Sonali Kulkarni has built a diverse filmography spanning multiple languages and genres, moving comfortably between independent cinema and mainstream entertainers. One of her notable commercial projects was Ali Abbas Zafar’s 2019 period drama ‘Bharat‘, in which she played Janki Devi, the mother of Salman Khan’s titular character.Interestingly, Sonali, now 51, is nine years younger than Salman, who is 60. The unusual casting choice had initially made the actress hesitant, but she eventually embraced the role after the director and casting director explained why her character was crucial to the story.
Sonali Kulkarni on playing Salman Khan’s mother in ‘Bharat’
Speaking about her casting, Sonali revealed that she had initially questioned whether she could convincingly play Salman’s mother despite their age difference.“During casting, I said, ‘I can’t be playing this role,’” she recalled.However, director Ali Abbas Zafar and casting director Mukesh Chhabra were reportedly convinced that she was the right person for Janki Devi, particularly because of the importance of the film’s flashback portions.“The flashback meant everything to that film. That’s how Bharat gets his name and reacts to situations,” Sonali explained.The actress said she eventually understood why the filmmakers were so certain about their choice. “No director or casting director would like to fit in a wrong person somewhere. That would be a failure on their part also. So, I tried to understand that. So, I took it up as a challenge,” she said.
Sonali Kulkarni on working with Salman Khan
Sonali admitted that it took “a lot of convincing” from Zafar and Chhabra before she agreed to take on the part. However, the opportunity to share the screen with Salman also added to her interest in the project.The actress recalled developing a warm equation with the superstar during the shoot. “We bonded very well on the sets of ‘Bharat’. One can learn from him to treat people well. He was ever gracious. And he scored a point when he gave me his cycle to ride,” she said with a laugh.Sonali also pointed out that her role was not primarily built around scenes with Salman’s older version of Bharat. “I had maximum scenes with the child artiste and very few with the elder Bharat,” she said.
‘They paid me really well’: Sonali on doing ‘Bharat’
Despite the unusual casting and relatively limited screen time alongside Salman, Sonali has no regrets about taking up ‘Bharat’. In fact, she revealed that the financial aspect of the project was another positive.The actress said the Salman Khan Films-backed production “paid me really well”, making the experience even more worthwhile.Her time on the set also gave her the opportunity to watch Katrina Kaif perform in person, something Sonali particularly enjoyed.
Sonali Kulkarni praises Katrina Kaif’s dancing
Katrina played Kumud Raina, Bharat’s love interest, in the film and shared several sequences with Salman. Sonali recalled being impressed by the actor’s screen presence and dancing skills.“Oh god, she’s such a graceful dancer, and she’s beautiful. We had a gala time on set! So, no complaints from my end,” she said.Katrina and Salman were seen together in the popular track ‘Aithey Aa’, which became one of the film’s musical highlights.
About ‘Bharat’
Released in 2019, ‘Bharat’ was directed by Ali Abbas Zafar and featured Salman Khan in the titular role. The film followed Bharat’s life across several decades, using his personal journey to explore the social and historical changes taking place around him. The ensemble cast included Katrina Kaif, Disha Patani, Sunil Grover, Tabu, Jackie Shroff, Nora Fatehi and Sonali Kulkarni. The film emerged as a major commercial success, collecting more than Rs 325 crore worldwide.For Sonali, ‘Bharat’ remains an interesting chapter in her career, not only because she played the mother of an actor younger than her, but also because she chose to approach the unconventional casting as an acting challenge and ultimately walked away with a positive experience.
