If you were a kid in the 90s, Sonali Bendre was probably on your bedroom wall or, at the very least, your favorite heroine in Sarfarosh or Hum Saath-Saath Hain. She had this ethereal, untouchable vibe. But behind the scenes of those glossy Bollywood sets, a very real, slightly awkward, and incredibly persistent love story was unfolding with a guy named Goldie Behl.
Sonali Bendre and her husband Goldie Behl have been married for over 23 years now. In an industry where "forever" often lasts about as long as a film's theatrical run, they’re basically unicorns. But it wasn't exactly a fairytale start. Honestly? She thought he was kind of annoying at first.
The Meet-Cute That Wasn't Actually Cute
They met in 1994 on the sets of Naaraaz. Goldie is the son of the late filmmaker Ramesh Behl, and he was there because his family owned the production house. Sonali was the star. Goldie, by his own admission, was completely smitten from the second he saw her.
The "ice-breaker" was weirdly specific. He walked up to her while she was eating and commented on how slowly she chewed her food. Yeah, seriously. Sonali was just trying to read her book in peace, and here was this guy critiquing her eating habits. She found him irritating. But Goldie didn't back down. He had his sister, Shrishti Arya, who was already friends with Sonali, do some of the heavy lifting to get them into the same social circles.
It took five years of being "just friends" before things shifted. They would go on long drives and have these intense, heated political discussions. No flowers or violins—just two people arguing about the state of the world until they realized they didn't want to argue with anyone else.
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That Time Abhishek Bachchan Helped With the Proposal
By the late 90s, they were a "thing," but Goldie was nervous about the big question. He eventually popped the question at a party thrown by their close friend, Abhishek Bachchan, in 2002. Sonali said yes, but then came the real boss level: her parents.
See, Sonali is a Maharashtrian mulgi and Goldie is a Punjabi munda. Back then, her parents had some reservations. He was a bit younger than her, he hadn't finished as much formal education as she had, and they were worried about the cultural fit. Goldie had to put in the work to win them over, showing them he wasn't just some "film brat" but a guy who truly respected their daughter. They finally tied the knot on November 12, 2002, in a massive Mumbai wedding attended by everyone from Hrithik Roshan to the Chief Minister.
The 2018 Curveball: When "In Sickness and in Health" Became Real
Everything changed in July 2018. Sonali was diagnosed with "high-grade" metastatic cancer. It was Stage 4.
The doctors in India told her the chances were slim—roughly a 30% survival rate. Goldie didn't blink. He basically shut down his life in Mumbai, and within 48 hours, they were on a flight to New York for treatment. For the next several months, Goldie became more than a husband; he was her primary caregiver, her medical researcher, and the person who had to keep it together for their son, Ranveer.
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Sonali has often said that while she was the one going through the physical pain, the mental toll on the family was just as heavy. Goldie was the "rock" who handled the logistics so she could focus on just surviving the next round of chemo.
"Marriage is standing by each other... and god knows, how we've been through that this year." — Sonali Bendre, 2018 Anniversary Note.
Sonali Bendre and Her Husband: How They Stay Together in 2026
Fast forward to today, January 2026. The couple recently celebrated their 23rd anniversary. They seem more solid than ever, but Sonali is very vocal about the fact that it isn’t "magic." She’s famously said that marriage requires daily effort and shouldn’t be taken for granted.
They have a very "modern-yet-traditional" vibe.
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- Goldie is the producer/director who stays behind the scenes, often cheering her on when she's on the red carpet.
- Sonali has reinvented herself as an author and a champion for cancer awareness.
- They share responsibilities based on strengths, not just "gender roles."
One of the coolest things about them? Goldie isn't insecure. Sonali once mentioned that if a man compliments her at a party, Goldie doesn't get jealous; he usually just agrees with the guy. That kind of security is rare in the high-ego world of Bollywood.
What We Can Learn From the Behl-Bendre Bond
If you're looking for relationship goals, forget the filtered Instagram posts. The real takeaways from their journey are pretty practical.
First, friendship is the only foundation that actually holds up when things get ugly. They were friends for years before they were lovers. Second, don't ignore the "annoying" guy who challenges you—sometimes that friction turns into a spark. Third, and most importantly, when life hits you with something like a Stage 4 diagnosis, you need a partner who can "shuttle between continents" and hold down the fort without complaining.
The biggest lesson? Marriage isn't a destination you reach; it's a thing you build every morning. Even after 23 years, they still talk about food and have those long discussions that started it all.
If you want to keep up with their journey, Sonali is quite active on Instagram, where she often shares "Better Together" snippets. For anyone going through a health battle or just trying to navigate a long-term relationship, their story is a solid reminder that resilience is a team sport.
Next Steps for Readers:
- Check out Sonali Bendre's book, The Modern Gurukul, for her take on parenting and family life.
- Look into the "Sonali Bendre Book Club" (SBC) on social media if you want to see the intellectual side of her partnership with Goldie.
- Focus on building a "support system" rather than just a "romance"—it makes all the difference when the "curveballs" (as Sonali calls them) eventually come.