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'I needed to pay the rent': Bollywood star Sonali Bendre on doing mediocre films in the past

'I needed to pay the rent': Bollywood star Sonali Bendre on doing mediocre films in the past

The actor said she only joined Bollywood in order to get money to pay her bills.
02 Jun, 2022

Bollywood's Sonali Bendre was a known actor in the 1990s but despite having many fans, she was not seen in big films. After many years the actor has now opened up and confessed that she took many mediocre roles in order to pay the bills.

On Wednesday, Duplicate star Bendre in a chat with Indian TV and radio host Siddharth Kannan said, “I needed the money, I needed to pay the rent. I had bills to pay. My family was going through tough times. I came into this line so I could make money so that was my choice at that time.”

Recalling her thoughts from that time, the 47-year-old said that at times she wonders why she did certain roles but would instantly distract herself by reminding herself of the next paycheque. “Many times I thought ‘why am I doing this?’ But then I would think ‘when is the next paycheque coming?’ I thought let’s do it, move on. There are a lot of my films that I have not seen because you couldn’t watch them."

Bendre also mentioned that she had no godfather in the industry, nor did she need one. “To choose between the two, I would rather do the cringe and take my paycheque home."

The actor will be making an OTT debut with Zee5's The Broken News, a Hindi adaptation of Mike Bartlett’s BBC show Press. According to Variety, the plot features two rival news channels based in Mumbai – Awaaz Bharati, an independent, ethical news channel, and Josh 24/7 News, which offers sensationalist and invasive journalism, and what transpires between the main characters in their quest for news.

The show marks Bendre's streaming debut. She stars alongside Paatal Lok star Jaideep Ahlawat, Mirzapur actor Shriya Pilgaonkar, Aundhati star Indraneil Sengupta, Taaruk Raina, Aakash Khurana and Kiran Kumar.

Comments

Raj Jun 02, 2022 03:27pm
Seems speaks from her heart and really a good women.
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Sugon Deeznutz Jun 02, 2022 03:59pm
Renting yourself to pay the rent is not worth it.
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Tadka Jun 02, 2022 04:40pm
One of the beautiful faces of 90s
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Syed Hasni Jun 02, 2022 05:48pm
What happend to Azu and sallu, they cannot pick up the Rent tab ?
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TPA Jun 02, 2022 06:14pm
Everyone has gone through such an experience.
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Asad Jun 02, 2022 06:23pm
@Sugon Deeznutz "Renting yourself to pay rent is not worth it". There is a difference between acting, a art form and renting oneself.
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Faisal Jun 02, 2022 06:32pm
@Sugon Deeznutz everyone is renting themselves to pay the rent. You rent you time to the corporate master so you can pay your bills. Dont pass judgments without walking in other person's shoes. Besides she was acting like any other actor. Your insinuation without proof of otherwise is, quite frankly, disgusting.
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EEsan Jun 02, 2022 07:37pm
@Sugon Deeznutz Say that when you are in similar financial hardship and your elderly parents and siblings are counting upon you to bring food into the house.
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Multani Jun 02, 2022 07:58pm
Don’t we all work to pay our rent, very obvious,
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Kris Jun 02, 2022 08:13pm
The way she faced her cancer head on is an inspiration for everyone.
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Tadka Jun 02, 2022 08:43pm
@Sugon Deeznutz did you she say she did that ???why r you writing stories on your own
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SP Jun 02, 2022 10:12pm
@Sugon Deeznutz and u know this how...? Does every working woman rent herself ?
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Dr Asim Jun 02, 2022 10:41pm
@Sugon Deeznutz The showbiz industry is all about renting yourself to pay rents!
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Sameen Jun 03, 2022 02:46am
@Sugon Deeznutz How do you know that? You were not in her shoes. I think sonali bendre is a very courageous and selfless woman who should be appreciated not judged.
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A Jun 03, 2022 04:31am
Everyone who does not come from film background has to struggle and compromise.
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maddy Jun 03, 2022 05:00am
and this is a big news for us??
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Johnw Jun 03, 2022 07:11am
All Bollywood films are mediocre or lower so in short, she worked in every other film that she was approached for .
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@saas@ Jun 03, 2022 08:02am
Good role model for Pakistani women
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Javed Jun 03, 2022 10:29am
Work is work!!! I do some jobs on the side for extra money which I shouldn’t but money is good and I need money to pay my bills. Work is work!!
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Aryan Jun 03, 2022 11:24am
@Sugon Deeznutz What she did was not renting. It was earning livelihood. Every body at some point of time needs to earn to pay their bills, rent ,food, clothes etc..you can't expect her to live on parents money right. A good film comes once in a while but you would still need to make money to live for the time period.
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Shyam Jun 03, 2022 11:27am
Respect
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TTA is responsible for TTP Jun 03, 2022 11:48am
there's ways to pay rent, that's what they always say...
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