Sonali Bendre reacts to old viral proposal of former Pak cricketer Shoaib Akhtar: ‘If she doesn’t marry me, I’ll kidnap her’

Sonali Bendre breaks her silence on the viral old claim that Shoaib Akhtar had playfully said he would kidnap her if she doesn't accept his marriage proposal. The actor said fake news existed even then.

Sonali Bendre talks about Shoaib Akhtar's viral old claim. (Photo: Sonali Bendre, Shoaib Akhtar/Instagram)

Did he really say that? That was what actor Sonali Bendre was asked when she was reminded of an old comment of former Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Akhtar, who had apparently said he would “kidnap” her if she doesn’t accept his marriage proposal— a claim that has been going on the internet for years now.

During the promotion of her latest show The Broken News season 2, Sonali Bendre was on the podcast of Shubhankar Mishra, where she was asked about Akhtar’s comment. The host mentioned that the Pakistani cricketer had confessed of having a crush on her and was keen to marry her.

Also Read | Sonali Bendre recalls husband’s response to her cancer diagnosis: ‘His face was white… doctor gave me 30 per cent chance of survival’

“Ya, I don’t know how true this is though. Fake news existed even then!” Sonali Bendre said as she reacted to the viral claim. When the host mentioned that Akhtar had said that “kidnapping” statement rather playfully, she added, “I don’t know if he really said it…” When she was told that the cricketer was a fan of hers, she added, “Thank God for that, my career is because of that (audience loving me)!”

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Though the claim has been doing the round for years, in 2019, Shoaib Akhtar had clarified that he never said anything related to Sonali Bendre. In a video posted on his own YouTube page, Akhtar had said he wanted to put a stop to rumours “once and for all.”

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The cricketer said there were claims that he would carry her picture in his wallet, that he wanted to marry her and also that he had an affair with her— all of which was untrue, he said. “I never met Sonali Bendre! I was also never her fan! I’ve seen her in films and she is indeed a beautiful woman, but I’ve not been a fan. Yes, when she fought back her cancer, that’s when I started being her fan as a person, because of how courageous she was. But bhai mere, I had nothing to do with her.”

On the work front, Sonali Bendre starred in the second season of Zee5’s drama The Broken News, which also featured actors Jaideep Ahlawat and Shriya Pilgaonkar.

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