Rani Mukerji: Mother Wanted Producer to Drop Her Debut

Bollywood actor and National Award winner Rani Mukerji recently shared memories of her early struggles entering the film industry. She reflected on how, initially, acting was neither a feasible nor widely respected career choice for children from film families—especially girls.

“My father, Ram Mukherjee, was not keen on me pursuing acting. Back then, it wasn’t very normal for girls from film families to follow this profession,” Rani told ANI.

She humorously recalled her mother’s reaction to her first screen test:

“After my first screen test, my mother told the producer, ‘I think you’ll ruin your film by taking my daughter. You’ll go through losses. Better you don’t take her.’”

Despite her mother’s doubts, producer Salim Akhtar signed her for ‘Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat’, which released in 1996 alongside ‘Biyer Phool’, directed by her father. These films marked the beginning of Rani’s two-decade-long career.

Changing Perceptions of Acting

Looking back, Rani noted the transformation in how acting is perceived today:

“Times have changed. Young people today are motivated to become actors, and cinema is seen as a feasible career option.”

She added that the image of movie stars has shifted from “larger-than-life” figures to individuals with relatable, real-world appeal.

National Award Recognition

This year, Rani Mukerji won her first National Award for Best Actress for her performance in Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway, a film based on the true story of a mother’s legal and emotional fight to regain custody of her children. The film also stars Anirban Bhattacharya, Neena Gupta, and Jim Sarbh.

Star-Studded Family

Rani belongs to a prominent film family—daughter of filmmaker Ram Mukherjee and playback singer Krishna Mukherjee, cousin of actor Kajol, and wife of filmmaker Aditya Chopra, chairman of Yash Raj Films.