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The Unfortunate Tale of Sonali Bendre’s Role in Duplicate: A Lesson in Disappointment and Growth
The year 1998 was a significant one for Bollywood, with numerous iconic films hitting the screens. One such movie was Shah Rukh Khan’s Duplicate, which generated a lot of buzz due to the actor’s dual role. The film, which also starred Juhi Chawla and Sonali Bendre as the female leads, went on to earn double its budget of Rs 10 crore, becoming one of the highest-grossing films of that year. However, in a recent interview, Sonali Bendre revealed that she felt shortchanged by the way her role turned out in Duplicate, stating that it "became more of a secondary character."
A Character that Failed to Deliver
In an interview with Bollywood Bubble, Sonali expressed her frustration with the role, saying, "It was a film that a lot of people talk about. But this is one of those films that really helped shape the way I wanted my character to be. The idea was to have beautiful grey shades in this character, but it kind of started becoming very one-dimensional. I think it became more of a secondary character when I got onto it." These words echo the disappointment and disillusionment that Sonali felt during the filming process.
A Decision Influenced by Past Experience
Sonali agreed to take on the role in Duplicate solely because of her positive experience working with filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt on Zakhm, which released the same year. Although her role in Zakhm was also brief, she was aware of it from the outset, unlike in Duplicate. She said, "When I did Zakhm, I knew it wasn’t the main character. I knew Pooja (Bhatt) had that role. But it was a beautiful story with Bhatt Sahab, and I just wanted to be a part of it, so I did it." This experience had led her to expect a more substantial role in Duplicate, which unfortunately did not materialize.
The Shift in the Film’s Direction
Sonali shared that she was initially excited to play a grey character in Duplicate, but as the filming progressed, she felt that her role started to feel like a caricature. She expressed her disappointment in the kind of shift the film took during the filming process, saying, "There was a film I was doing at that time called Duplicate where I was approached to play a grey character in some way. It was very exciting and challenging for me to portray that character. We started preparing for the role in that way and also started shooting it accordingly, but slowly, as things moved, I felt I became a caricature and not really the grey character I was supposed to play."
A Lesson Learned
The experience of working on Duplicate was a valuable lesson for Sonali. She acknowledged that the film’s direction changed during filming, and she was not able to portray the character she had initially envisioned. However, she has chosen to use this experience as a learning opportunity, stating, "Every time a Duplicate song is played and people mention the film, the thing that I remember the most is the fact that how much a story can get de-railed and how much you can start with something and where it goes. And, for me, that was a huge learning." This experience has shaped her approach to her work, and she now strives to take on roles that break stereotypes and allow her to grow as an artist.
A New Chapter
In recent years, Sonali has spoken about her desire to take on more meaningful roles and not be typecast. She has expressed her intention to focus on characters that challenge her and allow her to showcase her range as an actress. This newfound approach to her career is a testament to the growth and self-awareness she has gained from her experiences, including the disappointment she faced during the filming of Duplicate.
Conclusion
The story of Sonali Bendre’s role in Duplicate serves as a reminder that even the most anticipated films can sometimes fail to deliver on their promise. However, it is how we learn from these experiences that truly matters. Sonali’s journey is a testament to the importance of perseverance and self-awareness in the pursuit of one’s passions. As she continues to navigate the world of Bollywood, her fans can only hope that she will find roles that do justice to her talent and allow her to shine in all her glory.
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Content originally published by indianexpress.com
