Sonali Bendre, often remembered for her graceful screen presence and elegance in films like Hum Saath Saath Hain, recently opened up about the harsh beauty standards she faced in the Hindi film industry during the 1990s. In a candid interview with Bollywood Bubble, the actress reflected on her early days in cinema and how her appearance didn’t quite fit the mold of what Bollywood deemed attractive at the time.
When asked if she embraces the label of being the ‘90s IT girl’, Sonali responded with honesty: “Well, in the ’90s, I was not really considered the IT girl, but many others were. I was a very distinct person even then.” She shared that while most actresses then had voluminous, curly hair and curvier physiques, she stood out with her straight hair and slender frame — something that wasn’t immediately celebrated in the film world. “I was a skinny, straight-haired, lanky girl. Hindi films didn’t like that,” she said.
Sonali revealed that she even tried to fit in by styling her hair differently, but her naturally straight hair resisted. “They wanted a slightly more curvaceous girl. My hair is so straight that it was very difficult to curl, and with the amount of hair I had, it was just easier to leave it open and straight,” she added.
Despite not fitting the stereotypical mold, Sonali carved a space for herself and earned admiration for her performances. She debuted at the age of 19 with Aag in 1994 alongside Govinda. Her big break came in 1996 with back-to-back hits — English Babu Desi Mem opposite Shah Rukh Khan and Diljale with Ajay Devgn, the latter becoming one of the year’s top-grossing films.
Throughout her career, Sonali delivered memorable performances in movies like Sarfarosh, Hamara Dil Aapke Paas Hai, and Hum Saath Saath Hain. Her success extended to Telugu cinema as well, with roles in popular films such as Indra with Chiranjeevi, Khadgam, and Manmadhudu.
In 2022, Sonali made her OTT debut with The Broken News, where she was praised for her strong performance. Most recently, she appeared in a cameo in Remo D’Souza’s film Be Happy. Fans now await an official announcement about her next on-screen project.