Sonali Bendre recalls being body-shamed in the 90s: ‘I was told I’m not woman enough because I wasn’t voluptuous’

Actor Sonali Bendre talked about beauty standards in the 90s, when she was one of the most well-known actors in Bollywood. Sonali said that she was ‘skinny’ and that was definitely not the preferred body type at the time. In the same interview, she also talked about her cancer diagnosis and the painful journey. Also Read: Sonali Bendre says she had ‘30% survival chance’ after breast cancer diagnosis: ‘Testing went up after my news came out’

In a new interview, Sonali recalled that she was body-shamed in the initial days of her career. This isn’t the first time when a Bollywood actor made such comments on 90s beauty standard. Earlier this year, Madhuri Dixit said in an interview that she was body-shamed and people said things like, “isko mota karo (make her fat).”

While speaking with Bollywood Bubble, Sonali said, “Being skinny was definitely not the standard of beauty back in the 90s, so voluptuousness was the standard of beauty. I was told you were just not a woman enough if you were not voluptuous, you know which it shouldn’t be.”

She continued, “I do agree body-shaming should not have any part in our society and especially little girls and the kind of ideas they are growing with and the crazy dieting people are doing. People are forgetting that it is not holistic.”

Sonali made her acting debut with the 1994 film Aag, which also starred Govinda, Shilpa Shetty and Shakti Kapoor. She had her first big hit with the action-romance Diljale (1996). She later appeared several films such as, Major Saab (1998), Zakhm (1998), Sarfarosh (1999), Hum Saath-Saath Hain (1999), Hamara Dil Aapke Paas Hai (2000) and many more.

She has judged reality television shows, such as, India’s Best Dramebaaz, Hindustan Ke Hunarbaaz, India’s Got Talent and Indian Idol. She made her OTT debut with ZEE5’s show The Broken News, which also starred Shriya Pilgaonkar and Jaideep Ahlawat.