Sonali Bendre reveals how Salman Khan stood by her during her battle with Cancer

Sonali Bendre and Salman Khan worked together in the 1999 film Hum Saath Saath Hain, where they played husband and wife. But off-screen, their connection wasn’t always that friendly.

In a recent chat, Sonali spoke about how things changed between them over the years, especially after she was diagnosed with cancer. Their bond has grown in unexpected ways since then. 

Sonali Bendre shared that things didn’t start smoothly between her and Salman Khan when they first worked together on Hum Saath Saath Hain. She admitted they did not exactly get along during the shoot. Sonali Bendre openly admitted that she and Salman weren’t close at all in the beginning. “I began to like Salman over time, it didn’t happen instantly,” she told. Adding, “During Hum Saath-Saath Hain, let’s just say we weren’t exactly friends.”

She recalled how Salman’s mischievous nature on set often got on her nerves. He loved pulling pranks, even during her intense scenes. “I remember doing close-up shots while he stood behind the camera, making silly faces,” she said. Adding, “Back then, I was quite upset. I kept thinking, ‘Why is he doing this?’ I didn’t even feel like speaking to him.”

But years later, in 2018, when Sonali was diagnosed with stage four metastatic cancer, everything changed. What followed was a surprising shift in their relationship.

During her treatment in New York, Sonali saw a different side of Salman. Beneath his playful image was someone kind-hearted and thoughtful, who checked in on her regularly and showed genuine concern for her health. “Suddenly, this same person who used to make faces behind the camera made two trips to New York to see if I was okay,” Sonali shared. Adding, “He would call my husband, Goldie, and ask, ‘Are you sure you’ve got the right doctors? Let me send you a few more names.’’

Salman’s support wasn’t just emotional; it was practical too. He helped connect Goldie with medical experts, shared suggestions, and made sure they had considered every possible option. Sonali said he took it as his responsibility as a senior in the industry to make sure they left no stone unturned. “It was like he suddenly turned into this elder, responsible person from the industry. He just wanted to be sure we were doing the right thing,” she recalled. 

Once Salman felt confident that Sonali was getting the best care, he quietly stepped back, but not before showing how deeply he cared. “It showed me how sensitive and caring he is. It really changed how I looked at him,” she said. 

In 2021, Sonali was officially declared cancer-free. Since then, she has become a strong advocate for cancer awareness, using her voice to inspire and support others facing similar battles.

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