Sonali Bendre: There is more to me than just glamour
Actor Sonali Bendre, who has been a part of the film industry for almost three decades, says she’s more than just a pretty face and it’s time people take note of that. “Bollywood has always seen me more as the glamorous person than a serious actor. I want that to change. I have nothing against glamour; I love being glamorous. But there is more to me and I would like those layers to be explored,” Bendre tells us.
In fact, it has turned out to be the driving force behind her upcoming projects, be it non-fiction TV or her return to mainstream acting with her first OTT project. “The industry will see me the way I want to be seen. But for that to happen, I needed to be clear about that (the kind of roles I wanted to do). I don’t think I had taken myself as seriously, like giving thought to my image,” says the 47-year-old.
The actor says until now, she had not pondered over her career choices. I was doing what came my way. I needed to make money, that was my priority. I just went on with my life like that. Now, for the first time, I am being mindful,” explains Bendre.
When it comes to fiction, she was last seen in the TV show Ajeeb Daastaan Hai Ye in 2014, before taking a break from acting for undergoing treatment for cancer. Lately, she featured in several reality TV shows as a judge, and now, her upcoming web project marks her first full-time acting outing since then. “I have been doing reality TV, but it (the time I devoted) revolved around my son’s time. I have not done fiction for a while and I was ready for it now. My son is all grown up and the project I picked up was so exciting,” the actor says.
I don’t think I had taken myself as seriously, like giving thought to my image. SONALI BENDRE, Actor