Rani Mukerji's films celebrate women who refuse to back down—just like the powerhouse actress herself!
She never had the chance to celebrate her birthdays during childhood due to her final exams. However, as one of the leading and highest-paid actresses of the 2000s, she can certainly celebrate now. Rani Mukerji, an eight-time Filmfare Award winner, turns 48 today!
Born into the esteemed Mukherjee-Samarth family, Mukerji ventured into acting as a teenager, appearing in her father Ram Mukherjee's Bengali film ‘Biyer Phool’ and the social drama ‘Raja Ki Aayegi Baaraat’. She achieved her first commercial success with the action film ‘Ghulam’ and gained widespread recognition with the romantic drama ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’. Since then, she has starred in numerous iconic and successful films. Today, let's celebrate her by revisiting her films that highlight strong female characters!
Rani Mukerji stars as Shivani Shivaji Roy, a tough police officer who uncovers a human trafficking racket while investigating a kidnapped teenage girl. ‘Mardaani,’ an action thriller directed by Pradeep Sarkar, received widespread acclaim, particularly for Mukerji’s powerful performance, and became a commercial success. The film’s success led to a sequel, ‘Mardaani 2,’ in 2019. Following its positive reception, the production house announced in December 2019 the possibility of a third installment, ‘Mardaani 3,’ with Mukerji reprising her role as Shivani Shivaji Roy.
‘No One Killed Jessica’ is a crime drama written and directed by Rajkumar Gupta, starring Vidya Balan and Rani Mukerji. Inspired by the Jessica Lal murder case, the film follows the tragic killing of a bartender by a politician’s son and her sister’s relentless fight for justice. Rani Mukerji plays Meera Gaity, a fearless crime reporter who refuses to back down despite threats and challenges in a male-dominated world. With unwavering determination, she takes on the case, seeking justice for the innocent victim.
The most recent film she appeared in was ‘Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway,’ a legal drama written and directed by Ashima Chibber. Starring Rani Mukerji, Anirban Bhattacharya, Neena Gupta, and Jim Sarbh, the film is inspired by the true story of Anurup Bhattacharya and Sagarika Chakraborty, an Indian couple whose children were taken by Norwegian authorities in 2011. Rani Mukerji, as Debika Chatterjee, portrays the unwavering strength of a mother fighting for her children. Her raw and heartfelt performance resonated nicely, earning widespread acclaim globally.
The drama film ‘Black,’ co-written, directed, and co-produced by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, portrays the story of Michelle played by Rani Mukerji, a deafblind woman, and her profound connection with her teacher, Debraj played by Amitabh Bachchan, an aging alcoholic who later battles Alzheimer’s disease. Inspired by Helen Keller’s autobiography ‘The Story of My Life,’ the film struck a deep chord with audiences, with Mukerji delivering a powerful performance despite having no dialogues. The background narration further enhanced its emotional depth, making it a truly soul-stirring watch!
Based on American motivational speaker Brad Cohen's autobiography ‘Front of the Class,’ the film stars Rani Mukerji as Naina Mathur, an aspiring teacher struggling to secure a job due to her Tourette syndrome. After multiple rejections, she is finally accepted at St. Notker's School, her alma mater. Determined to make a difference, Naina strives to positively impact her students' lives, despite their initial lack of respect. Over time, she and her students find common ground, leading to a transformative journey.
