Sonali Bendre was not among the starry-eyed individuals who dreamed of becoming an actor. It was complete fate that brought her to the city and put her on the path of acting. The daughter of an `honest` central government employee, Sonali saw her parents struggle financially amid constant transfers. During her teen years, her father was transferred to Mumbai.  

During her college days, Sonali was asked to walk the ramp for the first time after a girl injured her foot and the show needed a replacement. From there, Sonali got noticed by someone and was offered her first ad campaign. This led to more ad campaigns and eventually the movies. A complete outsider, Sonali found her mentors in make-up artist Micky Contractor and celebrity photographer Gautam Rajadhyaksha who helped her navigate through the industry in the beginning of her career.