“It wasn’t normal for girls of film families to take up acting back then…”: Rani Mukerji recalls her film debut
(source : ANI) ( Photo Credit : ani)
Bollywood star Rani Mukerji, fresh off her National Award win, shares how the acting world has opened up for young dreamers today—unlike the tough road she faced starting out.
The actress, from a famous film family, comes from the late director Ram Mukherjee and singer Krishna Mukherjee. She’s cousin to Kajol and married to Yash Raj Films chief Aditya Chopra. Hits like Black, Mardaani, Hichki, No One Killed Jessica, and her latest Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway have made her a household name.
In a chat with in Mumbai, Rani explained why her dad hesitated when she wanted to act. “He wasn’t keen because back then, it wasn’t normal for kids from film families to jump in, especially girls,” she said. “Men dominated the profession, not like now when everyone chases their parents’ path.”
She added that the film industry didn’t seem like a solid career choice growing up. “Even in school, I hid that I was from a film family—it wasn’t something to brag about,” Rani recalled. Times felt risky and unglamorous for aspiring actors.
Her mom, though, gave her a shot. Rani laughed about her first screen test: “Mom was open at first, like ‘try it and see.’ But after watching, she told the producer, ‘You’ll ruin your film with her—she’s terrible and you’ll lose money. Don’t take her.'”
The producer, Salim Akhtar of Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat, still signed her. Rani kicked off her career in 1996 with that film and her dad’s directorial Biyer Phool, both hitting screens the same day.
Two decades later, Rani sees big changes. “The vibe is different now,” she said. “More young people want to act—not just from inside the industry, but outsiders too. It’s a real career option everyone eyes.”
She points out how views of actors have shifted. “Back then, stars seemed like gods or mythical figures. Now, regular folks can shine on screen, and cinema feels approachable.”
This year, Rani grabbed her first National Award for Best Actress in Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway. Directed by Ashima Chibber, the movie stars her as Debika, a fierce Indian mom battling Norway’s child welfare system to get her kids back. It draws from the true story of Sagarika Chakraborty and Anurup Bhattacharya, whose children were taken by authorities in 2011 amid cultural clashes over parenting.
The film also features Anirban Bhattacharya, Neena Gupta, and Jim Sarbh, spotlighting the gaps between Indian traditions and Western rules.
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