Sonali Kulkarni stranded 5 hours on Mankhurd bridge, calls traffic 'extremely scary'
Synopsis
Actress Sonali Kulkarni's five-hour ordeal on Mumbai's Mankhurd bridge highlights the city's chronic traffic crisis. Stranded with no updates from authorities and unable to turn back, she documented the experience on social media, calling the situation 'extremely scary' — a stark reminder of gridlock's human cost on Mumbai's arterial routes.
Key Takeaways
Actress Sonali Kulkarni was stranded for over 5 hours on the Mankhurd bridge in Mumbai on Wednesday night.
She was travelling from Mumbai to Pune when the traffic gridlock trapped her vehicle.
Kulkarni described the situation as "extremely scary" and highlighted the lack of clarity from traffic authorities on resolution timelines.
She appealed to police for updates and assistance, noting that commuters could neither move forward nor turn back.
Kulkarni rose to prominence with her 2001 Hindi film debut in Dil Chahta Hai opposite Saif Ali Khan .
Actress Sonali Kulkarni, known for her role in Dil Chahta Hai, spent over five hours stuck in a traffic gridlock on the Mankhurd bridge in Mumbai on Wednesday night while travelling to Pune. The actress documented the experience on social media, describing the situation as "extremely scary" and highlighting the lack of clarity from authorities on when the congestion would ease.
What Sonali witnessed
In a video posted from her stationary vehicle, Kulkarni showed long, unmoving queues of vehicles stretching both ahead and behind her position on the bridge. She revealed that despite multiple attempts to contact the traffic control team, officials could only advise patience without providing any timeline for resolution.
Her account of the ordeal
"Hi, I am here on Mankhurd bridge. It's been exactly five hours that we are stuck here. I am going towards Pune. You can see the traffic behind me and ahead of me," she said in the video. "We called the traffic control team; they are saying to have patience. The jam is really bad and they are not sure when it will get resolved. We can't cross. We are completely stuck because we can't turn back either."
She continued, "We can't even say we are hungry, it's beyond that. I know people must have gone through much worse situations than us, but this is scary, five hours at just one position." Kulkarni also appealed to police for assistance, requesting officials to provide updates from alternate routes.
A recurring Mumbai challenge
The incident underscores the persistent congestion issues on Mumbai's arterial routes, particularly during peak hours. The Mankhurd bridge serves as a critical link between central Mumbai and the eastern suburbs, and gridlocks on this stretch have become increasingly common, affecting commuters and public figures alike.
Sonali Kulkarni's career
Sonali Kulkarni made her Hindi film debut in 2001 with Dil Chahta Hai, where she starred opposite Saif Ali Khan. Since then, she has built a strong presence in both Hindi and Marathi cinema, with notable performances in films such as Taxi No. 9211, Singham, and acclaimed Marathi projects including Deool and Natrang.
Point of View
The experience for ordinary citizens becomes even grimmer. Mumbai's traffic crisis is no longer a morning-rush inconvenience — it is a public safety and livelihood issue.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How long was actress Sonali Kulkarni stuck in traffic?
Sonali Kulkarni was stranded for over 5 hours at the Mankhurd bridge in Mumbai on Wednesday night while travelling to Pune. She documented the experience on social media, showing stationary vehicles with no movement.
Where exactly did the traffic gridlock occur?
The gridlock occurred on the Mankhurd bridge in Mumbai, a critical arterial link between central Mumbai and the eastern suburbs. Kulkarni was unable to move forward or turn back during the five-hour ordeal.
What did Sonali Kulkarni say about the situation?
In her social media video, Kulkarni described the situation as 'extremely scary' and highlighted that traffic authorities could only advise patience without providing any timeline for resolution. She also appealed to police for updates and assistance.
Why is Mankhurd bridge significant?
The Mankhurd bridge serves as a critical link between central Mumbai and the eastern suburbs, making it a vital route for commuters. Gridlocks on this stretch have become increasingly common and affect a large number of daily travellers.
What is Sonali Kulkarni known for?
Sonali Kulkarni made her Hindi film debut in 2001 with Dil Chahta Hai, where she starred opposite Saif Ali Khan. She has since built a strong career in both Hindi and Marathi cinema with films like Taxi No. 9211, Singham, Deool, and Natrang.
