Her fitness and flawless skin belie her age. In her mid-thirties, Sonali Bendre still looks as ravishing as she did in her films. Dressed in a flowing gown accentuating her svelte figure, she hardly looks like mom to a four-year old. Compliment her, and she flashes her trademark smile, “I like to keep fit because its healthy, not because its glamorous.”
The actor is all set to take centrestage continuing as one of the trio of judges in Color's talent show ‘India's Got Talent Khoj 2', which goes on air in August.
“I'm excited to be back on this platform and I expect better, much better talent this year though it's going to be a very difficult task to top last year's winner, Prince Group.
ADVERTISEMENT
But with Siddharth (Basu, his production team at Big Synergy is scouting for talent) and his gang reaching out to the interiors of the country as well, I think there will be a whole lot of new stuff to watch,” says Sonali.
Sonali reiterates what she had said even last year about the talent show that got TRPs soaring for the channel in its first season. “I have always maintained that ‘India's Got Talent'showcases the diversity of India's culture in a way that even no documentary can. And, it is entertaining too. Little wonder then that it is such a highly-watched show.”
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
With last year's winners Prince Group getting a chance to perform not only before the Prime Minister but also at the grand finale of the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week and even at the opening ceremony of the forthcoming Commonwealth Games in Delhi, the judges are hoping they will get to choose the best.
With sand painters from central India and musical bands from Kashmir participating in the show, they can be well assured of that.
Sonali, who has had some commercially and critically-acclaimed films in her short eight-year career such as “Sarfarosh”, “Major Saab” and “Anaahat”(Marathi), has been missing from the silver screen post the birth of her son Ranvir.
On television, she has hosted a dance show called ‘Kya Masti Kya Dhoom!' She has also been the judge on ‘Indian Idol Season 4' on Sony before moving on to judge Color's ‘India's Got Talent'.
But the actor, married to producer-director Goldie Behl, does not seem to be keen on reverting to the big screen unlike others of her generation who are making comebacks.
Striking a balance
“Last year, Ranvir was just three, but I managed. He is still very small. But, with this show, I can balance out my life well as the dates are quite spread out. I visit the sets for one or two days a week, I get entertained, I get paid to do it and I can give my judgment — what more can one ask for! As for movies, I'd like to give them the miss for a little while now. That urge to do cinema is not there at all. I am happy with the small screen,” she adds.