Did you know that the song “Woh Ladki Hai Kahan” from Dil Chahta Hai mirrors how Sonali Kulkarni got her role in the movie? It’s true! Her casting story is as filmy as the song itself.
Sonali Kulkarni’s journey to becoming Pooja in Dil Chahta Hai began with a bit of luck and a keen eye. On set one day, someone accidentally dropped a portfolio of Sonali’s photos. Director Zoya Akhtar happened to see one of the pictures and was immediately intrigued. “This is a nice face. Who is this?” she asked. When she learned it was Sonali Kulkarni, she was surprised. Soon after, Sonali got a call from Excel Entertainment, inviting her to audition. Zoya wanted to see her in cool, modern clothes. The audition went well, and the rest is history. Sonali nailed the role of Pooja, and we all got to enjoy her performance in the film.
Life Beyond Dil Chahta Hai
During this eventful period, Sonali Kulkarni also shared insights into her life and upcoming projects. She mentioned the pressure many Indians face regarding academics. Coming from a family of engineers, Sonali felt this pressure too. Her father and brothers are all mechanical engineers, and her husband attended IIM Ahmedabad. Sonali herself faced high expectations in school.
She recounted a memorable story from her school days. Her brothers Sandeep and Sandesh always scored high marks. One time, Sandeep warned Sandesh that if he didn’t score above 90%, he might end up doing hard labor. This pushed Sandesh to score over 90% in his exams. When Sonali scored 79% in eighth grade, she jokingly told her brother that she prayed to Ganpati ji every day. Sandeep’s stern response made her realize that prayers alone wouldn’t help her pass exams—hard work was essential.
Acting and Academics
Sonali also revealed that she once prepared for the UPSC exams, inspired by Kiran Bedi. However, she had already completed 7-8 films by the time she graduated. Her family then decided to support her acting career. Despite her success, Sonali maintains a simple lifestyle and values honesty and education.
Despite her success, Sonali stays true to her roots. She comes from a humble background and continues to value simplicity and hard work. She acknowledges that while their houses might have gotten bigger, the core values of her family remain unchanged.
Sonali Kulkarni Is An Inspiration to All
We, at Jay-Ho! The Jay Kumar Show, feel privileged to interact with and learn from such a talented and grounded individual. Sonali Kulkarni’s story is a testament to the fact that you can achieve great success while staying true to your roots. Her journey is an inspiration to us all.
Stay tuned to Jay-Ho.com for more updates on the amazing Sonali Kulkarni and her upcoming projects.
