An Exclusive Interview With Sonali Bendre

Address: A/203 Building 34, Paradise Apartments
Swami Samarth Nagar, 1st Cross Lane
Andheri (W)
Mumbai 400 053
Date of Birth: January 1st
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Place of Birth: Mumbai (her mothertongue is Marathi)
Height: 5'7" 1/2
Weight: 50 kgs
Family: Three sisters

First of all, one would like to ask you about the marriage rumour between you and Goldie that is doing the rounds?
First of all, let me inform the world that I haven't taken that step as yet! However, there are enough people who have seen us together, so it would be stupid as well as aimless on our part to deny that we are together and that we mean something to each other... But I can't say anything more than that, because I have begun to live each day as it comes. I try and enjoy it to the best of my ability. Only God knows about tomorrow and I would like to leave that in his hands!!!

What about your foray into television?
What about it? I genuinely felt it was a great opportunity to be able to interact with people who have so far only seen me on the big screen. There were a lot of stars who were being paid well and were making the move to television, so I didn't feel I would stick out like a sore thumb. Anyway, I have absolutely no regrets about doing Kya Masti. When I grow old, I will look back on it as a hectic and very pleasant phase of my life!

You just said when 'you grow old'...One thought you were not a believer in tomorrow?
Hey, I'm sure one is allowed to imagine that you could live to see yourself as a mother or perhaps a grandmother (laughs)!!! There's nothing wrong with that!

  Are you scared of growing old?
That is something that has not given me sleepless nights at all! I live in a very real world where you cannot hang on to your youth forever! Neither am I the kind to believe in doing anything even related to plastic surgery or the likes of that! I believe that one should age as gracefully as possible and the faster you accept that as an eventual fact in your life the better your future is going to be!

Do you ever feel disappointed about not receiving an award as an actress?
No I dont! Only because I don't feel my career as an actress is over as yet! And talking about awards, just because one collects them on a regular basis, it doesn't guarantee you are the best or even a good actor...The greatest award for me has been the fact that I have been accepted as an actress by the public at large. That's one award that doesn't come in the shape of a trophy and it's the most precious award that makes you feel blessed and privileged and nothing else compares to that!!!

Would you agree that the lifespan of an actress in this industry does not extend beyond 5-8 years?
I agree that the lifespan of a heroine does not extend beyond 5-8 years. It is only when a heroine allows herself to extend her career beyond just being a heroine that her lifespan as an actress can begin...

Faced with such a situation, what would you do?
I would certainly try and not restrict myself to just being a heroine. But the sad fact is that heroine-oriented films do not do as good or brisk a business as a hero-dominated project. Lajja, for example, was a fine film, yet, it did not do as well as Dil Chahta Hai, which is a hero dominated project.

Would you, irrespective of your personal status, keep your options open to doing good character roles when they are offered to you?
I would, irrespective of my personal status, definitely allow myself to do great roles in the future. You see, my life has been through so many changes already that if and when this happens, it would be quite welcome!