Sonali Kulkarni is set to appear in a mother role once again in The Paradise, 26 years after she played Hrithik Roshan’s foster mother in Mission Kashmir. This time, the actress plays Sammakka, the mother of Nani’s character in the upcoming action thriller directed by Srikanth Odela.
The casting has brought back memories of Sonali’s early Hindi-film career, but the actress does not see playing mothers as a limitation. In fact, she believes her career demonstrates that the industry allowed her to move between different kinds of characters even after she took on a mother’s role early in her career.
Sonali Kulkarni Says Bollywood Never Typecast Her
Speaking at a press meet for The Paradise, Sonali addressed the perception that actresses can be typecast after playing mothers on screen.
She pointed out that audiences often react differently when a female actor plays a mother, even though male actors are routinely seen in diverse roles as they grow older.
Sonali recalled that after Mission Kashmir, she continued to receive opportunities that had nothing to do with playing a mother. She specifically mentioned Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya and Dil Chahta Hai, both released in 2001.
According to her, the makers of Dil Chahta Hai already knew about her work in Mission Kashmir when she signed the film.
Dil Chahta Hai Came Soon After Mission Kashmir
Sonali’s career timeline provides an important example of how quickly she moved between different characters.
She played Hrithik Roshan’s foster mother in Mission Kashmir, which was released in 2000. The following year, she appeared in Farhan Akhtar’s Dil Chahta Hai, alongside Aamir Khan, Saif Ali Khan and Akshaye Khanna.
She also starred in Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya in 2001.
For Sonali, these projects demonstrate that playing a mother did not automatically define the kind of roles she could take on. Instead, she continued to explore different characters across genres.
“There’s Beauty in Growing Up”
Sonali also spoke about how audiences perceive motherhood on screen. She said there is beauty in growing up and described playing a mother as something she now views positively.
The actress believes that audiences have a strong emotional connection with the idea of a mother. At the same time, she pointed out that mothers can have very different personalities and life experiences.
A mother can be loving and supportive, but she can also be frustrated, betrayed or raising a child alone. This range, according to Sonali, makes maternal characters much more interesting than simply treating them as one type of role.
The Paradise Gives Sonali More Scenes With Nani
Sonali also compared her role in The Paradise with her experience in Mission Kashmir.
She recalled that she had limited scenes with Hrithik Roshan in Mission Kashmir, with most of her scenes involving the child actor who played his younger version.
In The Paradise, however, she shares several scenes with Nani, who plays her son.
Sonali described their scenes as emotionally intense and said working with Nani gave her an opportunity to explore the relationship between the two characters in greater depth.
Sonali Plays Sammakka in The Paradise
In The Paradise, Sonali plays Sammakka, a character who is not simply defined by being Nani’s mother.
The actress has previously explained that Sammakka has her own story, experiences and emotional journey. She wanted to understand the circumstances surrounding the character and the conflict at the heart of the film before approaching the role.
Sonali has also said that audiences will see a strong female perspective through Sammakka’s experiences.
The character therefore gives her an opportunity to explore motherhood alongside the wider struggles and emotions that shape the story.
She Learned Telugu for the Film
Another major challenge for Sonali was the language. The actress learned Telugu specifically for The Paradise and also dubbed her own lines.
She revealed that director Srikanth Odela encouraged her to use her own voice after hearing her work. For Sonali, being able to deliver the dialogue herself added another layer to the performance.
The film is being released in multiple languages, making the project a significant step in Sonali’s work beyond Hindi cinema.
Sonali Has Played Mothers in Different Films
Playing a mother is not new territory for Sonali Kulkarni. Over the years, she has portrayed mothers in several films, including Mission Kashmir and Bharat.
Her role as Salman Khan’s mother in Bharat also attracted attention because of the actors’ age difference. Sonali later explained that she initially had reservations about taking the role, but director Ali Abbas Zafar and casting director Mukesh Chhabra were confident that she was right for the character.
She has said that the role was important to the film’s story and ultimately accepted it as a challenge.
Sonali’s Career Has Continued to Evolve
Sonali Kulkarni began working in films in the 1990s and has built a career across Hindi, Marathi and other Indian-language cinema.
Her filmography includes projects such as Mission Kashmir, Dil Chahta Hai, Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, Singham and Bharat.
Rather than remaining associated with one particular character type, she has continued to take on different roles at different stages of her career.
Her comments about motherhood and typecasting therefore come from several decades of experience in the industry.
The Paradise Arrives in Cinemas
Directed by Srikanth Odela, The Paradise stars Nani in the lead role alongside Sonali Kulkarni, Raghav Juyal and Kayadu Lohar.
The film is set against a gritty backdrop and centres on Nani’s character Jadal and the world surrounding him. Sonali’s Sammakka forms an important part of the emotional side of the story.
The Paradise is scheduled to release in cinemas on September 24, 2026.
For Sonali Kulkarni, the film marks another opportunity to portray motherhood while also demonstrating the range she has developed throughout her long career.
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