Sonali Bendre Behl is an actress predominantly known for her work in Hindi and Telugu films. She was considered one of the leading actresses of the 1990s and early 2000s. Bendre started her career as a model and marked her acting debut with Aag (1994). In an exclusive interview with Bollywood Bubble, Sonali Bendre opened up on her cancer journey and how the word was taboo.
Sonali Bendre Opens Up On Cancer Myths
When asked about her speaking up on cancer myths during the healing process, Sonali Bendre said, “Well, I didn’t intend to do that, but I was working on a project where every week a new episode was coming out, so I needed to go for my treatment. And if I were going to be missing, and somebody else had to take over, there would be comments about it—there would be talk. I just wanted to put it out there that it wasn’t because I had a fight with someone or due to some kind of issue. I wanted people to know that I was going through something, and it was okay for someone else to take over because I needed time off to do what needed to be done.”
She added, “So, see you at some point—maybe, maybe not. I don’t know. That’s what it was. I really needed to put it out there because I didn’t want people gossiping about it—it was all over the internet and social media. My son was growing up—he was 12, almost turning 13 at the time—and with WhatsApp messages going around, my parents would hear some rubbish, and I didn’t want false things being said. I wanted clear-cut information out there about what was happening—no gossip, no lies—and that was the intention behind putting it out. But the reaction we got from it was immense, and I realised that people from all strata of society, from across the country and abroad, were reaching out. So many had been through it, knew someone who had, or were going through it themselves.”
Sonali Recalls Why Cancer Is NOT Talked About
The actress said, “And I thought: if this is so common, why is it not talked about? It felt like a taboo word—up until, say, high school—and I didn’t even realise that. I thought, ‘Oh my God, I consider myself so aware, exposed to so many things, educated, and built through so many life experiences,’ and yet here I was, unaware of the fact that this disease, which we all know exists, wasn’t rare at all. Even I said, ‘How can this happen to me?’ or ‘This happens rarely.’ And that’s the biggest lie. It’s not a rare occurrence; it’s not something unusual—it’s been happening since the Middle Ages and across civilisations. So why is it not talked about? Why did it come as such a surprise to me?”
Sonali Bendre Feels Blessed To Be Aware
During the same interview, she said, “When I started figuring that out, I realised it was never really spoken about. And then, when I understood what this disease can do—and how, if caught early, it can be cured—I realised you don’t have to die. You just need to catch it early. But how can you do that if you’re not even aware? You only test when you’re aware. Exactly. So I said, ‘Oh my God, there’s no awareness—because nobody is talking about it,’ and I felt like I just needed to talk about it. Then I said, ‘You know, the one thing I have in life is that when you’re a known face—good or bad—people listen to what you say.’”
Sonali Bendre Admits Being Responsible When Talking About Cancer Myths
Continuing, the Duplicate actress said, “I said, forget everything else—the nonsense we’re often asked to talk about. I’m sorry to say it, but it’s true. We’re asked about so many things we have no idea about. We’re expected to give opinions, and so many times, when I was younger, I wanted to give mine too, thinking I knew so much. But I didn’t. I didn’t know anything. I didn’t know about this disease that is so widespread, so rampant, and I had no idea. So what do I know? What am I even talking about? Just because I have a recognisable name and face, does that give me the right to talk about anything and everything? No. I need to be responsible.”
Sonali Admits She Is A Private Person
The Hum Saath Saath Hain actress continued, “And I said, the only thing I can genuinely talk about is what I’m going through. Because I’m going through it, I’m living it. That’s the only thing I have the right to talk about. And then I said, ‘You know what? I don’t know what will happen to me. But I’m always going to be positive.’ I should come out of it. But even if I don’t, I want to make people aware of this. I don’t want it to be taboo. I want it to be a conversation that everybody talks about. Something that becomes normal, where you go for regular tests, and it’s not seen as something shameful. You discover it early, you treat it, and you don’t lose lives.”
Concluding, Sonali said, “And end, so what I do is I am a private person. I don’t really like talking about it. But in this topic, I promised myself that I will never lie about it. And I don’t lie about it. So, if I don’t know, I see I don’t know, and what I talk about is what I went through, what helped me. I didn’t mean that that’s what’s going to help the other person. But usually what I feel happy about is that there’s a thought process to everything. And if you can explain your thought process, somebody else can find their own thought process through it. And that will be their own unique journey because everybody is a different person. Everybody’s cancer is different, and you have to find your own way and talk to your own body.”
Watch The Full Interview
Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: OG ‘Nirma Girl’ Sonali Bendre Reminisce Shooting Commercial In 90s; Says, “Those Were Different Times”