Rani

a career. I was in a confused state at that point not knowing what path to choose, so I went there and I think there was no stopping after my first film. Although her first film Baraat (1997) was noticed by people in the industry and subsequently got many offers; two of these would really set her career on track. Firstly she worked with Aamir Khan in and then with Shah Rukh Khan in Hota Hai, under the direction of Karan Johar.

Rani agreed that this was an enormous influence on her personally and professionally...

RM: What I learned from them was a work ethic which I think is most important for an actor because if you don’t have that ethic, if you don’t work sincerely, you don’t get anywhere in this industry. That helped me so much, and I got to work with two such great actors of our generation so closely. It really helped me groom myself as an actress.

Since entering cinema in the late nineties Rani Mukherjee has made over 40 films, including a number of significant cameo appearances. are considered landmarks in contemporary Hindi cinemaBlack, Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham does she choose her roles?

RM: The first criteria has always been my role and what can I contribute to the film; for that you have to be in love with the character and really be challenged as an actor for that particular role. So firstly the role, and then it’s a combination of the script and director and who the producers are. I strongly feel films can only really be made the way they need to be made if the producer is able to create what is needed. If the producer does not have the vision professional backing, so all these things are ultimately important to choosing a role.

I have been very lucky by the grace of God that directors have chosen me for very diverse roles and they have landed in my lap.

I am extremely grateful that I was thinking correctly at the time, to say yes to many of these roles. Films like Hum Tum, Chalte Chalte, Yuva, Bunty aur Babli, Black and Paheli, are very dear to my heart because I have been able to show a different side to my personality in each film and that has really enriched me as an actress. All the directors from these films helped me continually improve in my work. This period of my career (from 2002 to 2006) was beneficial personally and professionally because I got to work with great co-stars, and with talented directors who I learnt a lot from, and fortunately they were all good films.

Rani Mukherjee’s entrance into the film industry came at a time when the industry was undergoing changes and films were starting to attract more critical and audience attention outside India, especially after Lagaan was nominated for an Oscar in 2001. How had the industry changed for her?

RM: Actually for me personally, Bollywood has not changed as much as it might have for other people because early in my career I was doing films like Hey Ram and Saathiya which were very realistic films and that helped me see the change, because many of the films were becoming more modern and contemporary, moving away from what might be considered the stereotypical Hindi film. At that time there was a conscious change in the way people were working, a lot of people started treating Indian films more professionally, it became a more professional set up on all levels. So I guess it started at the time I was trying to make my mark in the industry. I actually got into films that were considered that new type of cinema, and it gave me a taste for that kind of cinema. I managed to do films during this period that were entertainment but had a message, films like Yuva and Black, which were also helping me grow.

Rani Mukherjee’s most recent film Dil Bole Hadippa offered her a new challenge as an actress; she had to play someone from the opposite sex. DBH is a delightful and lighthearted story of a Punjabi girl with a very special talent, but to Rani its underlying message is extremely important.

I always want to see women excel in every field. As a woman I feel very strongly about this, because even today in parts of India women are not treated as they should be. I feel very very lucky that I come from a place like Mumbai, where right from childhood I have not seen that inequality. But there are many places in India where there is still a big difference between a man and a woman, and they are not allowed to do certain things apparently because of the culture. In many places there has not been any discernible change, or the change is so gradual, really very very slow. When I do films like this I want to give a message in an entertaining way. So it’s not about muscle power or anything else, it’s just about having the talent and having the passion to use that talent. What if the girl wants to play cricket, why should she be stopped because it’s considered a man’s game… is she not considered as strong as the men? There were lots of factors in the film that really really intrigued me... because if she plays as good as the guys, why can’t she be in the team?

In parts of India the reaction has been very strong and positive, but also I was anxious and curious to know how they would react to me playing a Sadar boy. Lucky for me they were quite fascinated and really tickled by the work and that was a winner for me!

I had such a lot of fun playing that role; of course you want to be tested as an actor, and along comes a role where I am playing another gender. I just felt this was such a great opportunity for me to show another side. I thought, if I were a man, how would I be? I would be a cute, naughty little brat… and that’s what I tried to portray on screen.