Gallery

CAREER

She began her film career with the Bengali film 'Biyer Phool'. Her first Hindi film was "Raja Ki Aayegi Baarat" (1996), which did not do well at the box office. However, her next two releases - 'Ghulam' and 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai' (1998) - were hits. For the latter she received her first Filmfare Award in the Best Supporting Actress category.

Mukerji shot to instant stardom after these successes, and was signed on for a great many movies immediately afterwards. Unfortunately, most of them did average business at the box office. It was only after the release of 'Saathiya' in 2002, directed by Shaad Ali, that she regained her reputation. The film was critically and commercially successful and Rani was recognised as one of the leading commercial actresses of the day.

In 2004, her performances in 'Yuva' and the commercially successful 'Hum Tum' earned her more awards - the Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award for the former, and the Filmfare Best Actress Award for the latter, the next year. Her performance as an activist lawyer in 'Veer-Zaara', the year's biggest hit, was also praised, and earned her yet another Filmfare nomination. These successes have established Mukerji as one of the industry's most bankable stars.

In 2005, she starred in four big banner films. Among them, Bunty Aur Babli was a smash hit and her performances in all the others, particularly in Black were generally appreciated. Adding another feather to her cap, 'Paheli', in which she starred, got the honour of opening the ninth Zimbabwe International Film Festival in Harare a year later.


Mukerji has been an active stage performer and participated in numerous world tours. Temptations 2004 was her most successful concert, in which she performed alongside Shahrukh Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Preity Zinta, Arjun Rampal and Priyanka Chopra. She also appeared at the Closing Ceremony of the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, as part of a performance showcasing Indian culture, on behalf of the 2010 Commonwealth Games, to be held in Delhi.

Mukerji's success has continued into 2006, with her most recent release,'Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna', finishing with the highest opening gross of any Bollywood movie to date. Ms. Mukerji has been a top actress for three years now according to many reputed polls. Filmfare Magazine, the most prestigious Bollywood journal, slotted her the number one position on the Top Ten Actresses' List for two consecutive years. Other magazines have shared the same philosophy similarly.

Family Background

She comes from a film-clan family of Bengali origin: Her father, Ram Mukherjee is a retired director. her mother Krishna used to be a playback singer, while her brother Raja Mukherjee is a film producer. Her maternal aunt is Debashree Roy. The popular bollywood actress, Kajol, is her second cousin.

PERSONAL LIFE

Mukerji has been romantically linked with actors such as Govinda , Aamir Khan, Abhishek Bachchan and most recently, director Aditya Chopra. All parties have, however, strongly denied these rumours.Mukherjee seems to lead a hard-working life, totally focused on her career. She appears in the news only for appearances at movie premieres, special events, film festivals, award ceremonies, film promotion-related proceedings, or charity work. Home is important to her: in 2006, the actress bought a new house for herself in Juhu, the interior design for which was done by Twinkle Khanna.

She is very close to her niece, Mayesha whom she lovingly calls Mishti'(which means "sweet" in Bengali).

Mukerji's popularity as an actress has often matched that of her contemporary, Preity Zinta. The two actresses have also appeared together in a number of movies. As a result, they are often compared to each other, and there has been a great deal of speculation about their personal relationship. Both actresses have always maintained that they share a healthy professional relationship, and have expressed mutual respect.

Besides acting in films, Mukerji does her bit for charitable causes. Her show, Temptations 2005 in New Delhi, helped to raise funds for the National Centre For Promotional of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP), a leading disabled rights' group. Shahrukh Khan and Priyanka Chopra were also amongst the many who contributed to this cause.

In 2006, Mukerji celebrated her birthday with the students of The Helen Keller Institute for the Deaf and Blind, whom she had befriended while doing research for her role as a blind and deaf girl in Black. She has also given credit for her award-winning performance in that movie to the students.

AWARDS

Popular

1999- Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai
1999- Zee Cine Awards, Lux Face of the Year, Ghulam & Kuch Kuch Hota Hai
1999- Zee Cine Award Best Actor in a Supporting Role- Female for Kuch Kuch Hota Hai
2003- Star Screen Awards Special Jury Award, Saathiya
2003- Filmfare, Critics Award Best Performance, Saathiya
2003- Sansui Awards Best Performance of the Year, Saathiya
2003- Bollywood Awards Most Sensational Actress, Saathiya
2003- Rajiv Gandhi Award
2004- BBC Film Cafe Best Actress, Chalte Chalte
2005- Filmfare Best Actress Award, Hum Tum
2005- Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award, Yuva
2005- Zee Cine Award Best Actor- Female, Hum Tum
2005- 1st GIFA Awards Best Actress, Hum Tum
2005- Star Screen Award Best Actress, Hum Tum
2005- Star Screen Award Best Supporting Actress, Yuva
2005- Cinegoers Awards Best Actress, Hum Tum
2005- Cinegoers Awards Best Actress in a Supporting Role, Veer-Zaara
2005- IIFA Best Actress Award for Hum Tum
2005- IIFA Best Supporting Actress Award for Veer-Zaara
2005- Bollywood Awards Best Actress, Hum Tum
2005- Bollywood Awards Best Actress in a Supporting Role, Yuva
2006- Rediff Movie Awards Best Actress, Black
2006- Star Screen Award Best Actress, Black
2006- Stardust Star of the Year Award - Female, Black
2006- Filmfare Best Actress Award, Black
2006- Filmfare Critics Award for Best Performance, Black
2006- Zee Cine Award Best Actor- Female, Black
2006- BBC Film Cafe Best Actress, Black
2006- IIFA Best Actress Award for Black
-She is the first actor to ever win both the Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress trophies in a single year (2005) at the Filmfare.


Other:

2001, Aashirwaad Awards Best Actress, Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega
2003, Anandolok Puroshkar Awards Best Actress, Saathiya
2005, Sports World Awards Best Actress, Hum Tum
2005, Sports World Awards Best Actress in a Supporting Role, Veer-Zaara
2005, Sports World Jodi of the Year (Saif Ali Khan and Rani Mukerji) for Hum Tum
2005, Bollywood Fashion Awards Celebrity Style Female Award
2005, The Lycra® MTV Style Awards Most Stylish in Films
2005, Anandolok Puroshkar Awards Best Actress, Hum Tum
2005, Lion Awards Achievement in Cinema
2006, 2nd Edition Pogo Voice Awards Most Amazing Actress, Bunty Aur Babli
2006, Star Screen Award Jodi No. 1 (Abhishek Bachchan and Rani Mukerji) for Bunty Aur Babli
2006, 2nd Apsara Awards Best Actress, Black
2006, Star's Sabsey Favourite Heroine, Black
2006, Idea Zee F Awards Celebrity Model of the Year

Filmography

2008 KHAN (Confirmed)

2008 Aditya Chopra's Next (Announced)

2008 Kunal Kohli's Next (Announced)

2008 Tsunami (Announced)

2007 London Dreams (Filming)

2007 Om Shanti Om (Special Appearance) (In Production)

2007 Saawariya (Filming)

2007 Laaga Chunari Mein Daag (Releasing on 12 October 2007)

2007 Ta Ra Rum Pum (Releasing on 27 April 2007)



2006 Baabul

2006 Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (Nominated, Filmfare Best Actress Award. Screened at the Toronto International Film Festival & the prestigious Tokyo International Film Festival)

2005 The Rising (Screened at the Locarno Film Festival)

2005 Paheli (India's official entry to the Oscars, also opened the ninth Zimbabwe International Film Festival)

2005 Bunty Aur Babli Vimmi Saluja (Babli) Nominated, Filmfare Best Actress Award

2005 Black (Double-Winner, Filmfare Best Actress Award & Filmfare Critics Award for Best performance. Screened at the Casablanca Film Festival. Also, Time Magazine�s selection of the Best Movies of the Year 2005, positioned at number 5.)

2004 Veer-Zaara (Nominated, Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award. Screened at the Berlin Film Festival & the Casablanca Film Festival.)

2004 Hum Tum (Winner, Filmfare Best Actress Award)

2004 Yuva (Winner, Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award)

2003 LOC Kargil

2003 Kal Ho Naa Ho (Special Appearance-song)

2003 Calcutta Mail

2003 Chori Chori

2003 Chalte Chalte (Nominated, Filmfare Best Actress Award. Also, screened at the Casablanca Film Festival)

2002 Chalo Ishq Ladaaye

2002 Saathiya (Winner, Filmfare Critics Award for Best Performance & Nominated, Filmfare Best Actress Award. Also, screened at the Casablanca Film Festival)

2002 Mujhse Dosti Karoge!

2002 Pyaar Diwana Hota Hai

2001 Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (Cameo, also the 1st Bollywood feature to have a theatrical release in Germany)

2001 Nayak: The Real Hero

2001 Bas Itna Sa Khwaab Hai

2001 Chori Chori Chupke Chupke

2000 Kahin Pyaar Na Ho Jaaye

2000 Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega (Nominated, Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award)

2000 Bichhoo

2000 Hadh Kar Di Aapne

2000 Hey Ram (India's official entry to the Oscars)

2000 Badal

1999 Hello Brother

1999 Mann (Special Appearance-item number)

1998 Mehndi

1998 Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (Winner, Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award)

1998 Ghulam

1996 Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat

Rani Mukherjee Profile

Name: Rani Mukherjee
Born: March 21, 1978
Zodiac Sign: Aries
Height: 5' 3"
Eye Color: Light Brow
Hair Color: Black
Birth Place: West Bengal, India
Nationality: Indian
Occupation: Actress
Religion: Hindu
Education: High School: cooper High School (Juhu, Mumbai,India)
Marital Status: Single

Family:
Father: Ram Mukherjee (Director)
Mother: Krishna Mukherjee
Brother: Raja Mukherjee
Hobbies: Dancing
Debut Film: Biyer Phool (Bengali), Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat (1996)(In Hindi)
Languages Known: Bengali, Hindi, English
Address: B/405, Shakti Apartments, Kalyani Complex, Yari Road, Versova, Mumbai - 400061

Favourites:
Actor: Amitabh Bachchan, Aamir Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Govinda
Actress: Nargis, Mala Sinha
Car: The Opel Astra
Hollywood Movie: Titanic
Perfumes: Polo Sport
Likes: Comic Archie and Donald Duck
Other facts: Her beauty secret is that she soaks herself with moisturizer




Rani Mukherjee has more filmi relations than you can count on your fingertips. She's the daughter of Ram Mukherjee, who directed films like 'Leader' and 'Hum Hindustani'. Her mother used to be a playback singer. Her aunt, Debashree Roy, is a well-known Bengali actress. And of course, her most famous star connection is cousin Kajol.

In the early days, while Rani was struggling to build a career in films, it was this 'Kajol's cousin' tag that stuck to her for the longest time. It couldn't have been a happy feeling, especially considering the fact that her famous sister was then the hottest selling actress on the scene. And Rani was largely viewed as an upstart (by the film press) trying to do a 'me too'.

Her debut, with producer Salim's 'Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat' (1996), too turned out to be a damp squib at the box-office. However, this low-budget project did get her some rave reviews.

Besides, her striking screen presence caught the fancy of two very important people. The first was 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai' (1998) director Karan Johar, who sought her out for a role that many a star had turned down. The second was Vikram Bhatt (or was it Aamir Khan?), who cast her as the leading lady in 'Ghulam' (1998).

'Ghulam' (which release first) gave her instant fame and a new label: 'The "Aati kya Khandala" girl. Thanks to the huge success of this song and the film itself, Rani hit the big league and found a huge following amongst the masses.

The icing on the cake was 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai', a film that had been eagerly awaited for the prospective battle of the Mukherjee cousins. While Kajol was, beyond doubt, the film's heroine, Rani too had her share of meat in the supporting role of Shah Rukh's first wife, Tina.

Suddenly there was a furious debate about exactly what made Rani Mukherjee click (for a raging hit she was, especially with the male population): her daring, baring clothes, her husky voice, or the little peek you got into her acting abilities.

Whatever it was, this film helped Rani zoom into the happening league and suddenly, she was everyone's favourite new star! Even a dud like 'Hello Brother' (1999) couldn't affect her newfound status.

So, Kamal Haasan was picking her out for his epic 'Hey! Ram', Indra Kumar was begging her for dates (via Aamir Khan) to make a guest ppearance in 'Mann' and half a dozen other producers were sitting pretty having already signed her up.

This month, Rani has had two dramatically diverse releases. The first was a lacklustre performance in an eminently forgettable 'Badal'. Rani was outrageously loud, making you wonder what's so special about her anyway?

The second release, 'Hey! Ram', however, answered that question most emphatically. Here, she played Kamal Haasan' Bengali wife Aparna. In a small but significant role, Rani showed exactly why she's so much in demand.

And going by the way the year 2000 has taken off for her, there are sure to be some more fireworks from the Mukherjee girl in months to come.