d be fan mails. We wondered to test, if it was in actual blood. I’d be shattered, if it was. Best to appreciate, and leave it at that. How can people place humans on such a pedestal, that they’ll fall from, anyway? I couldn’t understand that kind of obsession for somebody.”
Earlier, in an interview with Pinkvilla, Bendre had described herself as an “accidental actor,” explaining that acting was not her initial career goal. However, she grew to love the craft as she found success in her career.
Sonali Bendre also shared the challenges she faces with memorizing lines post-chemotherapy, noting that her memory isn’t as sharp as it was in the 90s. She attributes this to possible brain fog from chemotherapy, aging, or other factors.
Reflecting on her battle with cancer and the hiatus she took from acting, Bendre told Hindustan Times how her illness taught her to embrace imperfection. She made a comeback with the web series “The Broken News” in 2022 and shared:
“My illness has taught me that beauty is in imperfection. Perfect things are not as beautiful as imperfect things are. I have learnt to love my imperfections. Now, I don’t want to be stuck with just the looks. I want something beyond that which is where Broken News comes in.”
What are your thoughts on Sonali’s reaction to the fan’s actions? Let us know!
