Despite being born into a film family, Rani Mukerji's first career choice wasn't acting.
When 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai' was released, Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol were already the audience’s favorite on-screen couple, riding high on the success of 'Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge'. But amidst the film’s blockbuster run, it was Rani Mukerji who stole the show. She wasn’t the typical Bollywood heroine, rather she was quite different. With her unconventional beauty and husky voice, not to mention the girl-next-door charm, she redefined what it meant to be a leading lady. In a time where heroines are often confined to a fixed mold, Rani arrived like a breath of fresh air - relatable, confident, and impossible to ignore. And it was clear that she was here to stay. With every film that followed, she kept proving herself, emerging as a force to be reckoned with. In just a few years, she became one of the highest-paid actresses in the industry, with numerous exemplary performances to her credit. Today, as Shraddha Jahagirdar-Saxena put it, she is"the embodiment of the modern, independent woman who has made it on her own steam and on her own terms."
Rani Mukerji, Shah Rukh Khan, and Kajol in 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai'
However, contrary to popular belief, Mukerji’s initial career choice wasn't acting, but something entirely different. On the occasion of her 47th birthday, let's learn about that in this article.
Mukerji comes from the Mukherjee-Samarth family that has been involved in the Hindi film industry since the 1930s. Her father, Ram Mukherjee, was a renowned film director and one of the founders of Filmalaya Studios. Her mother, Krishna Mukherjee, is a former playback singer, while her elder brother, Raja Mukherjee, is a film producer and director. Her maternal aunt, Debashree Roy, is a Bengali film actress, her paternal second cousin, Kajol, is a Hindi film actress and her contemporary, and her paternal second cousin, Ayan Mukerji, is a filmmaker.
With such a background, she was expected to enter showbiz and become an actress, but she initially had different plans. In her words, "There were already too many actresses at home and I wanted to be someone different."
RANI MUKERJI turns 41 ! 🎂#HappyBirthdayRaniMukerji pic.twitter.com/k8xayZMA8P
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She received her education at Maneckji Cooper High School in Juhu and graduated with a degree in Home Science from SNDT Women's University. And surprising as it may sound, she wanted to become an interior designer. However, she gave up on her dreams as she didn't have enough money for higher education.
In 1994, director Salim Khan approached Mukerji to play the lead female role in his directorial, 'Aa Gale Lag Jaa' - but she rejected the offer. Later, at age 18, she appeared in Ashok Gaikwad's social drama 'Raja Ki Aayegi Baaraat' only as an experiment.
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Well, little did she know that the experiment would turn into a career-defining moment for her. She then acted in her father's Bengali film, 'Biyer Phool', starring opposite superstar Prosenjit Chatterjee. Then she returned to college to complete her education, only to come back stronger and make it even bigger. In 1998, she appeared in Karan Johar's directorial debut, 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai', and the rest, as they say, is history!
Rani Mukerji's journey in Bollywood has been nothing less than a rollercoaster ride - instant stardom, meteoric rise, setbacks, and then comebacks. In 2023, completing 27 years in the industry, she reflected on her journey in an interview with ANI and said, "Today, when I look back, I am not sure if I had not been an actor, what I would have been. I did have certain other professions in mind that I wanted to chase, like being an interior designer but I don't think I would have gotten this kind of love that I have gotten for the last 27 years from people around the world, who are my fans, who obviously have admired my work and given me so much of strength and courage through the years. I have originally made a family, beyond my own family, which I think is very precious to me. Our fans don't normally realize this but the adrenaline rush that we get when we see the love that they have for us makes us strive harder."
(Credit: Prime Video India)
Before making her debut with 'Raja Ki Aayegi Baaraat', Mukerji trained at Roshan Taneja's acting institute.
Although 'Raja Ki Aayegi Baaraat' was a commercial failure, her performance received love and earned her a special recognition trophy at the annual Screen Awards ceremony.
The actress has mentioned in several interviews that her cousin Kajol's success inspired her to pursue acting.
Before 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai', she starred in a brief role opposite Aamir Khan in Vikram Bhatt's action film 'Ghulam'. Her performance in the song "Aati Kya Khandala" earned her public recognition.
The role of Tina in 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai' was originally written for Twinkle Khanna. After being turned down by her and several other actresses - mainly because it was a second lead -the role eventually went to Rani Mukerji. And well, it earned her the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress.
