Archive · 19 Sep 2026
Sonali Kulkarni Reflects On Jealousy, Admiration For Tabu
Sonali Kulkarni said she once felt jealous when Tabu won a major acting award.
She wanted a National Award because it was very important to her career.
Sonali later received recognition for her role in the Marathi short film Chaitra.
She said that award was not yet the highest achievement she hoped for.
While working on Mission Kashmir, she met Tabu at Film City in Mumbai.
Tabu kindly listened to her compliments and thanked her.
This helped Sonali feel that famous actors are also regular people.
Sonali is now preparing for a new Telugu movie called The Paradise.
Sonali Kulkarni said she felt “pure jealousy” when Tabu won the 1997 National Film Award for Best Actress.
Kulkarni said she deeply wanted a National Award because she viewed it as an important career milestone.
She later received a Special Mention or Special Jury Award at the 49th National Film Awards for Chaitra.
Kulkarni recalled meeting Tabu at Film City while working on Mission Kashmir and feeling reassured that stars were ordinary people too.
Kulkarni is preparing for The Paradise, a Telugu film with Nani scheduled for theatrical release on September 24.
- Who
- Actor Sonali Kulkarni discussed her admiration for Tabu, along with memories involving Aishwarya Rai.
- What
- Kulkarni described feeling jealous of Tabu’s National Award win and recalled meeting her after watching her performances.
- When
- The award discussed was presented in 1997; Kulkarni received recognition in 2002 and spoke about the memories in a recent NDTV interview.
- Where
- The recalled meeting with Tabu took place at Film City in Mumbai, while Kulkarni was working on Mission Kashmir.
- Why
- Kulkarni wanted a National Award and said meeting Tabu helped her see celebrated actors as human beings.
- Award won by Tabu
- National Film Award for Best Actress for Maachis in 1997
- Kulkarni’s award
- Special Mention or Special Jury Award at the 49th National Film Awards in 2002
- Recognized work
- The Marathi short film Chaitra
- Meeting location
- Film City, Mumbai
- Film discussed
- Mission Kashmir, in which Kulkarni played Neelima Khan
- Upcoming film
- The Paradise, a Telugu movie featuring Sonali Kulkarni and Nani
- Scheduled release
- The Paradise is set for theatrical release on September 24