Bollywood actor and National Award winner Rani Mukerji believes that acting has become a more practical and widely accepted career choice for today’s youngsters than it was when she began her journey. Reflecting on her early days, the actor shared that her father was not in favour of her pursuing acting.
“He (father Ram Mukherjee) was not keen because at that time, it wasn’t very normal for children of film families to take up acting, especially girls. It was more the men who used to follow the profession, not like today, when all the children are so motivated to follow their parents’ footsteps,” Rani said in an interview with ANI.
She further added that back then, the industry wasn’t seen as a strong career path. “That time it was slightly different. I don’t think the film industry, in general, looked like a very feasible option to pursue as a career back then. Like, even while I was growing up, I don’t think it was something to be very proud of to say in school that I’m from a film family. It was very different at that time,” she said.
While her father had reservations, her mother took a lighter approach. Rani shared a humourous anecdote from her first screen test. “So for my mother, it was like you do it and see how it goes. Though after my first screen test, she found me so bad that she 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,’” Rani recalled.
Despite her mother’s doubts, producer Salim Akhtar went ahead and signed her for ‘Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat’, which released in 1996 alongside ‘Biyer Phool’, directed by her father. These films marked her debut in the industry.
Looking back at her two-decade-long career, the ‘Hichki’ actor expressed happiness at the changing outlook towards cinema. “I think times have changed, the atmosphere is different today. I think more and more young people are motivated to become actors. Not only from the industry, but even from outside the industry,” she said.
Rani also pointed out that the image of actors has shifted. “It’s become feasible, I would say, a career option for a lot of people, and they look up to cinema not the way it used to be looked upon at that time. That time, movie stars were looked upon more as probably nymphs or Apsara and larger than life. Now it’s become more regular person can also be acting in the films,” she added.
This year, Rani won her first National Award for Best Actress for her powerful performance in ‘Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway’, directed by Ashima Chibber. The film, based on the true story of Sagarika Chakraborty, follows a mother’s legal and emotional battle in Norway to win back custody of her children. Alongside Rani, the film also stars Anirban Bhattacharya, Neena Gupta, and Jim Sarbh.
Belonging to a star-studded family, Rani is the daughter of the late filmmaker Ram Mukherjee and playback singer Krishna Mukherjee, cousin to actor Kajol, and wife of filmmaker Aditya Chopra, the chairman of Yash Raj Films.
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