Sonali Bendre Breaks Silence on Viral Video Linking Her to Raj Thackeray

June 7, 2025: Bollywood actress Sonali Bendre, renowned for her timeless beauty and iconic roles in 90s cinema, has addressed the recent viral video that sparked rumours about her relationship with Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray.

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The clip led to speculation that Raj once had a crush on her, but Sonali has firmly denied these claims.

In a candid conversation, Sonali dismissed the rumours with a light-hearted tone, saying, “Did he… I doubt it,” clarifying that she was actually speaking to her sister at the time. She expressed her discomfort with the gossip, emphasizing, “It’s not in very good taste when people talk about it like that. There are families involved.”

Sonali went on to explain the long-standing family ties connecting her and Raj Thackeray. “My brother-in-law, who’s a cricketer, used to play cricket with Raj’s cousin. Also, my sister’s mother-in-law was the head of the English literature department at Ruia College, which I attended,” she shared. She also revealed a touching personal connection: “Raj’s wife Sharmila’s mother and my Maasi (mother’s younger sister) were best friends. When Raj was born, they visited the hospital together. So, that’s the kind of connection we have.”

Despite this close family network, Sonali admitted she has never been deeply involved with the Thackeray family, saying, “I only came to Maharashtra once every two years during summer holidays.”

Addressing rumours about a political career, Sonali was clear and firm, “No, not really. Politics requires a very thick skin, which I don’t have. Plus, I’m not politically correct, unfortunately.”

On the professional front, Sonali made her OTT debut with ZEE5’s series Broken News, portraying journalist Amina Qureshi. The actress started her career in 1994 with Aag and gained fame through hits like Diljale, Sarfarosh, Major Saab, and Hum Saath Saath Hain.

In 2018, Sonali bravely battled cancer and emerged victorious after months of treatment in the USA. Since then, she has been a passionate advocate for cancer awareness.