Rani Mukerji

Rani Mukerji (Bengali  রাণী মুখার্জী, Hindi: रानी मुखर्जी) born on March 21, 1978, is a six-time Filmfare Award-winning Indian film actress who appears in Bollywood films.

Making her acting debut with Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat (1996), Mukerji had her first commercial success with Karan Johar's romance Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998), her biggest commercial success so far, and won a Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award for her performance. She later starred in many films, most of which fared below expectations. She returned her success with Saathiya (2002), which was commercially and critically successful. In 2004, her performances in the hit Hum Tum and the critically acclaimed Yuva earned her the Best Actress and the Best Supporting Actress awards at the Filmfare, making her the first actress to win two major awards in the same year, a feat she accomplished at many other award ceremonies. She received unanimous praise for her role as a deaf-blind girl in the film Black (2005), as well as many awards for her memorable performance.

She has been part of several commercially successful films and has delivered a myriad of critically acclaimed performances, establishing herself as one of the most successful actresses in Bollywood

Career

Early work

While in school at the age of 14, Mukerji did a cameo role in her father's Bengali film Biyar Phool (1992). In 1996 she played the protagonist of Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat (1996). When the film was unsuccessful at the box office, Mukerji returned to college to complete her education.

Breakthrough

Mukerji's first release in 1998 was Ghulam opposite Aamir Khan, which did very well at the box office. Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998) came next, starring Shahrukh Khan and Kajol. The movie was a blockbuster, and for her role in it she received her first Filmfare Award in the Best Supporting Actress category.

After this she signed on several projects. Unfortunately, most of the movies did not do well at the box office. However, Badal was one of the highest grossing films of 2000.

The year also had her in the lead role of Mujhse Dosti Karoge! (2002) opposite Hrithik Roshan which was her first film with India's biggest production house: Yash Raj Films. Although, the movie did not do well in India, it generated great business overseas, especially in the United Kingdom. Mukerji's next release was Saathiya where she played a medical student who deals with the tensions and discontent of married life. The movie was amongst the top five grossing movies of the year. The film was critically appreciated.

Success

In 2003, her movie Chalte Chalte opposite Shah Rukh Khan was a hit. She received various nominations in the "Best Actress" category at all award ceremonies.

In 2004, Mukerji's performance in Yuva was critically acclaimed, and won her the Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award; the movie did not do well at the box office. Her next film was Hum Tum, which was commercially successful and also won her the Filmfare Best Actress Award that year. Her last film that year, Yash Chopra's Veer-Zaara, was the top grossing movie of the year. Mukerji's performance as a Pakistani lawyer in the love saga was critically acclaimed and earned her several awards.

In 2005, Mukerji starred in four high-profile films: Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Black, Shaad Ali's Bunty Aur Babli, Amol Palekar's Paheli and Ketan Mehta's The Rising. Mukerji received critical acclaim for her performance in Black for which she collected many trophies in the category of "Best Actress" at various award ceremonies. When Bhansali first came to Mukerji with the offer, she turned it down. Mukerji stated that she was not confident enough to play such a role as she had no knowledge on the deaf and blind. Once the director put faith in her, she agreed to do it and intensely studied sign language with professionals. To prepare for her role in Black, she had to go through six to seven months of training at the Helen Keller Institute in Mumbai. Her next release, Bunty Aur Babli, surfaced as one of the biggest hits of the year, simultaneously becoming her fourth successive hit.

Mukerji was offered the lead role in Hollywood film, The Namesake but owing to clashing dates with Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna, she couldn't commit to Mira Nair's project. Mukerji had two releases in 2006. The first was Karan Johar's Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna, the film opened to mixed reviews but emerged as the most successful movie ever overseas. Mukerji's next release was B.R. Chopra's Baabul. An unprecedented Rs. 4 crore was paid to Mukerji for her role in the movie. Although much hyped, the movie did not do well at the box office in India but proved to be a hit overseas.

Mukerji's first release of 2007 was Ta Ra Rum Pum where she played a mother for the first time on celluloid.The movie was a semi-hit at the box office.

In recent times, Mukerji is collaborating with her brother to set up a Television studio.

Our Bureau

NESTLE India said today it has signed Rani Mukherjee as brand ambassador for its chocolate brand Nestle Munch and the advertising campaign will be released tomorrow.

"Nestle Munch at Rs 5 is already the largest selling SKU in the chocolate and wafers category with sales in metros as well as smaller towns. I am happy that as the brand ambassador Rani Mukherjee complements the popularity of the Munch brand. Like the brand, her star appeal cuts across age, town, class and SEC," the Chairman and Managing Director, Mr Carlo Donati, said in a statement here.

The advertisement has been created for Nestle by J Walter Thompson.