'When I Started Working, I Did It For Money As Bills Had to Be Paid': Sonali

Actor Sonali Bendre is all set for the release of the second season of Zee5's The Broken News. The Quint spent a day with the actor as she and her co-stars shot promotional videos ahead of the release.

The Sarfarosh actor spoke about her first modelling assignment, how the film industry has changed in the last 30 years, starting out at a young age to support her family, how the set of The Broken News felt like a hug in comparison to the 'horrible' sets she had been at and more.

"I needed the money and there were bills that were pending. I needed to work. My family was going through tough times and it all fell into place. It was meant to be."

Sonali Bendre, Actor

Sonali, who made her OTT debut with The Broken News, started working when she was in the 12th standard. She said that her parents were against her working in the film industry. Recalling the time when she started out Sonali said, "I can never forget the joy of the moment and the kind of security that it gave me. I kept craving for more."

Sonali, who entered the industry as a naïve youngster and then grew to love what she does said that she found the time when she started her career more challenging than when she was batting cancer. "More than the illness that I went through because I had amazing support at that time, I had the toughest tine when I started working in the industry. I was so raw. I had never been exposed to films, we were always given books. I didn't even know film and fashions magazines existed," the actor said.

Sonali, who had never lived in Mumbai before and moved to the city as her father had a transferable job said, "That period I didn't have friends, just family because you are constantly moving every two years. That support system was not there. I was also so young. The film industry world was so different for me, it felt like I was in Mars."

The Broken News, which is based on the BBC Studios format Press, is directed by Vinay Waikul and written by Sambit Mishra. The second season, slated to release on 3 May, also stars Jaideep Ahlawat and Shriya Pilgaonkar in pivotal roles.

Editor: Arnab Chakravorty