What's the real connection between Sonali Bendre & Raj Thackeray? What sparked the 'crush' rumor? Explained

For years, whispers about a supposed romantic link between actress Sonali Bendre and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray have surfaced intermittently, but a recently resurfaced video threw fuel on a long-extinguished fire. The video, now making rounds on social media, features the two seen interacting in what some claimed was a moment charged with more than just casual familiarity. That clip became the unexpected catalyst for speculation, social media theories, and gossip-fueled debates.

So, what’s the truth behind these long-standing whispers? And how did a simple video revive a story that never really had a solid beginning to begin with?

The Viral Spark: How it all reignited?

An old, grainy video began circulating online last week, triggering a frenzy of conjecture. It featured Raj Thackeray and Sonali Bendre at what appeared to be a public or family gathering. In the short clip, the duo exchanged a few words, which some users hastily interpreted as flirtatious. Before long, social media timelines were flooded with captions implying that Raj once had a “crush” on the Sarfarosh star.

The gossip mills spun faster when fans and netizens began rehashing past interactions between the two — no matter how loosely connected — and crafting narratives out of context. However, the actress was quick to address the chatter, putting an end to the fresh wave of speculation.

Family Ties, Not Romance

Sonali Bendre explained that any connection between the two wasn’t rooted in romance but in long-standing family associations. Her brother-in-law, a cricketer, played with Raj Thackeray’s cousin, which made them frequent acquaintances in family and sports circles. Beyond that, Bendre shared that her sister’s mother-in-law had once headed the English department at Ruia College — the same institution she attended. Incidentally, that woman was also closely associated with Raj Thackeray’s extended family.

Further tracing her familial overlaps, Bendre mentioned that Raj Thackeray’s wife Sharmila’s mother had been close friends with her maternal aunt. These interwoven familial links, she said, were the only connections she had with Raj and his family.

Adding a deeply personal detail, the actress revealed that as a baby, she had even been held by Sharmila's mother — not because of any special bond between her and Raj, but simply because the families knew each other and had warm social ties at the time. That early encounter, like most in extended Maharashtrian social networks, was more circumstantial than meaningful in the romantic sense.

“Did He Have a Crush on Me? I Doubt It”

While she calmly brushed off the rumours, Sonali did allow herself one quote with a tinge of irony. When asked whether Raj Thackeray ever harbored romantic feelings toward her, she responded with: “Did he… I doubt it.” That one line, casually said, likely summed up her disbelief at how far the gossip had traveled from its unremarkable origins.

She maintained that the interpretation of the viral video was misguided, clarifying that in the footage, she was simply talking to her sister who was nearby — not engaging in some hushed tête-à-tête with the political leader.

No Political Plans, Thank You

Given the recurring nature of her association with a political figure, speculation also turned toward Sonali’s potential interest in politics. The actress was quick to dismiss that notion as well. She admitted that politics wasn’t for her — noting that it required a kind of mental and emotional resilience that she doesn’t possess. More importantly, she emphasized that she has no ambitions to join any political party or campaign.

In fact, she noted that while she hails from a Maharashtrian background, she spent much of her childhood outside the state, returning only during occasional summer holidays. That distance, she implied, kept her from forming any deeper connections in local political circles.

A Case Study in How Gossip Works

This episode serves as yet another case study of how speculative content thrives in the age of viral media. A short, innocuous video led to widespread theorizing, some even suggesting a decades-old affair that never existed. Despite decades of her being in the public eye, and Raj Thackeray being a well-known political figure, their lives have barely intersected beyond social and family gatherings.

And yet, with one video clip and a few baseless comments, a fully-fledged narrative began to take shape — proving once again that the internet doesn't need facts to start a fire. It just needs a little spark.