Sonali Kulkarni has opened up about painful childhood memories while speaking about her new podcast Half Ticket Full Nagrik, a show aimed at giving children and young adults a platform to express themselves and be heard with dignity.The actress, who recently went viral after criticising massive traffic congestion on the Mumbai–Pune Expressway, also reacted to the opening of the long-awaited Missing Link route, saying commuters are finally getting some relief after years of delays and bottlenecks.Although she has not yet travelled on the newly opened stretch, Sonali said people who have used the route are stunned by the reduced travel time between Mumbai and Pune. “People are reacting with disbelief — ‘Aise kaise ho sakta hai? Itni jaldi hum kaise pahunch sakte hain Mumbai ya Pune?’” she said.While discussing Half Ticket Full Nagrik, the actress got emotional. Speaking about why the podcast matters to her, she recalled incidents from her childhood that left a lasting impact. One memory involved being humiliated at a birthday party after innocently complimenting the food. “Please be gentle — I was just a child,” she said, recalling how an adult assumed she was indirectly asking for more food when she was simply expressing appreciation.She also remembered accompanying her father to collect his salary from a business associate’s home — an experience she says shaped her understanding of dignity and self-worth from a young age. “I was not a beggar,” Sonali said, remembering how she would stand outside for hours while adults ignored her. “No child should ever have to ask for something they rightfully deserve and then be treated like a beggar.”Through her podcast, she hopes to create conversations where children are treated with empathy instead of being dismissed as too young to have opinions. “I am extremely fond of young people. They have original ideas, they think out of the box, they are fearless and innocent,” she said. “But many adults are quick to dismiss children when it comes to family decisions, finances, travel plans, or even everyday conversations. They bring peace, joy and harmony into the world. We must protect their innocence, but also give them a seat at the table,” shared Sonali.
