Sonali Bendre is an Indian actress widely known for her work in Hindi and Telugu films, along with a few appearances in Tamil, Marathi and Kannada cinema. Bendre made her acting debut with the action-drama Aag (1994), opposite Govinda, for which she received the Filmfare Lux New Face of the Year award. She gained further recognition with her role in the 1995 romantic thriller Takkar. Between 1994 and 1996, Bendre appeared in several commercially unsuccessful films, including the action-drama Gaddar (1995), action thriller Rakshak (1996), and romantic comedy English Babu Desi Mem (1996). Her first major box office success came with the romantic action Diljale (1996).
Bendre's prominence grew in the late 1990s with a series of successful films such as action comedy Duplicate (1998), romantic action Major Saab (1998), drama Zakhm (1998), action thriller Sarfarosh (1999), the highly successful family drama Hum Saath Saath Hain (1999) and romantic drama Hamara Dil Aapke Paas Hai (2000). Her performance in Sarfarosh earned her a nomination for the IIFA Award for Best Actress for Best Actress, while Hamara Dil Aapke Paas Hai won her the Screen Award for Best Supporting Actress.
Bendre made her Telugu film debut with the romantic drama Murari (2001), receiving a Filmfare Award nomination for Filmfare Best Actress – Telugu. Her subsequent successes in Telugu cinema include action drama Indra (2002), romantic comedy Manmadhudu (2002) and comedy drama Shankar Dada M.B.B.S. (2004). In Marathi cinema, she was awarded the Screen Award for Best Actress – Marathi for her role in Anahat (2003).
After a hiatus from films, Bendre transitioned to television, appearing in the series Ajeeb Daastaan Hai Ye (2014) and The Broken News (2022–2024). Her performance in The Broken News earned her a nomination at the Filmfare OTT Awards for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series. In addition to acting, Bendre has served as a talent judge on several Indian reality television shows, including Indian Idol, India's Got Talent, DID Li'ls Masters and India's Best Dancer 3.
Film
+List of Sonali Bendre film credits Year Title Role(s)Language Notes 1994 Aag Parul Hindi Naaraaz Sonali1995 The Don Gaddaar Priya Takkar Mohini Bombay DancerTamil Special appearance in song "Humma Humma" 1996 Rakshak HindiEnglish Babu Desi Mem Bijuriya Diljale Radhika Apne Dam Par Herself Special appearance in song "Aara Hile Chapara Hile"Sapoot 1997 Bhai Meenu Tarazu Pooja Qahar Neelam 1998 Keemat – They Are Back Mansi Duplicate Lily Humse Badhkar Kaun Anu Major Saab Nisha Angaaray Roma Zakhm 1999 Sarfarosh Kadhalar Dhinam Roja TamilKannodu Kanbathellam Kalyani Hum Saath Saath Hain Dahek Sabina, NeelimaHindi 2000 Chal Mere Bhai Piya Cameo appearance Hamara Dil Aapke Paas Hai Dhai Akshar Prem Ke Nisha Special appearance Jis Desh Mein Ganga Rehta Hain Saavni Preethse Kiran Kannada 2001 Murari VasuTelugu Love Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega Hindi Lajja Herself Special appearance in song "Mujhe Saajan Ke Ghar Jaana Hai"Tera Mera Saath Rahen 2002 Indra Pallavi TeluguKhadgam Swathi Manmadhudu Harika 2003 Anahat MarathiPyaar Kiya Nahin Jaatha Disha HindiPalanati Brahmanaidu TeluguChori Chori Hindi Kal Ho Naa Ho Special appearance2004 Shankar Dada M.B.B.S. TeluguAga Bai Arrecha! HerselfMarathiSpecial appearance in the song "Cham Cham Karta Hai" 2013 Once Upon ay Time in Mumbai Dobaara! Hindi 2022Love You Hamesha Shivani Delayed release 2025Be Happy Herself Cameo appearance
Television + List of Sonali Bendre television credits Year Title Role Notes 2001–2002 Kya Masti Kya Dhoom Host 2005 50th Filmfare Awards 2008 Mr & Mrs Television Judge 2008–2009 Indian Idol Season 4 2009–2012 India's Got Talent Seasons 1–3 2012 Hindustan Ke Hunarbaaz 2014 Mission Sapne Narrator 2014–2015 Ajeeb Daastaan Hai Ye Shobha Sachdev 2013–2016 India's Best Dramebaaz Judge Seasons 1–2 2022 DID Li'ls Masters Season 5 2023 India's Best Dancer 32022–2024 The Broken News 2025 Pati Patni Aur Panga Host2026 Raakh Mona Arora
See also List of awards and nominations received by Sonali Bendre
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