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"When
I first came into the industry, it was for the
glamour and the money"
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 Sonali
Bendre is full of surprises. Sometimes you know her,
sometimes you don’t. She surprises me yet again
when I meet her. She’s busy doodling away, filling
colours into an impromptu sketch. She shrugs: “Oh,
I do this sometimes. It’s a great stress
buster.” Not that she has anything to worry about.
Life, not to mention her love life, is looking up
for the Bendre girl. Her latest film Love Ke Liye
Kuch Bhi Karega is carrying rave reports. So I
corner her to ask:
Tell me more about Love Ke Liye Kuch Bhi
Karega.
It’s a fun film and I love my role in it. I’m
paired opposite Saif Ali Khan in the film. I play
this rich girl who’s married to Saif. I’m
playing this character who is funny without
realising she’s funny. I mean, she paints these
really awful paintings but she thinks they are
amazing. That kind of funny stuff. Oh, it was great
working with Srinu (E Niwas) the director.
How was it
working with Saif?
 Oh,
great. I’ve done so many films with Saif. I’m
very comfortable working with him. We’re friends
so it’s like we both know each other’s plus and
minus points. After all the films we’ve done
together, we understand each other completely.
What about Twinkle, the other heroine of the film?
Twinkle is one of the few girls I really get along
with. I don't make friends easily. But Tina (
Twinkle) is nice. She's honest and very
straightforward. And I really appreciate her for
that. I had a blast working with her in Love Le
Liye...
Are you happy?
Now, now, what kind of a question is that? Of
course, I’m happy. Life is great!
 I
mean professionally...
Yeah, I guess. I don’t know, actually.
Professionally,
how content are you?
Honest?
Yes.
(Sighs) See, it’s not as if one gets a wide range
of films to choose from. You have to choose the best
out of whatever you get. And I think I have got a
good line up. I’m happy with what I’m doing. I
have no complaints. When I first came into the
industry, it was for the glamour and the money.
I’m not going to lie and say I came here to become
a great actress. It’s just that while doing my
first few movies I fell in love with my work. I knew
I had found my calling. Of course, initially my
priority was securing myself financially. Isn’t
that the case with most people? But work never took
a backseat. I always took it seriously.
Does it rankle
you when people don’t take you seriously?
 I
don’t think that is the case. People who know me
know what I’m all about. You know this reminds me.
One film magazine published this letter in their
readers column which quote unquote went: "Will
someone tell Sonali Bendre that a deglamourised role
doesn't mean wearing less makeup!" They were
talking about my role in Hamara Dil Aapke Paas
Hai. To start with I have never made made any
tall claims about playing deglamourised parts. If a
role demands I wear less make up then I shall do so.
For Sarfarosh, I have barely worn any makeup.
But I still looked glamorous right? Hamara Dil
Aapke Paas Hai was a tomboyish character. But
that still doesn't mean I claimed I was doing a
deglamourised role! I can understand criticism but
such unwarranted criticism really gets to me. I
mean, you want to criticise fine. But at least give
me a genuine reason. Instead of looking for excuses
like these! That's when it really bothers me.
Earlier I used to get upset but these days I don't
care. The joke is on them!
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