Sonali Kulkarni defies age gap to play Salman Khan’s mother; earns top pay

Sonali Kulkarni, 51, portrayed Salman Khan’s mother in the 2019 hit Bharat, despite being nine years younger. Director Ali Abbas Zafar and casting team convinced her that her role was crucial for the film’s flashback scenes. Kulkarni praised the experience, noting she earned a generous fee and bonded well with the star.