Class photo of Rani Mukerji with her teacher and classmates, taken in Class II, 1984. Mukerji sits in the second row, first child from the left.
Gallery of Rani Mukerji
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Childhood photo of Rani Mukerji.
Gallery of Rani Mukerji
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Childhood photo of Rani Mukerji and her sibling.
Gallery of Rani Mukerji
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Childhood photo of Rani Mukerji and her mother.
Gallery of Rani Mukerji
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Childhood photo of Rani Mukerji.
Gallery of Rani Mukerji
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Childhood photo of Rani Mukerji and her siblings.
Gallery of Rani Mukerji
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Childhood photo of Rani Mukerji.
Gallery of Rani Mukerji
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Childhood photo of Rani Mukerji and her sibling.
Gallery of Rani Mukerji
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Childhood photo of Rani Mukerji.
Gallery of Rani Mukerji
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Childhood photo of Rani Mukerji and her siblings.
College/University
Career
Gallery of Rani Mukerji
1998
Kajol, Shah Rukh Khan, and Rani Mukerji in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai.
Gallery of Rani Mukerji
1998
Shah Rukh Khan and Rani Mukerji in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai.
Gallery of Rani Mukerji
2001
Preity Zinta, Farida Jalal, and Rani Mukerji in Chori Chori Chupke Chupke.
Gallery of Rani Mukerji
2004
Abhishek Bachchan and Rani Mukerji in Yuva.
Gallery of Rani Mukerji
2004
Shah Rukh Khan and Rani Mukerji in Veer-Zaara.
Gallery of Rani Mukerji
2004
Shah Rukh Khan and Rani Mukerji in Veer-Zaara.
Gallery of Rani Mukerji
2005
Abhishek Bachchan and Rani Mukerji in Bunty Aur Babli.
Gallery of Rani Mukerji
2005
Amitabh Bachchan and Rani Mukerji in Black.
Gallery of Rani Mukerji
2006
Shah Rukh Khan and Rani Mukerji in Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna.
Gallery of Rani Mukerji
2007
Rani Mukerji and Ranbir Kapoor in Saawariya.
Gallery of Rani Mukerji
2007
Rani Mukerji in Om Shanti Om.
Gallery of Rani Mukerji
2009
Rani Mukerji and Shahid Kapoor in Dil Bole Hadippa.
Gallery of Rani Mukerji
2009
Rani Mukerji in Dil Bole Hadippa.
Gallery of Rani Mukerji
2009
Rani Mukerji in Dil Bole Hadippa.
Gallery of Rani Mukerji
2012
Rani Mukerji and Nirmiti Sawant in Aiyyaa.
Gallery of Rani Mukerji
2012
Rani Mukerji and Prithviraj Sukumaran in Aiyyaa.
Gallery of Rani Mukerji
2012
Rani Mukerji in Aiyyaa.
Gallery of Rani Mukerji
2012
Rani Mukerji in Aiyyaa.
Gallery of Rani Mukerji
2012
Rani Mukerji in Aiyyaa.
Gallery of Rani Mukerji
2012
Rani Mukerji in Aiyyaa.
Gallery of Rani Mukerji
2012
Rani Mukerji in Aiyyaa.
Gallery of Rani Mukerji
2012
Rani Mukerji in Aiyyaa.
Gallery of Rani Mukerji
2012
Rani Mukerji in Aiyyaa.
Gallery of Rani Mukerji
2012
Rani Mukerji in Aiyyaa.
Gallery of Rani Mukerji
2012
Rani Mukerji in Aiyyaa.
Gallery of Rani Mukerji
2012
Rani Mukerji in Talaash.
Gallery of Rani Mukerji
2012
Rani Mukerji in Talaash.
Gallery of Rani Mukerji
2013
Rani Mukerji in Bombay Talkies.
Gallery of Rani Mukerji
2013
Rani Mukerji in Bombay Talkies.
Gallery of Rani Mukerji
Photo of young Rani Mukerji.
Gallery of Rani Mukerji
Photo of young Rani Mukerji.
Gallery of Rani Mukerji
Photo of Rani Mukerji.
Gallery of Rani Mukerji
Photo of young Rani Mukerji.
Gallery of Rani Mukerji
Photo of young Rani Mukerji.
Gallery of Rani Mukerji
Photo of young Rani Mukerji.
Gallery of Rani Mukerji
Photo of Rani Mukerji.
Gallery of Rani Mukerji
Photo of Rani Mukerji.
Gallery of Rani Mukerji
Photo of young Rani Mukerji.
Gallery of Rani Mukerji
Photo of young Rani Mukerji.
Gallery of Rani Mukerji
Photo of Rani Mukerji.
Gallery of Rani Mukerji
Photo of Rani Mukerji.
Gallery of Rani Mukerji
Photo of Rani Mukerji.
Gallery of Rani Mukerji
Photo of Rani Mukerji.
Gallery of Rani Mukerji
Photo of Rani Mukerji.
Gallery of Rani Mukerji
Photo of young Rani Mukerji.
Gallery of Rani Mukerji
Photo of Rani Mukerji.
Gallery of Rani Mukerji
Photo of Rani Mukerji.
Gallery of Rani Mukerji
Photo of Rani Mukerji.
Gallery of Rani Mukerji
Photo of Rani Mukerji.
Gallery of Rani Mukerji
Photo of Rani Mukerji.
Gallery of Rani Mukerji
Photo of Rani Mukerji.
Gallery of Rani Mukerji
Photo of Rani Mukerji.
Gallery of Rani Mukerji
Photo of Rani Mukerji.
Gallery of Rani Mukerji
Photo of Rani Mukerji.
Gallery of Rani Mukerji
Photo of Rani Mukerji.
Gallery of Rani Mukerji
Photo of Rani Mukerji.
Gallery of Rani Mukerji
Photo of Rani Mukerji.
Achievements
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Rani Mukerji featured on the cover of Filmfare Magazine.
Membership
Procter & Gamble
Procter & Gamble, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
Mukerji was appointed as an ambassador by Procter & Gamble and the NGO Child Rights and You for their joint venture, Shiksha, to endorse the cause of children's education.
Indian Stroke Association
2011
Indian Stroke Association, Tamil Nadu, India
In 2011 Mukerji set up a Stroke Treatment Fund, in association with the Indian Stroke Association, to pay for the treatment of financially deprived stroke-affected patients.
Awards
Filmfare Awards
1998
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Rani Mukerji with the Filmfare Award.
Zee Cine Awards
1999
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Rani Mukerji with the Zee Cine Award.
International Indian Film Academy Awards
2007
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Rani Mukerji with the International Indian Film Academy Award.
BIG Star Entertainment Award
2011
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Rani Mukerji with the BIG Star Entertainment Award.
The Most Influential Cinema Personality Award
2019
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Rani Mukerji with the The Most Influential Cinema Personality Award.
In 2011 Mukerji set up a Stroke Treatment Fund, in association with the Indian Stroke Association, to pay for the treatment of financially deprived stroke-affected patients.
Mukerji was appointed as an ambassador by Procter & Gamble and the NGO Child Rights and You for their joint venture, Shiksha, to endorse the cause of children's education.
(Raja rapes Mala and the court orders him to marry her. Ra...)
Raja rapes Mala and the court orders him to marry her. Raja's family continues to torture Mala and attempts to kill her. However, with her good deeds, she manages to win over Raja and his family.
(Siddharth Marathe is a Mumbai tapori, a boxing champion. ...)
Siddharth Marathe is a Mumbai tapori, a boxing champion. His brother, Jaidev, is the accounts manager and right-hand man for Raunak Singh, a former boxing champion who ostensibly runs a travel agency, but in reality rules the local community by terrorising people and stealing money from innocent merchants. Other than his boxing practice, Siddhu leads a relatively aimless and wanderlust life.
(Two best friends Anjali and Rahul are set apart, when a n...)
Two best friends Anjali and Rahul are set apart, when a new girl named, Tina, enters Rahul's life. Years later, deceased Tina's daughter takes it upon herself to reunite the estranged lovers. But, Anjali is engaged to Aman. Who will Anjali choose now?
(Priya, who is engaged to be married, meets Dev aboard a c...)
Priya, who is engaged to be married, meets Dev aboard a cruise ship. Dev, a playboy, gradually loses his heart to Priya. Both decide to meet after six months to see if they still feel the same. But an unfortunate mishap separates them only to be brought back together by their yearning for true love.
(Hero works for a courier company owned by Khanna. He is s...)
Hero works for a courier company owned by Khanna. He is spirited and humorous and is in love with Rani, but she simply thinks of Hero as a very good friend. Enter Inspector Vishal, who works in the narcotics department. Vishal suspects Khanna to be involved in a drug ring and confronts him.
(The story revolves around a boy who witnessed the death o...)
The story revolves around a boy who witnessed the death of his family members by a cruel police officer. On growing up, the boy decided to take revenge from the police officer for his loss. The film was directed by Raj Kanwar.
(Raj, a detective, goes on a Europe trip for his friend's ...)
Raj, a detective, goes on a Europe trip for his friend's case. During the trip, he falls in love with Anjali, who is impersonating her best friend. Their journey together ensues romance and comic confusion.
(Jeeva is from a struggling family. He falls in love with ...)
Jeeva is from a struggling family. He falls in love with Kiran. Due to their differences in social class, Kiran's father does not approve of their relationship. To punish Jeeva, Kiran's father frames his mother and two sisters for prostitution and bribes the police into arresting them, which leads to the three of them committing suicide. Kiran also kills herself, ashamed of what her father has done. Jeeva seeks revenge by killing Kiran's father.
(The film tells the story of Prem, a talented and happy-go...)
The film tells the story of Prem, a talented and happy-go-lucky singer who earns his livelihood by performing at weddings and functions as part of a small troupe. His parents being long dead, he lives with his married sister Neelu and has bonded closely with her husband, Vinod.
(Raj and Priya, a married couple, hire Madhubala, a prosti...)
Raj and Priya, a married couple, hire Madhubala, a prostitute, as the surrogate mother of their child. Trouble brews when Madhubala falls for Raj and insists on having him in return for the child.
(Suraj is a simple village man who comes to Mumbai from Be...)
Suraj is a simple village man who comes to Mumbai from Benaras to earn a degree in college. He gets smitten by a light-eyed beauty Pooja. After some dilly-dallying, the duo express their love for each other.
(Shivaji Rao is an ambitious TV reporter, working for "Q T...)
Shivaji Rao is an ambitious TV reporter, working for "Q TV" along with his friend Topi. While on the job, Rao records a conversation in which the Chief Minister Balraj Chauhan takes an indifferent stand during riots triggered by a fight between some college students and bus drivers, so as not to lose his voter base.
(Yashvardhan Raichand is a snobbish man, he breaks ties wi...)
Yashvardhan Raichand is a snobbish man, he breaks ties with his elder son Rahul, for marrying a girl with lower social status. When his younger son Rohan returns home, he is upset to know that his brother no longer lives with them. Rohan decides to reunite his family and goes to London and finds Rahul. But, the question is will he be successful in convincing his egoistic father for a reunion?
(Sunder comes from his village to the big city. He is naiv...)
Sunder comes from his village to the big city. He is naive, easily influenced, and illiterate. His attempts to influence girls are mocked, and he is ignored and made fun of by his roommates.
(Raj, Tina and Pooja are childhood friends. Raj then goes ...)
Raj, Tina and Pooja are childhood friends. Raj then goes away but keeps in touch with Tina though it was actually Pooja he was talking to. On coming back he discovers that Tina is a totally different person and it is Pooja whose emails he'd been receiving. When Raj confesses his love for Pooja, she refuses to admit her love for him, keeping her friend in mind. What happens now?
(Aditya and his friends are searching for Aditya's wife Su...)
Aditya and his friends are searching for Aditya's wife Suhani. She has been missing for hours, a few days after having a fight with Aditya about their failing marriage. But Aditya now realizes that he loves her more than anything and is devastated that he can't find her.
(The film begins in a bowling alley, where a group of frie...)
The film begins in a bowling alley, where a group of friends is awaiting the arrival of Salim. Meanwhile, Deepak arrives with his fiancée Sheetal. When a conversation about love arises, Deepak and the rest find it necessary to make Sheetal aware that true love does exist. They tell her the story of Raj and Priya, two of their closest friends.
(Naina Kapur is a beautiful introvert and often keeps to h...)
Naina Kapur is a beautiful introvert and often keeps to herself. Her life soon changes, when she befriends her neighbour, Aman Mathur, who is jaunty and bubbly. Naina falls in love with Aman and decides to confess her love to him. She is heart-broken, when she finds out that Aman is married. But the truth unravels, and Aman has lied about being married. His lie hides a dark secret.
(Youth leader Michael is shot by hitman Inba. Arjun, a stu...)
Youth leader Michael is shot by hitman Inba. Arjun, a student, and sole witness, saves him. As we see the recent events of their lives, we also realize this incident is going to change things forever.
(Karan and Rhea can't get along even if their lives depend...)
Karan and Rhea can't get along even if their lives depended on it. So when they meet for the 1st time, they are determined to make it their last. But 3 years later, when they meet at her wedding he starts to realise that she may not be half as bad. Too late Karan! 4 years pass and fate brings the two together yet again, but a lot has changed since they last met.
(Veer Singh, a pilot of the Indian Air Force and Zaara, a ...)
Veer Singh, a pilot of the Indian Air Force and Zaara, a Pakistani girl happen to meet in India and fall in love. Unfortunately, Zaara is engaged to a crude Pakistani man, Raza and so is forced to return. Veer decides to travel to Pakistan to see if he can win Zaara over. What follows is a series of events which end with Veer ending up in prison.
(Two small-town runaway rebels bump into each other in Mum...)
Two small-town runaway rebels bump into each other in Mumbai and take no time to realize that both are expert con masters. Under fake identities, as Bunty and Babli they find out that tricking people for money is much simpler for them and in no time they start to pull off multiple cons. They realize that they are in love only to find out that they are also being chased by the law.
(The movie sheds light on two suffocating marriages which ...)
The movie sheds light on two suffocating marriages which depart lives and drift them towards an extramarital affair outside to fill the gap. Starring Shahrukh Khan, Abhishek, Preity, and Rani in a romantic drama depicting true lives bounded in a relationship which has released its warmth over a period. Will these four be able to find their way out of their marriages or will accept their fate?
(Rajveer Singh is the most successful race car driver in h...)
Rajveer Singh is the most successful race car driver in his field. Soon, he marries Shona and they live as a happy family, with their two children. One day, their world turns upside down as Rajveer meets with an accident and cannot compete further. Rajveer and his family is forced to move into a small locality. The film focuses on the ups and downs that Rajveer and his family face thereafter.
(Having fallen in love at first sight, a shy musician atte...)
Having fallen in love at first sight, a shy musician attempts to win the heart of a beautiful young woman, unaware she's awaiting the return of her own true love.
(Om, an aspiring actor, is murdered & is reincarnated into...)
Om, an aspiring actor, is murdered & is reincarnated into the present day. He seeks to discover the mystery of his death & find the love of his previous life.
(Ranbeer Talwar is a wealthy but lonely businessman who en...)
Ranbeer Talwar is a wealthy but lonely businessman who ends up taking care of four children of the couple he accidentally killed in a car crash. The children despise him and seek revenge for their parent's death. They just don't get along and pray to God for help. God decides to send them his most charming angel, Geeta. Will she be able to help them lead a happy life?
(Taani, a flamboyant girl, is circumstances force her to m...)
Taani, a flamboyant girl, is circumstances force her to marry Surinder, a quiet and down-to-earth man. Surinder disguises himself as Raj, a fun and outgoing man and is the exact opposite of his true self. Taani is drawn to Raj and they enter a dance competition together. But on the day of the final, she is shocked to see Surinder turn up and not Raj.
(No girls rule stops Veera, a young girl with an exception...)
No girls rule stops Veera, a young girl with an exceptional talent in cricket, from entering the selection process for the Indian cricket team participating in the Aman Cup. She disguises herself as a man Veer and gets selected in the team for her talent. Rohan, the coach of the team, falls in love with Veera while she was NOT dressed as a man. Will Rohan accept Veera when her cover's blown?
(Tending bar at an elite event in Delhi, India, Jessica re...)
Tending bar at an elite event in Delhi, India, Jessica refuses to serve three men after the last call. One of the men, Manish, who's the son of a big-time politician, shoots her in the head in response. There are dozens of eyewitnesses, but as Jessica's sister, Sabrina Lal, discovers, they are either conveniently forgetful or willing to sell their testimony to the highest bidder, leaving an open-and-shut case hostage to greed and political influence.
(Late at night on a deserted road, well-known actor Armaan...)
Late at night on a deserted road, well-known actor Armaan Kapoor, 30, loses control of his car for no evident reason, apparently trying to avoid something, and drives into the sea. Senior Police Inspector Surjan Singh Shekhawat, 35, with his assistant Devrath Kulkarni, 25, begins an investigation into Armaan's death.
(Shivani Shivaji Roy, an audacious Police officer of the M...)
Shivani Shivaji Roy, an audacious Police officer of the Mumbai police, is in the chase to capture Karan/Walt, a crime warlord who is involved in child trafficking and drugs. When Pyaari, a beloved teenager, is abducted by his gang, she makes it her mission to serve hell to these disgusting offenders of the law.
(Naina Mathur, an aspiring teacher with a BEd and MSc, suf...)
Naina Mathur, an aspiring teacher with a BEd and MSc, suffers from Tourette syndrome. Her condition causes her to make uncontrollable sounds likened to hiccups.
Rani Mukerji is an Indian Bollywood film actress. She started her career in 1996, and since then has appeared in more than fifty films. She is one of the most popular actresses in Bollywood, and her roles have been cited in the media as a significant departure from previous screen portrayals of Indian women. Mukerji is also a philanthropist and has done numerous concerts and stage shows to raise funds.
Background
Rani Mukerji was born on March 21, 1978, Bombay (now Mumbai), Maharashtra, India. Her father, Ram Mukherjee, is a former film director and one of the founders of Filmalaya Studios. Her mother, Krishna Mukherjee, is a former playback singer. Her elder brother, Raja Mukherjee, is a film producer and director. Her maternal aunt, Debashree Roy, is a Bengali film actress, and her paternal cousin, Kajol, is a Hindi film actress. Another paternal cousin, Ayan Mukerji, is a scriptwriter and film director. Tanisha and Mohnish Behl are also her cousins.
Education
Mukerji received her education at Maneckji Cooper High School in Juhu and graduated with a degree from Mithibai College. She later studied acting at Roshan Taneja’s acting institute.
In 1994, director Salim Khan approached Mukerji to play the lead female role in his directorial, Aa Gale Lag Jaa. Her father disapproved of a full-time career in film at such a young age, so she rejected the offer. At the age of eighteen, Mukerji experimented with acting by portraying a supporting role in her father's Bengali language film Biyer Phool (1996). The film starred Prosenjit and Indrani Haldar in lead roles and narrates the story of two sisters; Mukerji played the younger sibling of Haldar's character. Soon after, Khan approached her with another film offer to play the protagonist of the social drama Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat, Mukerji accepted the role due to her mother's insistence that she continue to pursue acting on an experimental basis. Before she began work on the film, Mukerji trained at Roshan Taneja's acting institute.
Mukerji portrayed a rape victim who is forced to marry her rapist in Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat (1996). Mukerji's performance was praised, and she won a special recognition trophy at the annual Screen Awards ceremony. Following the film's poor showing at the box office, Mukerji returned to college to complete her education. In 1998, Mukerji starred opposite Aamir Khan in Vikram Bhatt's Ghulam (1998), her first commercial success. Though her role in the film was small, the song "Aati Kya Khandala" earned her widespread recognition. Due to Mukerji's broken voice texture, Bhatt hired a dubbing artist with a much higher-pitched voice to dub for her lines. When asked if the director's decision to not use her voice in the film affected her, she said that her voice was dubbed as it "did not suit the character." Later that year, Karan Johar cast Mukerji opposite Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol in his directorial debut Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. The role was originally written for Twinkle Khanna, but when she rejected it, Johar signed Mukerji on the insistence of Khan and Aditya Chopra. Johar had originally intended that a dubbing artist dub Mukerji's lines in the film, but she improved her diction and eventually dubbed for her own lines. She portrayed Tina Malhotra, a college student who is in a relationship with Khan's character. Kuch Kuch Hota Hai proved a breakthrough for Mukerji; it emerged as a blockbuster in India and abroad with earnings of over $15 million. Following the success of Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Mukerji played leading roles in the social drama Mehndi (1998) and the comedy Hello Brother (1999). Both these films were critical and commercial disappointments which failed to propel her career forward.
By 2000, Mukerji wanted to avoid being type-cast as a "standard Hindi film heroine" and thus decided to portray more challenging roles in addition to the archetypical glamorous female lead. However, none of her film releases in 2000 were particularly notable. In Badal and Bichhoo, two male-centric action dramas, she played roles that were met with little acclaim from the critics but were successful at the box-office. A supporting role in Kamal Haasan's bilingual film Hey Ram proved more rewarding. The film was a partly fictionalized account of Mahatma Gandhi's assassination and Mukerji portrayed the character of Aparna Ram, a Bengali school teacher who is raped and murdered during communal riots in Calcutta. The controversial subject matter of Hey Ram led to poor box office earnings, but the film was critically acclaimed and selected as India's official entry to the Oscars that year. Mukerji found success in the comedy Hadh Kar Di Aapne but her next Kahin Pyaar Na Ho Jaaye failed critically and commercially. The romantic comedy Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega, however, was well-received by the critics and audiences.
The year 2001 was a disappointing one for Mukerji. In a review for her first release of the year, Chori Chori Chupke Chupke, a drama based on surrogate childbirth, film critic Sukanya Verma found Mukerji to be "handicapped with a role that doesn't give her much scope besides weeping and sobbing" and preferred the "meatier" role of her co-star Preity Zinta. In Bas Itna Sa Khwaab Hai and Nayak: The Real Hero, films that failed to garner praise, Mukerji played the love interests of Abhishek Bachchan and Anil Kapoor respectively.
Mukerji's career marked a turning point in 2002 when Yash Raj Films, a leading production company in India, cast her for two high-profile productions: Mujhse Dosti Karoge, a romantic comedy co-starring Hrithik Roshan and Kareena Kapoor, and Saathiya, a remake of the Tamil box office hit Alaipayuthey. Mujhse Dosti Karoge was heavily promoted before release and proved a success internationally, but failed to earn profits in India. The romantic drama Saathiya proved a major turning point in her career. Mukerji was director Shaad Ali's only choice to play the lead role. The film co-starred Vivek Oberoi, and her paternal aunt Tanuja, and proved an economic success. Mukerji's portrayal of Suhani Sharma, a medical student who deals with the tensions and discontent of being married at a young age, met with critical acclaim.
In 2003, Mukerji replaced Aishwarya Rai to play the lead female role opposite Shah Rukh Khan in Aziz Mirza's romance Chalte Chalte. Media reports suggested that Rai was replaced after feuding with her then-boyfriend Salman Khan on the film's sets, but Shah Rukh Khan insisted that Mukerji had been the original choice for the role. The film's concept was similar to Saathiya and dealt with misunderstandings between a married couple. The film was well-received by both critics and audiences. Also that year, she starred in Milan Luthria's romantic comedy Chori Chori opposite Ajay Devgan, Sudhir Mishra's suspense drama Calcutta Mail, alongside Anil Kapoor and Manisha Koirala, and J.P. Dutta's ensemble war film LOC Kargil. None of these films fared well critically or commercially.
The year 2004 marked the beginning of the most successful period in Mukerji's career. Mani Ratnam's Yuva (2004), a composite film that featured an ensemble cast including Ajay Devgan, Abhishek Bachchan, Vivek Oberoi, Kareena Kapoor and Esha Deol. The film narrates the story of three youngsters from different strata of society whose lives intersect by a car accident; Mukerji was cast as Shashi Biswas, a financially deprived Bengali housewife who is abused by her husband, a local goon. She also starred in Kunal Kohli's Hum Tum (2004), a romantic comedy about two headstrong individuals who meet at different stages of their lives. The film pitted her opposite Saif Ali Khan and proved one of the biggest commercial successes of the year. Later that year, Mukerji achieved further success when Yash Chopra cast her alongside Shah Rukh Khan and Preity Zinta in his romantic drama Veer-Zaara. The film narrates the story of star-crossed lovers, Veer Pratap Singh and a Pakistani woman, Zaara Hayaat Khan; Mukerji played the role of Saamiya Siddiqui, a Pakistani lawyer embroiled in a court case involving Singh. With a worldwide gross of over $14 million, Veer-Zaara emerged as the highest-grossing film of the year; it was screened at the Berlin Film Festival and met with critical acclaim.
In 2005, Outlook magazine published that Mukerji had established herself as the most successful actress of contemporary Hindi cinema. Her first film role that year was opposite Amitabh Bachchan in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's highly acclaimed Black, a drama about an alcoholic man who dedicates his life to teach a blind and deaf girl how to communicate. Bhansali wrote the part of the blind-deaf girl specifically for Mukerji, who was initially hesitant to take on the role due to its "challenging" subject matter. Once Bhansali enforced his faith in her, she agreed and began intensely studying sign language with professionals at the Helen Keller Institute in Mumbai. Mukerji's performance met with unanimous acclaim. That year, Mukerji worked opposite Abhishek Bachchan in Bunty Aur Babli, a comedy film which marked her fifth collaboration with Yash Raj Films. She played the title character of Vimmi "Babli" Saluja, a con woman. The film was the second highest-grossing film of 2005 and Mukerji's third major success in two consecutive years. She followed it with Amol Palekar's fantasy film Paheli, reuniting her with Shah Rukh Khan. The film was a box office flop in India but was given a strong international release. Mukerji's fourth and final release of the year was the highly anticipated period film Mangal Pandey: The Rising. Director Ketan Mehta initially approached her for a cameo appearance, which was developed into an "important part" after she gave her consent to star in the film. Her role was that of Heera, a prostitute who forms the love interest of the title character, played by Aamir Khan.
Mukerji turned down an offer from Mira Nair to star in the Hollywood film The Namesake, choosing instead to collaborate once again with her friend Karan Johar in Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (2006), an urban drama dealing with infidelity and dysfunctional relationships. The high-profile production featured an ensemble cast of Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Abhishek Bachchan, Preity Zinta and Kirron Kher, and told the story of two unhappily married couples in New York which results in an extra-marital affair. Mukerji played Maya Talwar, a woman layered with self-doubt and question about the relationship between her husband and herself. Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna was a popular release, emerging as a major economic success with gross earnings of over $16 million. The poorly received melodrama Baabul was her final appearance that year.
Following the failure of Baabul, Yash Raj Films cast Mukerji in Siddharth Anand's family drama Ta Ra Rum Pum in the role of a popular racing driver's wife and the mother of two. Mukerji was excited to play the part of a mother for the first time, and modelled her character after her own mother. Released in 2007, the film was an economic success, but received mixed reactions from the critics. The woman's film Laaga Chunari Mein Daag from director Pradeep Sarkar was Mukerji's second release that year. She played the role of Vibhavari Sahay, a young girl of limited means who is forced to moonlight as a prostitute to fend for her family. Jaya Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, Konkana Sen Sharma and Kunal Kapoor co-starred in the film which released to poor box office returns and little praise from the critics. Mukerji played a prostitute for the third time in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Saawariya, an adaptation of Fyodor Dostoevsky's White Nights, co-starring Ranbir Kapoor and Sonam Kapoor. Saawariya was her only release in three years that was not produced by Yash Raj Films. The film was a box office flop and met with polarising reactions from the critics.
After a series of serious roles, Mukerji sought to play a part that would be a "clutter-breaker" for her. She found the role in Kunal Kohli's Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic (2008), a children's film about an angel who comes to Earth to help four troubled kids. The film had low box office returns and further contributed to a decline in Mukerji's career prospects. In an attempt to overcome this decline in her career, Mukerji lost weight and underwent a complete makeover. In 2009, she collaborated for the ninth time with Yash Raj Films on Dil Bole Hadippa!, a romantic comedy opposite Shahid Kapoor. Mukerji had high expectations from the film in which she played a cricket-obsessed Punjabi village girl masquerading as a man; it was hugely hyped before release and had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. The film was Mukerji's fourth economic failure in a row. Later that year, she featured as a talent judge for the Sony Entertainment Television reality show Dance Premier League. Mukerji did not make any screen appearances in 2010.
Film critic Aniruddha Guha of Daily News and Analysis described Mukerji's performance in the 2011 film No One Killed Jessica as "one of her best performances till date." The film was Mukerji's first commercial success since Ta Ra Rum Pum, and was especially noted for being a success despite the absence of a prominent male actor. The film was a semi-biographical thriller based on the Jessica Lal murder case in which Mukerji played the fictional character of Meera Gaity, a foul-mouthed television journalist who is deeply involved with the case. To promote the film, she reprised the role of Gaity on the C.I.D. television series. After the success of No One Killed Jessica, Mukerji accepted a leading role in Sachin Kundalkar's Aiyyaa (2012), a comedy of manners co-starring Prithviraj. She played Meenakshi Deshpande, a woman with a heightened sense of smell who develops a one-sided attraction towards Prithiviraj's character. The film was critically and commercially unsuccessful. Greater success came for her portrayal of Roshni Shekhawat, a mother who has lost her only child in a boating accident, in Reema Kagti's psychological thriller Talaash: The Answer Lies Within. Co-starring Aamir Khan and Kareena Kapoor, the film had worldwide earnings of over $25 million.
The following year, Mukerji starred in the anthology film Bombay Talkies consisting of four short films. Mukerji was part of the segment entitled Ajeeb Dastaan Hai Yeh in which she played Gayatri, a journalist who discovers that her husband is gay; it was her fourth collaboration with director Karan Johar. The film was screened at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival as part of the centenary year celebrations of Indian cinema. Despite poor box office returns, Bombay Talkies met with widespread critical acclaim, with praise directed to Johar's segment. In 2014, Mukerji appeared in Pradeep Sarkar's crime thriller Mardaani, in which she played the lead role of Shivani Shivaji Roy, a Maharashtrian policewoman involved in a kidnapping case that leads her to uncover secrets of human trafficking in India. She took on the role "to show all girls what the reality is, what the world has come to, and how they need to protect themselves." In preparation, she interacted with senior officials of Mumbai's crime branch, and learned the Israeli self-defense technique of Krav Maga.
Following the birth of her child, Mukerji took a four-year hiatus to focus on her daughter and was persuaded by her husband, Aditya Chopra, to return to acting. She was keen to work on a project that would accommodate her parental commitments and found it in the comedy-drama Hichki (2018). Inspired by Brad Cohen's autobiography Front of the Class, the film tells the story of Naina Mathur, an aspiring teacher suffering from Tourette syndrome who must prove herself by educating underprivileged children. In preparation, Mukerji interacted with Cohen and she trained to make her character's motor and vocal tics appear spontaneous and not rehearsed. Hichki received generally positive reviews from critics, with praise directed at Mukerji's portrayal of Tourette syndrome. It earned $34 million worldwide, a majority of which came from the Chinese box office, and its success led Mukerji to express an interest in working more frequently in the future. In 2019, Mukerji will star in Mardaani 2, a sequel to Mardaani, directed by Gopi Puthran, who wrote the first film.
Mukerji has participated in several concert tours and televised award ceremonies. Her first concert tour, "Magnificent Five," was in 1999 in which she performed with actors Aamir Khan, Aishwarya Rai, Akshaye Khanna and Twinkle Khanna. The "Temptations 2004" concert had Mukerji perform alongside Shah Rukh Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Preity Zinta, Arjun Rampal and Priyanka Chopra in nineteen stage shows worldwide. The following year, she participated in the "Temptations 2005" concert in New Delhi with Shah Rukh Khan, Fardeen Khan, Ameesha Patel and Malaika Arora Khan; the show was organised to help raise funds for the National Centre For Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP). In 2010, Mukerji performed at a concert in the Army Stadium of Dhaka, Bangladesh with several Bollywood actors including Shah Rukh Khan, Rampal and Ishaa Koppikar. For the "Temptations Reloaded" concert of 2012 in Jakarta, Mukerji performed alongside Shah Rukh Khan, Zinta and Bipasha Basu, for the 2013 concert of the same name in Auckland, she performed with Shah Rukh Khan, Madhuri Dixit and Jacqueline Fernandez, and in 2014 she performed in Malaysia with Shah Rukh Khan, Dixit, Yo Yo Honey Singh and Arijit Singh.
(Jeeva is from a struggling family. He falls in love with ...)
2000
Religion
Mukerji appears to be a relatively spiritual person, connected to the religious traditions of her heritage, though highly accepting of faiths other than her own. As part of an annual tradition, the Mukherjee family celebrates the festival of Durga Puja in the suburban neighborhood of Santacruz every year. Mukerji, a practicing Hindu, takes part in the festivities with her entire family.
Politics
Other than starring in the occasional political thriller, Mukerji doesn't seem to be all that political. She was the only Bollywood star to ever have been invited to a dinner in honor of former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf. She said of the honor: "It was like a dream come true! To just be part of such an event made me feel that I've done something to achieve this. All the biggest dignitaries from both sides of the border were so cultured and down-to-earth. When I was invited, I was disbelieving and overjoyed."
Perhaps the most shocking political scandal to come from the Mukerji camp was her answer to the question of whom she idolized during a routine interview. Her response was Adolf Hitler. She said: "Hitler. I'd love to meet him to see what was going on inside his head." A firestorm of controversy, naturally, but as her apologists reasonably pointed out - she might not idolize him in the sense that she admires him, rather she finds Hitler fascinating. Nevertheless, the actress hasn't ever commented on her gaff and remains largely non-political.
Views
Despite Mukerji's parents and most of her relatives being members of the Indian film industry, she was not interested in pursuing a career in film. She said, "There were already too many actresses at home and I wanted to be someone different." However, inspired by her cousin Kajol's success in Bollywood, she decided to pursue a full-time career in films.
Despite constant media attention, Mukerji remains guarded about her personal life. Unlike many other celebrities, she limits her interactions with the media and is sometimes labelled a recluse; she said in a 2011 interview, "Today actors have become more open with the media. But this has posed a problem for actors like me because if I don't do that, then I end up being called reclusive. So now I have changed myself and am easily approachable."
Alongside her acting career, Mukerji has been actively involved with several humanitarian causes and is vocal about issues faced by women and children. She also made public appearances to support other charities and causes. In March 2004, she visited the Indian army unit in Pokhran, Rajasthan to interact with the jawan troops, for the NDTV reality show Jai Jawan. A decade later, in August 2014 she visited the jawans again at Baramulla. In February 2005, Mukerji and several other Bollywood actors participated in the 2005 HELP! Telethon Concert to raise money for the victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake. In March 2006, Mukerji celebrated her birthday with the physically challenged children of the Helen Keller Institute; she had previously worked with them while preparing for her role in Black. In November 2010, she was part of a fund-raising auction for the "Because I am a Girl" charity campaign. In 2014, Mukerji attended a charity dinner on child abuse in London, where she was felicitated by Prince Charles for raising awareness on the issue through her work in Mardaani.
Quotations:
"Love is a great emotion, but I believe its not just about romance; it could be love for nature, people, for relationships."
"I am quite a dreamer. I think we all are dreamers. We all don't like to live a practical life all the time. There is a thin line between our hopes and dreams."
"I just want to be at peace with myself, personally and professionally. I want to lead my life the way I want to without having to worry about what the other person may be thinking. Professionally again, I would like to be able to just do films that I want to without having to explain my reasons to my friends, family and fans."
"I'm not bothered about what people say behind my back. I don't need to know about it. I believe in living my life and doing my work. God will give you success. And even if He doesn't, there's a lesson to be learned."
"Every actor is alive because of his or her fans. I'm glad that my fans love me so much. I have an immense responsibility towards them. That's why I'm careful while signing a film. What is also important is to judge whether I would like to watch the film as an audience or not."
"As a child, I remember I always wanted to make my parents happy and give them everything in their lives."
"In reality, throughout your career, you have to make yourself interesting enough for people to be waiting to see your films. In my case, people are longing to see what I come out with next. That's my success."
"I think the success of a film is very important to an actor. It depends on how many people go to watch your movies; the more the merrier. Nobody wants to do a film for five people. You work so hard that millions of people watch the movie; this is directly related to box office success."
"I don't really get stuck in a time warp where, if my film is a success, I have to keep partying till the next one releases, or if my film is a flop, I keep wallowing in sorrow until the next comes my way. My hard work in each film is always there."
"I have wisdom of a 60-year-old. Also, it takes a lot for me to respect a person, so when a person has a body of work behind him, it draws my respect."
"When I turned 30, I realized the value of time and with it, the other important things in life. That's when I did up my house, started spending time with my family and friends and did all that a normal girl would do. All these things I was balancing with my work."
"Not all offers I get are exciting and inspiring. I would rather sit at home and not work than jump into mediocrity for the sake of just moving ahead. If it's a good script, I would sacrifice my personal time and grab it."
"Love is a great emotion, but I believe it's not just about romance; it could be love for nature, people, for relationships."
"The one person whom I would like to be is Meryl Streep. Even at her age, she sits alongside the younger heroines at the Oscars with her name in the nominee list, and others around her wonder whether they still stand a chance."
"You work with some people, you see a spark in them and you can't help praising them. But everyone has their own destiny. No one can make anyone. Who reaches where and when, is all written."
"Every role is easy. As an actor it is my job to make my job easy. If I start hyperventilating about my roles, then how will I do it? So, with all my roles, somewhere I feel comfortable about them, and that is why I play them."
"It's not humanly possible for anyone not to go through changes. Change is a constant in everyone's life, even in mine. I have enjoyed the change at every stage of my life."
"I think there is a lot of space for people to love who they love, and a lot of space for actors to carve a niche for themselves."
Membership
Mukerji was appointed as an ambassador by Procter & Gamble and the NGO Child Rights and You for their joint venture, Shiksha, to endorse the cause of children's education. In 2011 she set up a Stroke Treatment Fund, in association with the Indian Stroke Association, to pay for the treatment of financially deprived stroke-affected patients.
Procter & Gamble
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United States
Indian Stroke Association
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India
2011
Personality
Mukerji's favorite actors are Dilip Kumar, Raj Kapoor, Amitabh Bachchan, Sharmila Tagore, Rekha, and Hema Malini. Her all-time favorite director is Sanjay Leela Bhansali.
Her favorite movies are Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Black, and Titanic.
Mukerji is a trained Odissi dancer.
Mukerji's favorite song is "My Heart Will Go On" by Céline Dion.
Her favorite colors are black, red and blue.
Her favorite food is Hyderebadi Biryani and fish prepared by her mother. She sometimes likes to eat junk food as well.
Mukerji loves to wear traditional sarees and anarkali frocks.
She is a fan of cricket and also plays badminton.
In her free time she likes driving and reading books.
Mukerji loves to spend her holidays in Switzerland and Paris.
Physical Characteristics:
Mukerji's height is 5' 3'' (160 cm), and she weighs around 127 lbs (58 kg). Her hair and eye colour is dark brown.
Interests
dancing, driving, reading
Sport & Clubs
cricket, badminton
Music & Bands
Céline Dion
Connections
The nature of Mukerji's relationship with filmmaker Aditya Chopra was the topic of fervent tabloid reporting in India, though she refused to publicly talk about it. On April 21, 2014, Mukerji married Aditya Chopra at a private ceremony in Italy. On December 9, 2015, she gave birth to their daughter Adira.
Mukerji has collaborated frequently and maintained a close friendship with actors Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan, and filmmaker Karan Johar.