Sonali Bendre, Indian actress and model

Sonali Bendre (born 1 January 1975) is an Indian actress and model who has primarily worked in Hindi films, alongside Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Marathi language films. She has won several awards, including a Filmfare Award. She established herself as one of the leading Indian actress of the 90s and is known for her style statements.Bendre as a teenager did a few modelling assignments and appeared in several television commercials, before making her acting debut in 1994 with Aag, and had her first commercial success and breakthrough with the action romance Diljale (1996). She rose to prominence with starring roles in Major Saab (1998), Zakhm (1998), Sarfarosh (1999), Hum Saath-Saath Hain (1999), Hamara Dil Aapke Paas Hai (2000) and a guest appearance in Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003). Further success came with the Tamil films Kadhalar Dhinam (1999) and Kannodu Kanbathellam (1999), the Kannada film Preethse (2000), Telugu romances Murari (2001), Indra (2002), Khadgam (2002) and Manmadhudu (2002), and the Marathi film Anahat (2003).

Bendre married director Goldie Behl in 2002; the couple have a son. Post a break from full-time acting in 2004, she commenced work on television, which includes featuring as a talent judge on various reality shows, including Indian Idol 4 and India's Got Talent. Bendre also played the leading role in Star Life OK's television series Ajeeb Dastaan Hai Yeh in 2015.