Sonali Bendre was last seen in the 2004 Telugu film Shankar Dada MBBS.
New Delhi:
Actress Sonali Bendre has stayed away from the Bollywood big screen since Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003), but she has made an exception for her director-friend Milan Luthria's forthcoming film Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai Dobara.
Bendre says her association with Luthria goes back a long way and that is why she agreed to do the "guest appearance" in the underworld drama.
The film features her as Mumtaz and she will be seen on the big screen after a gap of 10 years when the film releases on Aug 15.
Sonali's last Bollywood outing was a guest appearance in Shah Rukh Khan, Priety Zinta and Saif Ali Khan starring film Kal Ho Naa Ho, in which she had played a doctor.
"The film is directed by Milan Luthria and I have known him since a long time. He used to assist (Mahesh) Bhatt sahab and my first ever song 'Sambhala hai maine...' was shot by Milan. So the equation and the relationship go very far back," said Sonali, who is married to filmmaker Goldie Behl.
Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai Dobara features Akshay Kumar, Imran Khan and Sonakshi Sinha in the main leads.
Another reason for Sonali to give a nod to the film was its producer Shobha Kapoor, who is a good friend of her mother-in-law.
"Shobha aunty has been friends with my mother-in-law for the past 40 years. So, when she calls her and asks for me to do something, I can't say no to her. So it's just that," said the actress known for films such as Sarfarosh and Zakhm.
"I have not charged them for anything. So it's not a professional kind of a thing for me. It's just a guest appearance that I am doing for the people that are involved in it. It's a very interesting literal role," added the 38-year-old, who has a son and enjoys spending time with him.
Bendre says her association with Luthria goes back a long way and that is why she agreed to do the "guest appearance" in the underworld drama.
The film features her as Mumtaz and she will be seen on the big screen after a gap of 10 years when the film releases on Aug 15.
Sonali's last Bollywood outing was a guest appearance in Shah Rukh Khan, Priety Zinta and Saif Ali Khan starring film Kal Ho Naa Ho, in which she had played a doctor.
"The film is directed by Milan Luthria and I have known him since a long time. He used to assist (Mahesh) Bhatt sahab and my first ever song 'Sambhala hai maine...' was shot by Milan. So the equation and the relationship go very far back," said Sonali, who is married to filmmaker Goldie Behl.
Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai Dobara features Akshay Kumar, Imran Khan and Sonakshi Sinha in the main leads.
Another reason for Sonali to give a nod to the film was its producer Shobha Kapoor, who is a good friend of her mother-in-law.
"Shobha aunty has been friends with my mother-in-law for the past 40 years. So, when she calls her and asks for me to do something, I can't say no to her. So it's just that," said the actress known for films such as Sarfarosh and Zakhm.
"I have not charged them for anything. So it's not a professional kind of a thing for me. It's just a guest appearance that I am doing for the people that are involved in it. It's a very interesting literal role," added the 38-year-old, who has a son and enjoys spending time with him.
