Sonali Bendre

Sonali Bendre (born January 1, 1975) is an Indian actress and model. She has mostly starred in Bollywood films. She is best known for her commendable performance In Telugu films like Murari, Khadgam, Indra, Manmadhudu and Shankar Dada M.B.B.S..

She has also acted in various Marathi, Tamil and Kannada films. She was also one of the four judges in the fourth season of Indian Idol and India's Got Talent. She has been the brand ambassador for Pril soap, Surya bulbs and tubes, Omega watches, Dr. Morepen, Dabur, Vi-John Group etc in Maharashtra and Kalyana Kanchi in Andhra Pradesh.

Sonali was born in a Maharashtrian family. She studied in Bangalore and Mumbai in Kendriya Vidyalaya Malleswaram and Holy Cross Convent High School, Thane.Thereafter she went to Welham Girls School, Dehradun. She married film actor/director Goldie Behl on 12 November 2002. On 11 August 2005, she gave birth to a son, Ranveer, at the Breach Candy Hospital.

Bendre started out as a model before being selected for the "Star Dust Talent Search". She was invited to Mumbai and received training from a variety of top actors and performers of the Indian film industry. Her first role was in Aag (1994) opposite Govinda.

Though, she initially struggled to be a successful actress, she was eventually given critical acclaim for her performances in Diljale in 1996, followed by Bhai (1997), Sarfarosh, Zakhm, Duplicate, Kadhalar Dhinam (Tamil film), Hum Saath-Saath Hain: We Stand United (1999), Tera Mera Saath Rahey and Anahat (2003) among others. She is also known for being one of the few actresses who acted opposite all top four Khans (Salman, Aamir, Shahrukh and Saif). She has also starred opposite Bollywood actors such as Akshay Kumar, Sunil Shetty, Ajay Devgn, Sanjay Dutt and Anil Kapoor. She also starred opposite Telugu Superstars Chiranjeevi and Akkineni Nagarjuna in films such as Indra, Shankar Dada M.B.B.S.. Angaaray, Manmadhudu and Kannada Superstar Upendra in the film Preethse.

In addition to her acting performances, she was also recognized as a graceful dancer through films such as Gaddar, Sapoot, Bombay, Lajja and Major Saab. In 2003, she made a special appearance as Shahrukh Khan's doctor in Kal Ho Naa Ho (produced by Karan Johar), which also starred Saif Ali Khan and Preity Zinta. Bendre also starred in the theatre in a play called, Aap Ki Soniya. She had also welcomed Michael Jackson on his arrival In India in traditional Maharashtrian nauvari sari on November 1, 1996.