
Sonali was born in Mumbai into a Marathi speaking Chandraseniya Kayastha Prabhu family.She studied in Bangalore and Mumbai in Kendriya Vidyalaya Malleswaram and Holy Cross Convent High School, Thane. Thereafter she went to Welham Girls School, Dehradun. She married film director Goldie Behl on 12 November 2002. On 11 August 2005, she gave birth to a son, Ranveer, at the Breach Candy Hospital. Bendre started out as a model before being selected for the "Star Dust Talent Search". She was invited to Mumbai and received training from a variety of top actors and performers of the Indian film industry. Her first role was in Aag (1994) opposite Govinda.The movie flopped,but she get noticed. And she get two awards for Filmfare Award for newcomer and Star Screen Awards Most Promising Newcomer. Though, she initially struggled to be a successful actress, she was eventually given critical acclaim for her performances in Diljale in 1996, followed by Bhai (1997), Sarfarosh, Zakhm, Duplicate, Kadhalar Dhinam (Tamil film), Hum Saath-Saath Hain: We Stand United (1999), Tera Mera Saath Rahen (2001) and Anahat (2003) among others. She is also known for being one of the few actresses who acted opposite all top four Khans (Salman, Aamir, Shahrukh and Saif). She has also starred opposite Bollywood actors such as Akshay Kumar, Sunil Shetty, Ajay Devgn, Sanjay Dutt and Anil Kapoor. She also starred opposite Telugu Superstars Mahesh Babu in Murari, Chiranjeevi, Akkineni Nagarjuna and Nandamuri Balakrishna in films such as Indra, Shankar Dada M.B.B.S., Angaaray, Manmadhudu, Palanti Brahma Naidu and Kannada Superstar Upendra in the film Preethse (remake of Darr) That helped her to establish herself and she gain popularity in South and North. She is a well known Indian star internationally.

India's Best Dancer

Pati Patni Aur Panga

अगं बाई अरेच्चा!

காதலர் தினம்

Humse Badhkar Kaun

Zakhm

कल हो ना हो

ఖడ్గం

Diljale

कीमत

ボンベイ

మన్మథుడు

The Kapil Sharma Show

सरफरोश

మురారి

幸せになる

कौन बनेगा करोड़पति

ఇంద్ర

శంకర్ దాదా ఎం.బి.బి.ఎస్.

The Broken News

डुप्लीकेट

Indian Idol

हम साथ - साथ हैं

Tarazu

अनाहत

Dil Hi Dil Mein

Dance India Dance Li'l Masters

ढाई अक्षर प्रेम के

Qahar

India's Got Talent

मेज़र साब

Hamara Dil Aapke Paas Hai

लव के लिये कुछ भी करेगा

Chori Chori

Rakshak

इंग्लिश बाबु देसी मेम

Bhai

Jis Desh Mein Ganga Rehta Hai

Chal Mere Bhai

BFFs with Vogue

वंस अपॉन अ टाइम इन मुंबई-दोबारा

द डॉन

नाराज़

Apne Dam Par

सपूत

Tera Mera Saath Rahen

Dahek A Burning Passion

Takkar

Aag

கண்ணோடு காண்பதெல்லாம்

Angaaray

Palnati Brahmanayudu

Love You Hamesha

Gaddaar

Ajeeb Daastaan Hai Ye

Raakh