"I wasn’t considered the IT girl back then; others were," Sonali Bendre reflects on breaking the Bollywood beauty mold of the 90s

In an industry obsessed with glamour and perfection, not fitting into the cookie-cutter mold can be both a challenge and a statement. Sonali Bendre, who mesmerized audiences with her elegance in 'Hum Saath Saath Hain,' recently opened up about her early struggles in Bollywood during an interview with Bollywood Bubble.Despite being one of the most recognizable faces of the 1990s, Sonali revealed that she was often labeled “too skinny” for mainstream Hindi cinema — a beauty standard that didn’t align with the era’s preference for fuller, curvier heroines. “When I entered the industry, the trend was all about voluminous curls and curvy figures,” she recalled. “I was a lanky, straight-haired girl. Hindi films didn’t quite know what to do with that.”The actress humbly expressed gratitude for being remembered and appreciated even decades later. When asked if she could be dubbed the ‘90s IT girl,’ Sonali responded candidly, “Well, I wasn’t considered the IT girl back then. Others were. But I was always distinct — I had my own identity.”Despite efforts to conform — including attempts to curl her naturally straight hair — Sonali soon realized authenticity was her strongest asset. “It was just easier to leave it open and straight,” she admitted. “That’s who I was.”Sonali stepped into the film industry at the tender age of 19 with 'Aag' (1994), opposite Govinda. But it was 1996 that truly marked her arrival. She starred alongside Shah Rukh Khan in 'English Babu Desi Mem,' which found international success, and followed it up with 'Diljale' opposite Ajay Devgn — one of the biggest hits of that year. What followed was a golden run of blockbusters, including 'Sarfarosh,' 'Hamara Dil Aapke Paas Hai,' and, of course, the family classic 'Hum Saath Saath Hain.'Her stardom wasn’t confined to Bollywood. Sonali also carved a niche in Telugu cinema with massive hits like 'Indra' (opposite Chiranjeevi), 'Khadgam,' and 'Manmadhudu,' proving her versatility across languages and audiences.In 2022, the actress made a powerful comeback with her OTT debut, The Broken News, receiving widespread praise for her nuanced performance. More recently, she appeared in a special role in Remo D’Souza’s Be Happy. While fans eagerly await her next big announcement, Sonali continues to be a timeless icon who’s rewriting her story — this time, entirely on her own terms.