The resurfacing of an old viral claim suggesting that former cricketer Shoaib Akhtar had a romantic interest in Indian actor Sonali Bendre has caught attention once again. During a recent appearance on a podcast to promote her latest show, Bendre was reminded of Akhtar’s supposed crush on her. She responded by dismissing the claim as “fake news” that existed even back then.
In 2019, it was alleged that Akhtar had jokingly remarked, “If she [Bendre] doesn’t marry me, I’ll kidnap her!” However, Akhtar later clarified on his YouTube channel that this statement was entirely false. Bendre, on her part, seemed surprised by the rumors and turned the situation into a light-hearted joke. “Thank God for that,” she quipped on the podcast, “Maybe that has helped my career!”
Addressing other rumors in 2019, Akhtar stated on his YouTube channel that he had never met Bendre and was not her fan, although he acknowledged her beauty. He also denied claims of carrying her picture in his wallet, wanting to marry her, or being involved in an affair with her.
Akhtar praised Bendre’s strength and resilience after her public battle with cancer in 2018. He commended her courage and described himself as a fan of her for how bravely she fought her illness. However, he reiterated that he had no personal connection to her and labeled all such claims as lies.
Sonali Bendre made her acting debut in 1994 and has appeared in several Bollywood films. She was recently seen in the second chapter of the Indian newsroom drama series “The Broken News,” which premiered on May 3rd.
