Mumbai, June 9 — Actor Sonali Bendre, in a recent interaction with ANI, opened up about her evolving equation with Bollywood star Salman Khan, shedding light on his support during a challenging chapter of her life. Bendre, who was diagnosed with metastatic cancer in 2018 and underwent treatment in New York, recounted how Khan, despite their limited personal rapport during earlier collaborations, emerged as a pillar of concern and care in her time of need.
Reflecting on their association during the filming of Hum Saath Saath Hain (1999), Bendre admitted that she and Khan did not share a strong camaraderie at the time. “We were not the best of friends,” she noted, adding that Khan’s playful nature — often expressed through antics such as making faces behind the camera — occasionally irked her.
Yet, it was years later, during her treatment abroad, that Bendre saw a different side of the actor. “Salman is like a child, and everything about him is to the extreme — even his care and concern,” she said. “The same person who was making faces behind the camera is the one who made two trips to New York to see if I was okay during my illness.”
Bendre further shared that Khan had reached out to her husband, filmmaker Goldie Behl, with a genuine intent to ensure she was receiving the best medical care available. “He asked, ‘Are you sure you’ve got the right doctors?’ and even recommended other specialists. He was just so invested,” she said.
According to Bendre, Khan’s concern extended beyond mere gestures. “It was as if he had taken on the role of an elder from the fraternity. Once he was convinced that we had chosen the best option, he was calm. But in doing so, he showed how sensitive and caring he truly is,” she remarked. “I’ve had my issues with him, but I’ve grown to appreciate that side of him.”
While the two actors have shared limited screen space, their on-screen chemistry in Hum Saath Saath Hain was widely appreciated. Off-screen, their bond appears to have matured into a relationship of mutual respect and empathy.
Salman Khan, last seen in Tiger 3, is currently working on an upcoming action feature alongside Sanjay Dutt, and is also set to make a cameo appearance in the Saudi Arabian film 7 Dogs. Sonali Bendre, who was last seen in the series The Broken News, is yet to announce her next project.
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