Sonali Kulkarni has candidly revisited a phase of her career when she felt disappointed and jealous after Tabu won the National Film Award for Best Actress for Maachis. Looking back, Sonali admitted that her emotions at the time came from a strong desire to win the prestigious honour herself.
In a recent conversation with NDTV, the actress spoke openly about her ambitions, insecurities and the experience that eventually helped her overcome those feelings.
The Sonali Kulkarni National Award story is particularly interesting because what began as professional disappointment eventually turned into admiration for Tabu’s work.
‘My Emotions Came Purely From Jealousy’
Sonali Kulkarni did not shy away from describing her feelings at the time. She admitted that she was jealous because she desperately wanted to win a National Award.
For Sonali, the National Film Award represented an important milestone in her acting journey. She explained that she had always held the honour in extremely high regard and wanted to achieve it after establishing herself in the industry.
Her reaction was therefore rooted in ambition rather than any personal animosity towards Tabu.
Sonali eventually won a Special Jury Award at the 49th National Film Awards in 2002 for her performance in the Marathi short film Chaitra. However, she said that her ambitions at the time were still focused on achieving the recognition associated with the National Award.
Tabu’s Maachis Win Became a Turning Point
Tabu won the National Film Award for Best Actress for Gulzar’s Maachis in 1997. Sonali was among the performers who had hoped to receive the honour around that period.
Sonali recalled how disappointed she was when the award went to Tabu. Instead of simply accepting the result, she decided to watch Tabu’s performances more closely.
That decision eventually changed the way she looked at the situation.
The Sonali Kulkarni Tabu story therefore moved from professional jealousy to genuine appreciation, as Sonali began recognising the quality of Tabu’s performances.
Watching Tabu’s Films Helped Sonali Overcome Insecurity
Sonali revealed that she went to watch Maachis after feeling particularly angry and jealous about Tabu’s win.
Rather than making her feelings worse, watching Tabu perform had the opposite effect. Sonali said that Tabu’s performance helped her deal with her own insecurities and desperation surrounding the award.
She was particularly impressed by the control and precision in Tabu’s performance.
Over time, Sonali continued watching Tabu’s films, including Astitva and Chandni Bar. Her admiration for Tabu grew with each performance.
Sonali Kulkarni Finally Met Tabu
The experience took another turn when Sonali eventually got the opportunity to meet Tabu in person.
While Sonali was working on Mission Kashmir, she recalled waiting for Tabu at Film City in Mumbai. Tabu was believed to be shooting for Chandni Bar around that period.
Sonali remembered seeing Tabu on a staircase and described her appearance in a Lucknow kurta. As a fan, Sonali wanted to make the most of the opportunity and introduced herself.
She told Tabu that she admired her work and complimented her performances.
Tabu’s Simple Response Left an Impression
According to Sonali, Tabu responded with warmth and patience. Rather than simply acknowledging the compliment and moving on, Tabu listened carefully, thanked her and asked her a few questions.
For Sonali, the interaction was unexpectedly meaningful.
She said the meeting helped her realise that stars are also human beings. The simple conversation made her feel more relaxed, both as an actor and as a person.
The encounter also helped Sonali look beyond the award competition that had previously made her feel jealous.
From Jealousy to Admiration
The Sonali Kulkarni Tabu relationship described in the interview is less about rivalry and more about how professional insecurity can change through experience.
Sonali initially viewed Tabu’s National Award win through the lens of her own disappointment. However, after watching her work and meeting her personally, she developed a deeper appreciation for her talent.
Instead of allowing the disappointment to define her career, Sonali used the experience to reflect on her own abilities and ambitions.
Sonali Kulkarni’s Own National Award Recognition
Although she did not win the Best Actress National Award at the time she had hoped for, Sonali eventually received national recognition.
She won a Special Jury Award at the 49th National Film Awards for her performance in the Marathi short film Chaitra.
The honour became another significant achievement in her career and demonstrated that her work had received recognition at the national level.
Sonali Kulkarni Is Now Preparing for The Paradise
Sonali Kulkarni is currently preparing for the release of her upcoming Telugu film The Paradise, in which she stars alongside Nani.
The film is directed by Srikanth Odela and is scheduled to release in theatres on September 24, 2026.
The project marks another important phase in Sonali’s career as she continues to work across languages and different kinds of cinema.
A Career Lesson From Tabu
Sonali’s story about Tabu ultimately reflects how professional disappointment can sometimes evolve into inspiration.
What began with jealousy over a prestigious award eventually encouraged Sonali to study Tabu’s performances more closely. Meeting Tabu later gave her another perspective on the actor she had once viewed primarily as a competitor.
For Sonali Kulkarni, the experience became a reminder that another actor’s success does not diminish one’s own journey. Her candid admission also offers a rare glimpse into the emotions that actors can experience while pursuing recognition in a competitive industry.
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