Sonali Bendre is an Indian actress primarily known for her work in Hindi and Telugu films. She did modelling assignments prior to making her acting debut with Aag (1994), which won her the Filmfare Award for New Face of the Year and Screen Award for Best Female Debut.

Bendre’s career as a lead actress marked a turning point with Diljale (1996), a commercial success. The year 1998 brought her further success with Duplicate, Major Saab and Zakhm. Bendre achieved praises for her portrayal of leading lady in Sarfarosh and a shy doctor in Hum Saath Saath Hain, both (1999). For the former, she received IIFA Best Actress Award nomination. Post 2000, she appeared in supporting roles of an NRI in Hamara Dil Aapke Paas Hai (2000) and a doctor in Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003). She earned Screen Award for Best Supporting Actress for the former.

Bendre made her Tamil film debut with Kadhalar Dhinam (1999) and her Telugu debut with Murari (2001). She earned Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Telugu nomination for the latter. Her Marathi debut Anahat (2003), earned her Screen Award for Best Actress – Marathi. Her successful Telugu films include, Indra, Khadgam, Manmadhudu all (2002) and Shankar Dada MBBS (2004).

In addition to these, she has appeared as a judge on various reality shows and made her television debut with Ajeeb Daastaan Hai Ye (2014) and streaming debut with The Broken News (2022).

On 4 July 2018, Bendre announced that, she has been diagnosed with a metastatic cancer and was undergoing treatment in a New York City hospital. Despite having stage 4 cancer, the actress became cancer free in 2021.