Sonali Bendre recalls welcoming Michael Jackson with Raj Thackeray to India in 1996: ‘I just wanted great tickets’

Sonali Bendre remains the only Bollywood actress to have had the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of welcoming the late global pop icon Michael Jackson when he arrived in India for his HIStory World Tour in 1996.At the time, Bendre was joined by politician Raj Thackeray in organizing Jackson’s grand welcome in Mumbai. Dressed in a traditional nine-yard saree, the actress performed a customary Indian ritual, applying a tilak to Jackson’s forehead and performing an aarti, as he stepped off the plane at what was then known as Bombay Airport.Now, nearly three decades later, the Sarfarosh actress has opened up about how that unforgettable moment came to be.In a candid chat with ANI, Bendre revealed that the idea was initiated by Raj Thackeray’s wife, Sharmila Thackeray, who had a personal connection with her family. “They told me that you need to come and do that and be somebody who got in touch with me. I think it was Sharmila, Raj's wife. Sharmila's mother and my masi (aunt) have been friends for a long time, and she said, 'why don't you do it' (welcoming Michael Jackson),” Bendre recalled.While many would have jumped at the chance to welcome the King of Pop, Bendre had one condition before agreeing to participate.“I was like, okay, but then I want great tickets for the show and all of that with my friends. So I did it because I was getting these tickets to enter where I could take my friends and go to the show. My sister, sister's friends and all of that. We had this great seating. That's what I was so excited about when I did it,” she laughed.The HIStory World Tour was one of Michael Jackson’s most ambitious global ventures, and his Mumbai concert became a landmark cultural event for Indian fans. His arrival and performance are still etched in the memories of many who witnessed the spectacle.In 1996, Sonali Bendre was riding high on a wave of success in Bollywood. That year saw her feature in major hits like Diljale, Sapoot, and Rakshak, which cemented her status as a rising star.Over the years, she went on to star in a string of popular films, including Aag, Keemat, Hum Saath Saath Hain, Indra, and Kal Ho Naa Ho, showcasing her range and enduring appeal in Indian cinema.