Urmila, Sonali Bendre, Shriya Pilgaonkar unite for Marathi play night
Synopsis
Three of Bollywood and OTT's most recognisable faces — Urmila Matondkar, Sonali Bendre, and Shriya Pilgaonkar — skipped the red carpet for the stage, attending Amruta Subhash's directorial debut 'Asen Me Nasen Me' together. The outing doubled as a rare public reunion of two 1990s icons who, despite parallel careers, never once shared screen space in a film.
Key Takeaways
Urmila Matondkar , Sonali Bendre , and Shriya Pilgaonkar attended the Marathi play 'Asen Me Nasen Me' together in Mumbai .
The play marks the directorial debut of actress Amruta Subhash , with the script written by Sandesh Kulkarni .
The cast includes veteran stage performers Neena Kulkarni and Shubhangi Gokhale , both praised by the attendees.
Despite both being top Bollywood actresses of the 1990s , Urmila and Sonali have never appeared together in a film.
Shriya Pilgaonkar and Sonali Bendre have previously worked together in the OTT series 'The Broken News' .
Bollywood actresses Urmila Matondkar, Sonali Bendre, and Shriya Pilgaonkar came together in Mumbai for a special Marathi theatre evening, attending the play 'Asen Me Nasen Me' and sharing their experience with fans across social media. The outing, which the trio affectionately called a 'play date', brought together three generations of Hindi and Marathi cinema.
An Evening at the Theatre
The three actresses attended a performance of the Marathi play 'Asen Me Nasen Me', directed by Amruta Subhash in her directorial debut, and written by Sandesh Kulkarni. The production also featured acclaimed stage performers Neena Kulkarni and Shubhangi Gokhale in prominent roles.
Backstage candid moments and a cheerful group selfie — featuring the actresses alongside the play's cast and crew — were widely shared online, drawing warm reactions from fans.
What the Actresses Said
Sonali Bendre shared pictures from the evening and wrote: 'What a beautiful evening watching Asen Me Nasen Me. Still thinking about the performances long after the curtains closed, especially @neenakulkarni, who was just extraordinary on stage. Huge congratulations to @amrutasubhash on such a confident and moving directorial debut, and to @sandeshkulkarni.small.s for writing something so layered, emotional and honest. @shubhangi.gokhale.18 amazing performance, just loved it! So much heart in one play.'
Shriya Pilgaonkar captioned her post: 'What a privilege to watch such outstanding performances on stage.' She also wrote in Marathi, which translates to: 'Amazing play. Asen Me Nasen Me — do watch. Congratulating the entire team from all my heart!'
Style Spotting at the Venue
Urmila Matondkar was seen in a casual pastel t-shirt paired with denims and a printed bucket hat. Sonali Bendre opted for a breezy green outfit with glasses and a scarf, while Shriya Pilgaonkar looked elegant in a green top and jeans.
Three Careers, One Stage
The outing is notable for the shared history of the attendees. Urmila Matondkar began her acting journey as a child artiste in Shekhar Kapur's 'Masoom' before delivering defining performances in films such as 'Rangeela', 'Satya', 'Kaun', 'Bhoot', and 'Ek Hasina Thi'. Despite both being among Bollywood's foremost actresses of the 1990s, Urmila and Sonali never shared screen space in a film.
Sonali Bendre made her Bollywood debut opposite Govinda in 'Aag' and went on to star in popular films including 'Sarfarosh', 'Hum Saath-Saath Hain', 'Major Saab', and 'Kal Ho Naa Ho'. Shriya Pilgaonkar, daughter of veteran actors Sachin Pilgaonkar and Supriya Pilgaonkar, debuted in the Marathi film 'Ekulti Ek' and later gained national recognition through OTT series including 'Mirzapur', 'Taaza Khabar', and 'Guilty Minds'. Notably, Shriya and Sonali have previously shared screen space in the OTT series 'The Broken News'.
The evening stands as a reminder of Marathi theatre's enduring pull — drawing some of the industry's most recognisable names back to the stage as an audience.
Point of View
Publicly expressed praise from peers is a meaningful endorsement — the kind that no PR campaign manufactures. For Marathi theatre, which has long operated in the shadow of Hindi cinema's marketing machinery, evenings like this are quiet but potent visibility wins.
NationPress
8 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Marathi play did Urmila Matondkar, Sonali Bendre and Shriya Pilgaonkar attend?
The three actresses attended 'Asen Me Nasen Me', a Marathi play directed by Amruta Subhash in her directorial debut, with the script written by Sandesh Kulkarni. The production features Neena Kulkarni and Shubhangi Gokhale in prominent roles.
What did Sonali Bendre say about the play 'Asen Me Nasen Me'?
Sonali Bendre called it 'a beautiful evening' and praised Neena Kulkarni as 'just extraordinary on stage'. She also congratulated Amruta Subhash on 'a confident and moving directorial debut' and lauded Sandesh Kulkarni's writing as 'layered, emotional and honest'.
Have Urmila Matondkar and Sonali Bendre ever worked together in a film?
No — despite both being among Bollywood's leading actresses of the 1990s, Urmila Matondkar and Sonali Bendre have never shared screen space in a film. The theatre outing was a rare public appearance together.
Who is Shriya Pilgaonkar and what is she known for?
Shriya Pilgaonkar is the daughter of veteran actors Sachin Pilgaonkar and Supriya Pilgaonkar. She debuted in the Marathi film 'Ekulti Ek' and gained national recognition through OTT series including 'Mirzapur', 'Taaza Khabar', and 'Guilty Minds'.
Have Shriya Pilgaonkar and Sonali Bendre worked together before?
Yes, Shriya Pilgaonkar and Sonali Bendre have previously shared screen space in the OTT series 'The Broken News'.
