Sonali Bendre is a popular Bollywood diva from the 90s whose beauty is still fresh in the minds of all cine-lovers. There was one moment in her career when the actress looked her most gorgeous self. It was when she was decked out in a traditional Marathi get-up to receive the global pop icon, Michael Jackson, at the airport in 1996. The late pop star visited India for the first time for his HIStory World Tour and was welcomed by the actress and prominent politician, Raj Thackeray. But more than the international singer, Sonali Bendre was in the news for her looks and getup. Recently, the actress talked about what made her agree to receive Michael Jackson at the airport.
Sonali Bendre was approached by Raj Thackeray’s wife to welcome Michael Jackson at the airport
Sonali Bendre, while talking about the iconic moment of welcoming Michael Jackson at the Mumbai Airport (then Bombay Aiport) in an ANI interview, said that Raj Thackeray’s wife, Sharmila Thackeray, had approached her to do this. Recalling the incident, the actress said that Sharmila’s mother and her aunt were friends for a long time. That is how the politician’s wife got in touch with Sonali and asked her, “Why don’t you do it?”. Talking about Sharmila Thackrey approaching her, Sonali Bendre said:
“They told me that you need to come and do that and be somebody who got in touch with me. I think it was Sharmila, Raj’s wife. Sharmila’s mother and my masi have been friends for a long time, and she said, ‘why don’t you do it’.”
Sonali Bendre had agreed to the welcoming ceremony on the condition of getting great tickets for the concert
Michael Jackson arrived in India as a part of his HIStory concert tour. Hence, Sonali Bendre said in the interview that she had agreed to welcome him at the airport on the condition that she and her friends would get great tickets for the concert. The actress revealed that she was excited for the interview because she was getting tickets with great seats. She went there with her sister and her sister’s friends. Sonali Bendre said:
“I was like, okay, but then I want great tickets for the show and all of that with my friends. So I did it because I was getting these tickets to enter where I could take my friends and go to the show. My sister, sister’s friends and all of that. We had this great seating. That’s what I was so excited about when I did it.”
Sonali Bendre was linked with Raj Thackeray after the welcoming ceremony of Michael Jackson
In the photos and videos of Michael Jackson’s welcoming ceremony, Sonali Bendre looked very beautiful; meanwhile, the politician, Raj Thackeray, looked dashing as well. The two also looked close and familiar during the ceremony. Given these factors, there were soon rumours buzzing around about their alleged affair. Sonali Bendre addressed these rumours and said that it was in bad taste, considering the fact that families and people were involved. In the interview, she said:
“I don’t know. I mean, a lot of people… I think it’s just not in very good taste when people talk about it like that. First of all, I mean, there are families involved and people involved in all of that.”
Sonali Bendre wore a traditional Marathi saree to welcome Michael Jackson at the airport
Sonali Bendre looked as graceful as ever when she received Michael Jackson at the airport in 1996, bedecked in complete Marathi attire. She wore an orange-hued saree, a Marathi-style nose pin called nathni, gold jewellery and a flower garland in her hair. Following Indian customs of welcoming guests, the actress put a tilak on Michael Jackson’s forehead and venerated him with an aarti. The arrival of the international pop icon and being welcomed by Sonali Bendre, who was at the peak of her career then, is considered one of the most iconic cultural moments of the country.
What are your thoughts on Sonali Bendre’s condition for receiving Michael Jackson with Raj Thackeray in 1996?
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