Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], June 7: Bollywood actress Sonali Bendre has strongly refuted rumours linking her to Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray, after an old video featuring both went viral and sparked online speculation.
The viral clip stirred discussions suggesting that Raj Thackeray once had a crush on the actress. Addressing these rumours in a conversation with ANI, Bendre clarified, “Did he… I doubt it,” and added, “I was talking to my sister who was right there,” dismissing the assumptions.
Bendre condemned the gossip, saying, “I don’t know… I think it’s just not in very good taste when people talk about it like that. There are families involved.”
She elaborated on the longstanding family ties between the two families. “My brother-in-law, who is a cricketer, used to play with Raj’s cousin. Also, my sister’s mother-in-law was head of the English Literature department at Ruia College, where I studied,” she said.
Adding a more personal connection, Bendre shared, “Sharmila, Raj’s wife, her mother and my Maasi were best friends. When I was born, she even held me as a baby. That’s the kind of connection we had—purely familial and respectful.”
Bendre also clarified that despite these family associations, she hasn’t had regular contact with the Thackeray family. “I only visited Maharashtra once every two years during summer holidays,” she noted.
On the question of entering politics, the ‘Diljale’ actress firmly ruled out the possibility. “No, not really. You need thick skin for politics, and I don’t have it. I’m not politically correct, unfortunately,” she said.
On the professional front, Sonali Bendre recently made her OTT debut with ZEE5’s The Broken News, portraying journalist Amina Qureshi. She began her film career with Aag in 1994 and rose to fame with the hit film Diljale in 1996. Her notable works include Sarfarosh, Major Saab, Zakhm, Duplicate, Chori Chori, and Hum Saath Saath Hain.
In 2018, Bendre was diagnosed with cancer and underwent treatment in the USA. She emerged victorious and has since become an advocate for cancer awareness and survivor resilience.