Sonali Bendre on Raakh: 'Protecting yourself and being open as an actor aren't mutually exclusive'
Synopsis
Sonali Bendre's candid reflection on Raakh cuts deeper than a typical promotional interview — she articulates, with unusual precision, how an actor can inhabit grief and trauma on screen without being consumed by it. It is a rare window into the emotional discipline behind a high-profile OTT comeback, days before the series drops globally on Prime Video.
Key Takeaways
Sonali Bendre plays Mona Arora in Raakh , a character defined by grief, loss, and resilience following a major tragedy.
Bendre said the role taught her that 'protecting yourself as a person and being open as an actor are not mutually exclusive.' Raakh premieres on Prime Video on 12 June across India and more than 240 countries and territories .
The series stars Ali Fazal , Sonali Bendre , and Aamir Bashir , directed and executive produced by Prosit Roy .
The show is created, written, and co-directed by Anusha Nandakumar and Sandeep Saket , backed by Endemol Shine India and BhaDiPa .
Actress Sonali Bendre has opened up about how her role in the upcoming OTT series Raakh offered her a significant personal and professional discovery — that emotional self-protection and artistic openness can coexist. Speaking ahead of the show's premiere, Bendre said portraying Mona Arora, a character shaped by grief, loss, and resilience, marked her return to emotionally demanding storytelling.
A Deliberate Step Into Difficult Territory
Bendre acknowledged that in recent years she had consciously gravitated toward lighter narratives. Raakh represented a deliberate departure from that pattern. 'Over the last few years, I found myself naturally gravitating towards stories that felt lighter emotionally. So when Raakh came along, I did wonder what it would be like to spend so much time in such an intense emotional space,' she said.
What surprised her, she added, was her own capacity to engage with those emotions without internalising them off-screen. 'What surprised me was realising that I was able to engage with those emotions without carrying them home with me. As an actor, that was reassuring,' Bendre noted.
The Core Discovery: Boundaries and Openness
Bendre described the project as prompting a rethink of something she had not previously examined. 'I realised that protecting yourself as a person and being open as an actor are not mutually exclusive. Raakh allowed me to explore emotions that are uncomfortable and complex, while also trusting that I could step away from them when the work was done. That was an important discovery for me,' she revealed.
The experience, she said, reinforced that an actor can inhabit difficult emotional spaces professionally while remaining grounded personally — a balance that is often cited but rarely articulated with this clarity by performers returning after personal setbacks.
About the Show
Raakh features Ali Fazal, Sonali Bendre, and Aamir Bashir as the core cast. The series has been directed and executive produced by Prosit Roy, while Anusha Nandakumar and Sandeep Saket have created, written, and co-directed it. The show is backed by Endemol Shine India and BhaDiPa.
The series is set to premiere on Prime Video on 12 June in India and across more than 240 countries and territories worldwide. For Bendre, whose public journey through illness and recovery has been widely followed, the role signals a conscious return to the full emotional range of her craft.
Point of View
Particularly for an actor who has navigated very public personal adversity. The framing of 'protection' and 'openness' as compatible, not competing, is a quietly significant statement in an industry where performers are routinely expected to dissolve entirely into their roles. Whether Raakh itself delivers on that emotional promise will be tested when audiences watch on 12 June, but Bendre's articulation of her own process deserves attention independent of the show's reception.
NationPress
25 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Raakh and when does it premiere?
Raakh is an OTT drama series premiering on Prime Video on 12 June in India and across more than 240 countries and territories worldwide. It stars Ali Fazal, Sonali Bendre, and Aamir Bashir, and is directed by Prosit Roy.
Who does Sonali Bendre play in Raakh?
Sonali Bendre plays Mona Arora, a character shaped by grief, loss, and resilience in the aftermath of a major tragedy. The role marks her return to emotionally demanding acting territory.
What did Sonali Bendre say about her experience on Raakh?
Bendre said the role gave her a key personal discovery — that protecting oneself as a person and remaining open as an actor are not mutually exclusive. She also said she was able to engage with intense emotions on set without carrying them home.
Who created and directed Raakh?
Raakh has been directed and executive produced by Prosit Roy. It was created, written, and co-directed by Anusha Nandakumar and Sandeep Saket. The series is backed by Endemol Shine India and BhaDiPa.
Why is Raakh significant for Sonali Bendre's career?
The role represents Bendre's return to emotionally complex, high-intensity storytelling after she has spoken about gravitating toward lighter narratives in recent years. It is seen as a significant step in her acting comeback.
