4 hours agoAuthor: Ifat Qureshi
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Rani Mukherjee, who has been seen in films like Ghulam, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega, Black, has turned 46 today. Rani Mukherjee, born on 21 March 1978, belongs to a film family, whose father Ram Mukherjee was a well-known producer and mother Krishna Mukherjee a singer. Movies were in Rani's veins.
In her childhood, Rani was a fan of Amitabh Bachchan, Madhuri Dixit, Sridevi and Aamir Khan. Once, Rani even skipped school and reached the set of Aamir Khan's film to get his autograph. Who knew that the same Rani would achieve stardom by doing a film with Aamir Khan.
It is also true that Rani never wanted to come into films, but when her father's income stopped after bypass surgery, she took the responsibility of the family and came into films at the insistence of her mother. However, this journey was not easy for him. When she gave the first screen test, it was so bad that the mother told the producer – don't cast my daughter.
Today, on the special occasion of Rani's 46th birthday, read the story of her entry into films, along with some unheard stories –
Rani was exchanged as soon as she was born, mother recognized the changed child with her eyes
Rani Mukherjee was born on 21 March 1978 in Mumbai. Rani's mother Krishna Mukherjee saw her and then she was taken to the kid ward. After some time, when the nurse handed over the child to Krishna Mukherjee, he started getting suspicious as soon as he saw her. As soon as he noticed, he saw that the girl's eyes were not dark brown.
He told the nurse, this is not my child. This girl's eyes are not brown, my daughter's eyes are brown, go find her. On the other hand, Rani had been handed over to a Punjabi family. When the search for Rani began, it was revealed that Rani had been handed over to a Punjabi family. Rani's mother went to that ward and brought her daughter back. This story was narrated by Rani in an interview given to ABP News.
Rani with mother Krishna Mukherjee and elder brother Raja Mukherjee.
Had bunked school for Aamir's autograph, heartbroken when Aamir didn't pay attention
Rani studied at Manekji Cooper High School, Mumbai. He was fond of watching films since childhood. Amitabh Bachchan, Sridevi, Madhuri Dixit used to be his favorite actors. When Aamir Khan's film Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak was released in the year 1988, like every girl in the country, Rani Mukherjee also became a fan of Aamir Khan.
One day Rani came to know that Aamir Khan was shooting the film Love Love Love near her school. In such a situation, Rani bunked school and reached the film sets. Rani had written 'Dear Aamir' for Aamir in her autograph book, she thought that Aamir would be happy to see this, but the opposite happened.
On the set, Aamir angrily took the diary from Rani's hand, signed it and returned the diary. Aamir did not even look at Rani, which hurt her a lot.
When Rani came into films, her first hit film was Ghulam (1998), in which she was seen with Aamir Khan.
One day, when the shooting of the song Aati Kya Khandala was going on, as soon as she got the chance, Rani asked him, do you remember I had come to get your autograph in my childhood. Obviously Aamir did not remember anything, but when Rani told him this incident, he was not ready to believe it and kept saying that Rani was joking.
Salim Khan's offer was rejected at the age of 16
Rani Mukherjee belonged to a film family, so her family often interacted with people from the film industry. Once Rani Mukherjee was noticed by Salman Khan's father Salim Khan. He offered Rani the film Aa Gale Lag Jaa, but when Rani's father Ram Mukherjee came to know about this, he flatly refused. He did not want Rani to leave her studies and come into films at the age of just 16.
Rani started taking training in Odissi dance after 10th class. After completing her schooling, she took a degree in Home Science from SNDT Women's University.
Rani was just 18 years old when her father underwent bypass surgery. When her father's health started deteriorating, he almost stopped working, so Rani Mukherjee decided to take the responsibility of the family. At the same time, Salim Khan again offered her the film Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat, so despite her reluctance, Rani accepted the offer after being persuaded by her mother, even though she had no interest in acting.
Rani Mukherjee made her Bollywood debut with the 1996 film Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat.
After watching the first screen test, the mother told the producer – don't cast my daughter in the film.
When Rani gave the screen test for the film Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat, she had no understanding of acting. Frightened Rani gave such a bad screen test that when her mother Krishna Mukherjee saw the final clip, she told the producer, don't cast my daughter in the film, your film will flop.
However, the producer gave a chance to Rani and she got the role of rape victim Mala in the film Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat, who is married to the rapist. Along with this, Rani also worked in the Bengali film Bier Phool, produced by her father.
Rani Mukherjee's films Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat and Bier Phool both were released on the same day on 18 October 1996.
On the day the film was released, Rani's father Ram Mukherjee was admitted to the hospital, he was to undergo bypass surgery, but he insisted that he would not get the surgery done without watching Rani's film. When Rani refused him, he set a condition that as soon as he left the hospital, he would go straight to the Gaiety Cinema and watch the film. When he was discharged from the hospital, he went straight to the theater in a wheelchair. Everyone in the theater was clapping after hearing Rani's powerful dialogues, but Ram Mukherjee was crying loudly.
The film Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat could not do much at the box office, due to which Rani became quite disappointed. He accepted that his talent would not work in the film world. With this thought in mind he started going to college again. After some time, Rani was given a special trophy for best acting in the Screen Awards for this film. After this, inspired by her cousin Kajol, Rani also decided to make a career in the film industry.
Aamir cast after seeing the first film, changed his voice
Aamir Khan was quite impressed after seeing Rani Mukherjee's strong acting in the film Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat. It was he who advised the film's director Vikram Bhatt to cast Rani. However, Aamir did not like Rani's voice. When he told this to Vikram Bhatt, on his request Rani's voice was changed in this film. His voice was made thin in the film through dubbing artist.
Rani Mukherjee was cast in the film Ghulam at the insistence of Aamir Khan.
This film, released on 19 June 1998, was a huge hit and Rani got overnight stardom from the film. Almost all the songs of this film were chartbusters, but the most talked about one was Aati Kya Khandala. Many youngsters copied Aamir extinguishing a matchstick with his tongue in the opening scene of this song.
This song became a trendsetter in Bollywood. However, this song was also accused of promoting eve teasing. After the release of the film, many such cases were registered in which Lafangey used to tease girls by singing the line of this song Aati Kya Khandala.
Movie- Ghulam.
Many actresses rejected, but on the insistence of Shahrukh, Rani got Kuch Kuch Hota Hai.
After Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Karan Johar decided to make the film Kuch Kuch Hota Hai with Shahrukh Khan and Kajol. Shahrukh was in the role of Rahul and Kajol in the film Anjali, while the role of Tina was written for Twinkle Khanna. When it came to the casting of the film, Twinkle Khanna refused to do the film saying that she did not like the character of Tina.
Film- Kuch Kuch Hota Hai.
Further, Karan Johar also offered the film to Urmila Matondkar, Tabu, Shilpa Shetty, Aishwarya Rai, Raveena Tandon and Karisma Kapoor, but everyone refused to work in the film.
Meanwhile, Shahrukh Khan watched the film Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat, in which he liked Rani Mukherjee's acting very much. And thus, on Shahrukh's advice, Karan Johar cast Rani in the role of Tina.
Aamir Khan had apologized to Rani
The film Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, released on 16 October 1998, was a blockbuster hit and Rani started being counted among the top actresses. In this film, Karan Johar put the voice of Rani Mukherjee and said that her voice is different from the others. After the film, Rani's voice also received a lot of praise.
When Aamir saw that film, he apologized for removing Rani's voice from the film Ghulam. Rani Mukherjee won two awards for Best Supporting Actress for this film. She also received the Lux Face of the Year award.
Rani Mukherjee and Aamir Khan are still best friends.
Rani Mukherjee further appeared in films like Mehndi, Badal, Bicchu, but most of her films were not hits. In the year 2000, 6 films of Rani were released, out of which Had Kar Di Aapne, Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega, Kahin Pyar Na Ho Jaye were hits. Further, he did dozens of films like Nayak, Chori-Chori Chupke-Chupke, Mujhse Dosti Karogi, Saathiya.
Had she ever said that she would have married Amitabh Bachchan if she had got a chance?
Rani Mukherjee had told in Simi Garewal's chat show that she has been a fan of Amitabh Bachchan since childhood. If she had got a chance, she would have definitely married Amitabh Bachchan. She even wants to worship Amitabh Bachchan.
In the year 2001, Rani got a chance to work with Amitabh Bachchan in the film Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham. However, Rani played a cameo role in the film. Further, both Veer-Zara have also been seen together in Black, Bunty Aur Babli, Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna, Babul.
Film- Black.
The 2005 film Black is among the best films of Rani Mukherjee and Amitabh Bachchan's career. Rani's acting in the film received praise from critics as well as 8 awards in different categories.
Dilip Kumar wrote a letter after the premiere
Dilip Kumar also attended the premiere of the film Black. After returning home, he wrote a letter to Rani Mukherjee, in which he praised the film and Rani. Rani became very emotional after receiving Dilip Kumar's letter.
Pervez Musharraf also became a fan after watching Veer-Zara, Abdul Kalam praised Black
Rani Mukherjee played the role of Pakistani lawyer Samia Siddiqui in the 2004 film Veer-Zaara. After the release of the film, many leaders of the Pakistani Cabinet Ministry came to India, including the then President Pervez Musharraf. After the release of the film, Rani Mukherjee was invited for lunch with Pakistani ministers. When Rani met Pervez Musharraf, he praised Rani's acting and the film.
Picture of Rani Mukherjee taken during her meeting with Pervez Musharraf.
On the same day, Rani was also called to Rashtrapati Bhavan, where she met Abdul Kalam. Praising Rani, he told Pervez Musharraf that you must watch Rani's film Black.
Rani Mukherjee cried loudly while going to the set 14 months after becoming a mother
Rani Mukherjee had a secret marriage with filmmaker Aditya Chopra in Italy on 21 April 2014. Before marriage, both were in a relationship for many years.
Aditya Chopra and Rani Mukherjee.
The very next year of this marriage, Rani gave birth to daughter Adira. Their daughter Adira was premature, born at just 7 months. In such a situation, Rani had taken a break from films for the family. However, when her daughter Adira turned 14 months old, she shot for the film Hichki on the request of her husband Aditya Chopra.
In Kareena Kapoor's chat show What Women Want, Rani told that it was very difficult for her to leave her 14-month-old daughter and go for shooting. As soon as she left the house, she started crying in the car and her driver got scared after seeing this.
Rani Mukherjee likes to keep her daughter away from the limelight.
Four years after the 2014 film Mardaani, Rani Mukherjee made an acting comeback with the hit film Hichki. She was further seen in Mardaani 2 (2019), Bunty Aur Babli 2 (2021) and Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway (2023).
Rani was going to become a mother in 2021, her 5 month old child had a miscarriage
In 2023, Rani Mukherjee became a part of the 14th Indian Film Festival of Melbourne. During this time she had revealed her miscarriage. Rani told that she became pregnant in the year 2020 amidst the Covid epidemic. It had been 5 months since her pregnancy, but then she suffered a miscarriage. Rani kept this a secret because she believed that people would consider it a film promotion strategy.
