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Sonali Kulkarni, 44, Played Salman Khan's Mother, 53: Why She Changed Her Mind for 'Bharat' Role
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News18•02-10-2026, 06:01
Sonali Kulkarni, 44, Played Salman Khan's Mother, 53: Why She Changed Her Mind for 'Bharat' Role
- •Sonali Kulkarni, nine years younger than Salman Khan, played his mother in the 2019 film 'Bharat'.
- •She initially rejected the role, believing it wouldn't suit her, and suggested other senior actresses to the makers.
- •Sonali stated she's not afraid of unconventional roles but felt the character should match her appearance and age.
- •She realized most scenes involved Salman's childhood flashbacks and saw it as an opportunity to portray a unique relationship with a superstar.
- •Despite initial hesitation, she accepted the role, delivering a powerful performance alongside Salman Khan for the first time.
Key Questions Answered
Sonali Kulkarni initially rejected the role in Bharat because she was firmly convinced that playing the mother of Salman Khan, an actor older than her, would not suit her appearance and age.
After hearing the film's story, she realized that most of the mother's character scenes were set in Salman Khan's childhood and youth flashbacks, and she wanted the opportunity to work with a superstar.
When the role was initially offered, she straightaway asked the makers why they were approaching her and handed director Ali Abbas Zafar and casting director Mukesh Chhabra a long list of other senior actresses.
