New Delhi: Actor Sonali Bendre has offered a rare and deeply personal glimpse into her changing relationship with Salman Khan, revealing how the superstar extended unexpected and heartfelt support during her battle with cancer. In a candid chat with ANI, Sonali Bendre reflected on her long journey from co-star friction to newfound admiration for Khan’s deeply compassionate side.
Rewinding to their early days on the set of the 1999 blockbuster ‘Hum Saath Saath Hain’, Sonali Bendre admitted that she and Salman weren’t exactly close. “Let me put it mildly, we were not the best of friends at the time,” she said, recalling how his mischievous antics on set would often irritate her.
“I have had my close-ups when he’s standing behind the camera, making faces at me,” she laughed, adding, “At that point, I was most offended, like, what is this behaviour?”
Over time, Sonali Bendre’s opinion of Salman Khan changed. She said that behind his playful behaviour, he has a caring side, something she saw clearly during her battle with cancer.
Salman Khan’s Support
In 2018, Sonali Bendre was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer and sought treatment in New York. It was during this period that Salman surprised her with his genuine concern. “He called up my husband Goldie and asked, ‘Are you sure you’ve got the right doctors? You should speak to these doctors too’, and even shared contacts. It was like he had taken on the role of an elder from the fraternity, making sure everything was in place,” She revealed.
Salman made two trips to new york to check on me during my cancer treatment- Sonali
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Not only did he help from afar, but Salman also flew to New York twice to visit her personally. “Salman is like a child, and everything about him is to the extreme, even his care and concern,” she said with a smile.
She added, “I’ve had my issues with him, but I’ve grown to appreciate that side of him.”
Sonali Bendre and Salman Khan shared screen space in Sooraj R. Barjatya’s ‘Hum Saath Saath Hain’.
