Bhavna Khullar and Tanu Talwar
Will she, won’t she, will she, won’t she... TIE THE KNOT with Aditya Chopra ?? Yes … that’s the latest buzz that’s keeping rumour mills rolling and Rani Mukerji hot in gossip columns these days. However, there is more to this hazel-eyed lass, who turns 31 today than just the latest upheaval concerning Aditya in her life.
Well, some people look good as they age. Rani Mukerji is one such beauty who has proved just that. Gone are the days of an awkward looking, confused actress whose dressing sense was as much criticised as her diction. What we have before us now is a much more sophisticated style diva with great histrionic skills and a mannerism that has made her one of the most popular co-stars.
An actress who is never afraid to speak her mind and has maintained her poise in both good and bad times, Rani is a true woman of substance and she is not wrong when she says, "Though I have never been a model, I am a role model for many."
It’s all in the genes
Coming from a film background with her father, Ram Mukherjee, a retired director and one of the founders of Filmalaya Studio and her mother, Krishna a trained Playback singer, many say Rani was destined to make it big in Bollywood. The creative genes that are spread through out her family, her brother Raja Mukherjee is a producer cum director not to forget her famous cousin, Kajol who had already hit superstardom much before Rani made inroads into filmistaan.
Ever since her childhood, Rani has had a huge inclination towards art; such was her love for the Indian culture that the actress is a trained Odissi dancer and had participated in a number of theatric performances throughout her student life. Though, the actress did a short cameo appearance at a tender age of 14 in her father’s Bengali film, Biyer Phool, it was only in the year 1996 that she made her acting debut in a serious women oriented flick Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat, where she played the role of a rape victim.
Different strokes, different styles
Unlike, the typical commercial masala love stories that most star kids are launched with, Rani chose to be different by taking up such a serious role to mark the very beginning of her career.
Although her performance got mixed reviews, the film bombed at the box office. Many thought that Rani was unfit to play any commercial roles and the serious movie market was yet to pick pace in the country. Her next film too was of the same genre, which again failed to make any serious impression with the audience. Such was the criticism that many said she was a confused actress and was labelled as just another cute face. Thereafter the actress went back to complete her education.
Rani returned back to Bollywood with a big bang in Ghulam, starring opposite Aamir Khan, followed by the flick Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, wherein she was paired with Shahrukh Khan and Kajol. Her performance in both these films left the audience awestruck. The Raja Ki Ayegi Baraat image was soon transformed into a sultry beauty styled by none other than the Bollywood fashion guru, Manish Malhotra.
The best supporting actress award that she received later that year confirmed the fact that Rani is not only here to stay but rule Bollywood in the coming years. Though she won the award, that wasn’t the only reason that kept her in news. The popularity cast a media glare on her personal life and soon there were rumors that the two Mukerji sisters, Kajol and Rani are archrivals. Though the buzz was strongly denied by both involved, fans did not get to see the two sharing screen-space ever again.
Unfortunately, most of the projects that she then worked on did not do as well as her earlier ventures. With the film industry as unpredictable as it is, the actress had to yet again establish the ground for her talent.
Rani, to be as versatile as she is, loves to keep experimenting with the kind of films she does, in terms of the subject and the character she plays. She has been a part of a lot of commercial films based on varied subjects. To her credit, she manages to hold her own while playing a stereotypical sacrificing ‘bhartiya nari’ and is appreciated by many to play the character of a middle class girl with great conviction.
The SRK, Rani starrer Chalte Chalte saw her play a similar role to that of Saathiya, and got her the second nomination for Filmfare Best Actress Award. Mukerji`s portrayal of woman of today`s generation in Hum Tum won her several awards, including her first Filmfare Best Actress Award.
Rani drew great critical acclaim for having performed brilliantly as the blind, deaf and mute in Black that earned her the Filmfare Best Actress Award for the second consecutive year. Story goes that she had earlier refused to be associated with the project as she was not confident enough, but later thought of taking up the challenge.
Speculations go around but Rani has no comments
On the personal front, Rani has time and again been linked with several of her co-stars like Abhishek Bachchan, Govinda and now with Aditya Chopra. However, the actress has constantly denied every single rumour of her alleged link up and said, "You sign two films with a hero and it`s said you`re having a scene with him. Please, the only scenes I`m into are in front of the camera."
But rumour has it that, Rani has had more than professional relations with Bachchan Junior. It’s even said that though the two were madly in love and it was Abhishek’s mother, Jaya Bachchan who did not approve of her. But affair or no affair, Rani has not let any personal amenities stop her from sharing a wonderful rapport with Abhishek Bachchan, infact, Rani is one the few actress in the industry whom everyone wishes to work with.
Before Bachchan, Rani was labeled as ‘confused’ because of her role in Hey Ram. The famous Haasan- Rani kiss raised many eyebrows. However, she firmly believes that the movie managed to reinvent the actress in her. Even though the film crashed at the box office and could not win her appreciation even critical appraise, the actress has no regrets and says that she is extremely glad and proud of having done the role.
There was not much that the actress could do to justify her move but said, “The kiss with Kamal Haasan (in Hey! Ram) was mechanical. He was constantly checking the right angle. Where was the passion?"
And now the latest talk of the tinsel town-Are Adi and Rani going to get hitched? A news that has once again got her wide criticsm as Aditya is married to wife of five years Payal. Apparently, it’s not only Adi’s parents who do not approve of Rani, it had also said that even Rani’s parents are not too keen about their potential son-in-law. Though neither of the two have confirmed being committed, Adi and Payal have already headed for Spiltville and have also applied for divorce. Need we say more who is the Rani spinning the magical wand behind this divorce.
