Sonali Bendre On How Salman Khan First Irritated Her, Then Supported Her

NEW DELHI (ANI)- Actor Sonali Bendre has opened up about her changing relationship with Salman Khan and the unexpected support he offered during her cancer treatment in the United States.

In a recent interview, Bendre shared how her perspective on Khan shifted significantly over the years. During the filming of the 1999 film Hum Saath Saath Hain, the two weren’t particularly close. “Let me put it mildly, we were not the best of friends at the time,” she said, recalling how Khan’s playful behavior on set often irritated her. “He would make faces during my close-ups, and at the time, I found it very offensive.”

Years later, however, during her battle with metastatic cancer, Bendre experienced a completely different side of the actor. While she was undergoing treatment in New York in 2018, Khan visited her twice and even took an active interest in her medical care. “He called my husband, Goldie [Behl], and asked if we had the right doctors. He even shared contacts and wanted to be sure we were covering all our options,” she said.

According to Bendre, Khan’s concern during that time felt more like the support of a senior figure from the industry. “It was as though he had taken on the role of an elder from the fraternity, making sure everything was in place,” she added.

Reflecting on that phase, Bendre admitted that although they had their differences in the past, she grew to appreciate his concern and effort during a very difficult time.

Bendre, who played the role of Preeti opposite Khan’s character Prem in Hum Saath Saath Hain, has since emerged as a cancer survivor and a vocal advocate for awareness. She now frequently shares her recovery journey and encourages open conversations about the illness.

She recently made her digital debut with ZEE5’s The Broken News, in which she plays journalist Amina Qureshi.