Sonali Bendre opens up on ageism in Bollywood; says male actors from her era are still popular

Sonali Bendre has returned to acting after a long hiatus. She was away due to a prolonged battle with cancer. Bendre was one of the leading actresses of the 90s with several hits in her kitty. She has now made her OTT debut in ZEE5’s The Broken News (2022) where she plays the role of Amina Qureshi, a fierce journalist.

During an interview, the 47-year-old actress said that the male actors she worked with in the 1990s are still more popular than the female actresses of the era. The Hum Saath Saath Hain (1999) actress discussed how Bollywood actresses from her time are no longer seen in any projects. She said, “The actors with whom I worked are still working, whereas I and other women from that era are no longer in that zone.”

“However, there is a lot of debate about it, and I am confident that it is heading in the right direction. I am overjoyed that we are finally getting the opportunity to do things we enjoy, and I believe this is true not only in India but throughout the world," she added.

Bendre also spoke about how the OTT culture has improved everything in Bollywood, saying, “I think these OTT platforms gave a chance to smaller films, different kinds of films, and niche subjects. For the longest time, there was no place where you could have these voices, where you could see them. These platforms have given these voices a space.”