30 years of Rani Mukerji: The voice, the grit, and the woman who stayed

Thirty years since her debut with the film Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat, Rani Mukerji remains one of Hindi cinema’s most consistent and compelling actors. Her journey, however, did not begin with ambition or starry-eyed dreams. Speaking at an event in Mumbai on Thursday, moderated by her dear friend, filmmaker Karan Johar, Mukerji reflected on a childhood shaped by financial strain and emotional strength, and a career that started because it had to.

Looking back, she spoke about growing up in a humble Bengali household where her parents worked hard to make ends meet. “I used to see them struggle through their days,” she said, recalling moments when her mother couldn’t afford things she wanted to buy for her. Yet what stayed with Mukerji was not the lack, but the attitude. “I saw my mom go through those days with so much happiness, with that bright smile and laughter. It never came in the way of our happiness.”

That outlook, she said, stayed with her. The idea that no matter the circumstance, one keeps moving forward.

A career born out of necessity

For Mukerji, acting was never the plan. In fact, she admitted it was her mother who encouraged her to take up her first film. “My mum pushed me to do the movie, and she said, ‘If this doesn’t work, you can always go back to studies.’” At the time, the actress, still in her teens, did not fully grasp the intention behind that decision. “I never realised then that my mom was probably finding a way to make the financial situation in my house better.”

Her debut film, Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat, was an unfamiliar world. “That was one movie where I didn’t know what I was doing. I was blindly following my mum’s instructions,” she admitted. There was no strategy, no roadmap. “My parents wanted to marry me off. I started working because I had to support my family. There was no plan to be an actor, no blueprint for stardom.”

Early success and quiet setbacks

What followed was a string of films that steadily placed Mukerji at the centre of mainstream Hindi cinema. Ghulam, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Saathiya, Hum Tum, Veer Zaara, Yuva, Black, and Mardaani showcased not only her range but also her willingness to take risks.

Yet her early years were not without hurt. One of the most difficult moments she recalled was her voice being dubbed in Ghulam. As a newcomer, she felt she had little choice. “For me, it was a big thing to be able to do a film with Aamir Khan,” she said. She recalled Khan explaining that actors have to make sacrifices for their films, and that her original voice was "not apt" for her character. Though she understood the reasoning, “it was a little upsetting,” she admitted, even if she never showed it.

Finding her voice, literally and otherwise

But that changed with Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. Mukerji credited Karan Johar for trusting her voice when others had not. She recalled him telling her, “I love your voice. You will dub for my film.” Breaking down as she spoke, she said his belief allowed her to retain her voice in all her future films. “You believed in my voice. You believed in me.”

Over the years, the same voice became one of her most defining traits, as recognisable as her screen presence.

Success, heartbreak, and perspective

Even acclaim came with its share of disappointment. Speaking about not winning the National Award for Black, which still is one of the most acclaimed works in her filmography, Mukerji shared, “More than me, it broke the heart of all my fans. It broke my father’s heart. It broke my mom’s heart." 

Still, she remains clear-eyed about what drives her. “Yes, it did hurt back then. But the way I have conducted my career and my life... I started off because my mom asked me to be an actor. I realised that through my work I could give my parents a better life. My goal was never to win an award so that it makes me happy. Winning awards is about recognition for the entire team. I now know that as an actor, I just have to constantly keep working.”

In 2025, Mukerji finally won the National Award for Best Actress for her film, Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway, and received her long-awaited due. After winning it, she had dedicated it to her late father, who, she said, had "always dreamt of this moment".

Thirty years on, Mukerji’s career stands on performances that range from romantic leads to fierce, socially driven roles, such as No One Killed Jessica, Mardaani, Hichki, and Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway. More than milestones, it is her consistency and versatility that define her legacy. A career built without a master plan, driven instead by grit, grace, and the resolve to never give up.

All images: YRF

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