Archive · 31 Aug 2026
Sonali Kulkarni Explains Playing Salman Khan’s Mother
Sonali Kulkarni played the mother of Salman Khan’s character in the movie Bharat.
The film was released in 2019.
Sonali is nine years younger than Salman in real life.
At first, she wondered whether the role made sense.
The director and casting director believed she was right for the part because the movie had important flashback scenes.
Sonali accepted the role as a challenge.
She said most of her scenes were with the child actor playing young Bharat.
She also enjoyed working with Salman and watching Katrina Kaif dance.
The film earned more than Rs 325 crore worldwide.
Sonali Kulkarni played Janki Devi, Salman Khan’s mother, in the 2019 film Bharat.
Kulkarni initially questioned the casting because she is nine years younger than Khan.
Director Ali Abbas Zafar and casting director Mukesh Chhabra emphasized the importance of Bharat’s flashback sequences.
Kulkarni said most of her scenes were with the child actor playing young Bharat, not Khan’s older character.
She said she bonded with Khan, was paid very well, and enjoyed watching Katrina Kaif dance on set.
- Who
- Sonali Kulkarni, Salman Khan, Ali Abbas Zafar, and Mukesh Chhabra were central to the casting discussion.
- What
- Kulkarni explained why she played Janki Devi, the mother of Khan’s character, despite being nine years younger than him in real life.
- When
- Bharat was released in 2019; Kulkarni discussed the role in a SCREEN interview reported on August 31, 2026.
- Where
- The discussion concerned the sets of Bharat and Kulkarni’s interview with SCREEN.
- Why
- She accepted after the filmmakers explained the importance of the flashbacks, and she also viewed the role as a challenge and wanted to meet Khan.
Casting concerns
Filmmakers’ and actress’s defense
Age difference
Casting concerns
Kulkarni initially said she could not play Khan’s mother because she was nine years younger than him in real life, making the casting appear unusual.
Filmmakers’ and actress’s defense
Zafar and Chhabra were convinced she was suitable, particularly because the story relied heavily on flashback sequences.
Onscreen interaction
Casting concerns
The age gap could raise questions about the believability of the mother-son relationship.
Filmmakers’ and actress’s defense
Kulkarni said she had maximum scenes with the child actor playing young Bharat and very few scenes with Khan’s older version of the character.
Reasons for accepting
Casting concerns
The role required substantial convincing because of the casting concerns.
Filmmakers’ and actress’s defense
Kulkarni accepted it as a challenge, wanted to meet Khan, said they bonded well, and said the film paid her very well.
- Film
- Bharat
- Release year
- 2019
- Kulkarni’s role
- Janki Devi, the mother of Bharat
- Age difference
- Kulkarni is nine years younger than Salman Khan
- Director
- Ali Abbas Zafar
- Casting director
- Mukesh Chhabra
- Worldwide box office
- More than Rs 325 crore
