Salman Khan flew to New York, called my husband during treatment: Sonali Bendre
Sonali Bendre recently opened up about Salman Khan's unwavering support during her cancer battle. In a recent interview, she recalled how the superstar flew to New York multiple times and regularly checked in on her throughout her treatment.
In Short
- Sonali Bendre battled stage four metastatic cancer back in 2018
- She shared how Salman Khan supported her during her treatment in New York
- The actor described cancer treatment as harsh and physically draining
Actor Sonali Bendre, who was diagnosed with stage four metastatic cancer in 2018, recently opened up about her battle with the illness and the unwavering support she received from fellow actor Salman Khan. In a recent interview, she revealed how her 'Hum Saath Saath Hain' co-star stood by her side during her treatment in New York.
Speaking to ANI, Sonali recalled how Salman became one of her pillars of strength at a time she needed it most.
“The same person who’s always making faces behind the camera is also the one who made not one, but two trips to New York while I was undergoing treatment, just to check if I was okay,” she said. “He would constantly call my husband to ask, ‘Are you sure you’ve got the right doctors? I think you should connect with these doctors as well.’”
Interestingly, Sonali also shared that she wasn’t always fond of Salman during the filming of 'Hum Saath Saath Hain'. “You can either love him or hate him,” she admitted. “At that time, I wasn’t fond of him. He’s a prankster - like a child.”
Reflecting on her cancer journey, the actor said, “I was in denial. I’d wake up in the middle of the night thinking it was all a dream. But then you realise it’s not - it’s your reality.”
She described the physical toll of the illness and treatment: “The thing about cancer is that the treatment is so harsh - especially the chemotherapy, the radiation. Your body feels like it’s been destroyed from the inside.”
On returning to work, Sonali added, “Our job is not just mentally but physically demanding. There’s no room for ‘I’m not up to it today.’ The set is waiting, the schedule is fixed - you just have to show up. That’s why I knew I had to heal completely before I could return. And I have.”
Sonali Bendre most recently appeared in the second season of 'The Broken News', which is streaming on ZEE5.