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Bollywood Lite Blogs

‘New directors have contributed to shaping my career’

Rani believes that all the newcomers she has worked with throughout her journey in Bollywood, have one thing in common. They are always more hungry to disrupt because they are looking to make the biggest mark on the industry with their first few films…reports Asian Lite News

Over a career spanning two decades, actress Rani Mukerji has impressed audiences with her acting prowess. She credits her powerful performances to new directors for shaping her career and empowering her to have the love she has received in her journey in cinema.

Rani said: “If you look at the list of new directors that I have collaborated with, you will see how they have contributed in shaping my career, my craft and empowered me to get the love that I have got all through my journey in cinema.”

‘Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway’.

Rani believes that all the newcomers she has worked with throughout her journey in Bollywood, have one thing in common. They are always more hungry to disrupt because they are looking to make the biggest mark on the industry with their first few films.

“I have always been excited by new directors because I have believed that they are always hungrier to disrupt and I love disruption. It is definitely the reason why I have worked with so many new or first time directors and I consider myself to be fortunate to have found them and exchanged creative energies with them,” she said.

She shared: “My collaboration with first-time directors started since the beginning of my career with Karan Johar on Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (KKHH) who gave the youth of the country relevancy at that time. It was amazing to creatively collaborate with him because he had such an amazing story to tell and how masterfully he made KKHH.”

Rani further added: “I have worked with Shaad Ali on his first film Saathiya and he too gave me a gem of a film that I’m proud of in my filmography! Gopi Puthran is another outstanding director who directed the second instalment of Mardaani! He has created a fiercely independent and courageous woman on screen and I respect him for doing so because cinema can do a lot to represent women well!”

“From stalwarts like Pradeep Sarkar, who directed me in Laaga Chunari Mein Daag, to visionaries like Kamal Hassan sir with whom I collaborated for Hey Ram, or forward-thinking minds like Siddharth Anand in Ta Ra Rum Pum or Raj Kumar Gupta in No One Killed Jessica or Reema Kagti in Talaash, the sensitive storytellers like Siddharth P. Malhotra in Hichki and Ashima Chibber in MCVN, working with all these people expanded my horizon as an actor,” she said.

Rani added: “Each of these films shaped me into the actor that I’m today and I know I gave all my heart to these roles too! I’m constantly looking for a challenge and new minds pose that in front of me which is why I love to work with them. I love how subversive new minds can be. They fuel me with an infectious energy that I thrive on set. I will always look to unite with such talents in the years to come.”

On the work front, she was last seen in ‘Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway’.

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Bollywood Books Lite Blogs

Rani Mukerji’s memoir to be released on her birthday

The memoir is a personal, disarmingly honest account of Rani’s journey. It will give readers a look into the Bollywood star’s life like never before…reports Asian Lite News

Marking her debut as an author, actress Rani Mukerji tells it all in her candid autobiography, which is set to release next year on her birthday, March 21.

Rani said: “In the 25 years that I have so lovingly spent in the Indian film industry, I have never spoken my heart out about my life and my journey in cinema. As women in cinema, we are constantly judged and the book delves into my personal trials and tribulations and the impact it had on me, as I navigated the industry and my career.”

“I haven’t had the time to pause, look back on my life, retrospectively and introspectively. This memoir was my way of reminiscing what I have been through right from my childhood.”

She added: “This one’s for my fans and for every single person who has given me boundless love and kept me grounded. I look forward to their reactions when this book releases on my birthday next year, making the day even more special!”

The memoir is a personal, disarmingly honest account of Rani’s journey. It will give readers a look into the Bollywood star’s life like never before.

HarperCollins India is delighted to announce the acquisition of actor Rani Mukerji’s autobiography to be published on March 21, 2023.

Bushra Ahmed, Senior Commissioning Editor, HarperCollins India, said: “For many of us who grew up in the 2000s, Rani Mukerji was everything an actor should be: beautiful, refreshingly different and a compelling performer.”

“She belongs to that time in cinema when stars sparkled on the silver screen without the razzle-dazzle of social media fame; an actor who stands on the might of her powerful portrayals of women in her films.”

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Bollywood Films Lite Blogs

Rani doesn’t feel anything has changed

She added: “So, it’s really crazy that somebody says 25 years…I say ‘don’t say na 25 years’ it’s making me feel like I am here forever.”…Rani speaks with Durga Chakravarty

She made her acting debut with the Bengali film ‘Biyer Phool’ in 1996 and entered Bollywood the same year with ‘Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat’. Rani Mukerji, who has been in the industry for over 25 years, has talked about how in Bollywood the definition of a “heroine” has changed over the years.

Rani, who has always wooed the audiences with her power-packed performances, says actresses have always been showcased in a “dynamic” way and that films “portray women in the way the society sees them”.

Talking to about it, Rani, who has impressed the audience and critics alike with her impactful skills in movies such as ‘Hey Ram’, ‘Saathiya’, ‘Black’, ‘Mardaani’ and ‘Hichki’ among many others, said: “For me, a heroine has always been a quintessential Hindi film heroine. I don’t think anything has changed.”

“If you see the graph of film actresses from the ’40s or from ’50s, you will see that Indian women were always portrayed in a very dynamic way…barring a few because every time your film has to reflect society as such. So, if you have seen the growth in India…you have seen the growth in the films as well in all characters and stories.”

Rani added: “Things have changed with the times so I think films portray women in the way that the society sees them, the way they are right now and with each passing year that’s what has happened and shown in films.”

Having been in the industry for over two decades, Rani does not “feel” it.

“When somebody says 25 years I say ‘oh really!’ because for me it just doesn’t feel like it is 25 years. Time has really flown I feel. I still remember my first day on my first film, I still remember my ‘Ghulam’ days, ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’…”

She added: “So, it’s really crazy that somebody says 25 years…I say ‘don’t say na 25 years’ it’s making me feel like I am here forever.”

Rani, who is married to the head honcho of Yash Raj Films Aditya Chopra and has a daughter named Adira, has reprised her role of Babli/Vimmy in the latest release ‘Bunty Aur Babli 2’.

Is there any pressure to up her own game every time she comes on screen?

Pat came to the reply: “Absolutely”.

That’s the fun of it, feels Rani.

“That’s the fun I feel for my craft you see because when I kind of work in a film that challenges me as an artist that is what drives me. That is what makes me kind of excited about going back on set and trying to deliver something I don’t think I will be able to do unless or until I reach the set. So, there is always that excitement you know.”

ALSO READ-Rani asks for more Bablis in the world

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Bollywood Lite Blogs

Rani asks for more Bablis in the world

She added that her character Babli to her has been one of the characters who has a great spirit and is super entertaining…reports Asian Lite News.

Actress Rani Mukerji says she never knew that she would be able to do a sequel to the 2005 film ‘Buntry Aur Babli’ and is ecstatic to be able to reprise the same character she played over 15 years back.

Rani said: “‘Bunty Aur Babli 2’ script when it came to me, It was quite a pleasant surprise for me because I never knew that we would ever be able to do a sequel of ‘Bunty Aur Babli 1’, there were talks about this film right from the start when we released ‘Bunty Aur Babli 1’ but the script could never be cracked all these years, finally after so many years when I was approached with the script I was just so ecstatic to be able to reprise the same character which I did more than 15 years back.”

She added that her character Babli to her has been one of the characters who has a great spirit and is super entertaining.

Rani said: “She is somebody who I would personally like to be friends with. I think she has a zest for life and believes in living life to the fullest and is very positive about her own life and her surroundings.”

Talking about what makes her character also special, Rani said that “she is somebody who never takes anything to heart and she overcomes difficult times with a lot of positivity and enthusiasm. I think there is something to learn from her character, even as a person I think we need more Babli’s in the world.”

Yash Raj Films’ ‘Bunty Aur Babli 2’, which releases on November 19, also stars Siddhant Chaturvedi and debutante Sharvari.

It has been directed by Varun V. Sharma.

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