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BRANDY EYES
Even while she was in school, this pretty little girl with brandy eyes and a husky voice was being sought after by filmmakers. Her father Ram Mukherjee belonged to the illustrious Mukherjee family that owned Filmalaya Studios. He had directed some movies in his heydays. Despite such a good background she had a lousy start. Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat was a washout. Luckily it came and went without many people noticing.
With Ghulam Vikram Bhatt came up with his own version of On the Waterfront with Aamir Khan doing what Marlon Brando did, play an underdog who dares to take on the mighty mafia. Pretty Rani played the girl who brings love and purpose into the life of this wasteful young man. 'Aati kya Khadala' spawned a whole generation of tapori songs. 'Aankhon se tune ye kya keh diya' highlighted Rani's lovely brandy eyes. With her second movie, Rani got the kind of a break she deserved. But there was no resting on the laurels for her.
Up ahead was Karan Johar who exacted a sweetheart performance out of her in the hep college saga - Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. In this Joharian take on Archie-Betty-Veronica, Rani was the IT girl, Veronica. She wore micro minis and sang to a guitar. It was easy to see that here was a girl with an illustrious career ahead of her.
OOPS
Hello Brother, Hadh Kar di aapne, Bichchoo, Baadal were some mistakes that Rani would probably want to sweep under the carpet. Despite having co-stars like Salman, Arbaaz, Govinda, Bobby Deol, these movies were nasty bombs.
Hey Ram co-starred Rani with Kamal Hassan. She had some steamy scenes here with him and eyebrows were raised at her attempt to be bold. The movie was hatke, but did not do well.
Her outings with best friends (at that time) Preity Zinta and Salman Khan, Chori Chori Chupke Chupke and Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega ran well. Nayak (hit) was all about Anil Kapoor and his confrontation with Amrish Puri, but Rani was the romantic lead. Her first venture with Abhishek, Bas itna sa Khwab Hai had a nightmarish run.
UPWARD SPIRAL
Next up was Shaad Ali's Saathiya co-starring Rani with Vivek Oberoi. It was a movie about puppy love that runs into rough weather after marriage. It had lovely music by AR Rahman. Vivek was hot after his success with Company. The movie was fresh and sweet and a big hit.
Chalte Chalte saw Shahrukh with Rani in this home production. It was again a movie about love marriage that runs into rough weather post marriage. But here Rani wore lovely skirts and such trendy clothes. This movie was a hit too. Rani's brandy eyes were slowly casting their spell on the viewers.
Yuva brought out the best in Rani. Mani Ratnam is known as a skillful director, and he succeeded here. Rani played Sashi, the distressed wife of a semi-gunda Lallan (Abhishek). She tries to make him walk the straight path, but in the end, Lallan chooses to walk the wild side with the mafia. In a poignant scene, Sashi convinces Lallan to return to the village and waits for him in a train. When the train starts moving, Sashi knows her husband wont ever return to her. The sadness in her eyes speaks volumes. No wonder this role fetched Rani loads of accolades.
TOPPER
Hum Tum was Kunal Kapoor's second movie and an Indian Harry met Sally. Saif and Rani keep bumping into each other till they discover, at the fag end, that they are soulmates and cannot live without each other. The movie was a superduper hit. It brought a much needed commercial success to Rani. She was now in the same category as Madhuri Dixit who was held up as a great actress who knew how to act in a commercial film.
Veer Zaara starred Preity and Shahrukh as the star crossed lovers. Rani had the pivotal role of a lawyer bent upon bringing the lovers together. The movie was a tailormade 5 hankie weepie out of Yash Raj studios and predictably swept the box office
Black was not the kind of a movie that could be expected to do anything at the box office. Amitabh Bachchan was an aged teacher, and Rani was a deafmute. But Sanjay Leela Bhansali recreated a early 1900 Shimla ambience and the movie touched everyone's heart. Amitabh was ofcourse the best thing in the movie, but everyone swore that no other actress could do what Rani did. She played a deafmute girl trying to find means to express herself. The movie was sensitive and a rare treat. It swept all manners of awards and did well at the BO too.
SOMEBODY STOP ME
2005 has undoubtably been the best year for Rani. At the outset there was the awesome Black. And then, right on its heels, the sophomore Shaad Ali venture, Bunty aur Babli. B&B were the Indian Bonnie and Clyde. The movie had a surprising amount of success. The BO takings were through the roof.
Amol Palekar's Paheli was based on a Rajasthani short story and the look was completely ethnic. Tanishq went berserk with product placement. Rani's classic features looked fabulous with the jadao neckpeices supplied by Tanishq. All the show and pomp did not mar the beautiful story about an abandoned wife who finds love with a Ghost. The movie did not do as well as expected but it was India's entry into Oscars. The movie was well appreciated by a discerning crowd.
Another hotly awaited movie of 2005 was Mangal Pandey. Rani had an important role of a prostitute who awakens the nationalistic feelings within Mangal Pandey by taunting him. The movie had a wonderful opening and was a hit of sorts, but spawned a lot of unfortunate controversies. Critically, it was deemed a failure.
SLUMP
Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna had everything going for it.. the topmost stars, the famous director, a famed production house. But the movie lost its way. Shahrukh and Rani, the married people who fall in love were berated for being overly weepy and morose. It is claimed that the movie was a big success overseas. Baabul again had a good story and star cast. Rani was to pair with John, but the movie was slow and so was the BO.
Tara Rum Pum Pum managed to do well, but not much. Rani was with Saif here, her Hum Tum co-star. She played an onscreen mother for the first time. However, the movie was not universally liked.
UPCOMING
Laaga Chunri Mein Daag is the sophomore outing of the acclaimed Pradeep Sarkar. The cast is in place and expectations are high. It is to be seen if the movie is what it is made out to be. Rani is also going to show up in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's next, Saawariya, along with Salman.
Watch out folks..
GOSSSSSIP
Although Rani is known as goody-two-shoes, she has had her share of controversies. First it was the cold vibes between her and Kajol, her cousin. It is also whispered that her success was also due to Kajol bowing out of the film world post marriage. Then it was her now on and now off friendship with Preity.
She was rumoured to be involved with Govinda quite heavily, the parties concerned denied it vehemently. Then it was Abhishek. Gossip mongers were quite convinced that she was the girl and would soon be Mrs Bachchan. But up came the fresh controversy about Aditya Chopra. She is still battling that one.
Then recently there was a rumour about her smoking heavily. Thats the one that Rani is fighting currently.
- Saawariya (2007) (post-production) .... Gulab
- Daag.lkc">Laaga Chunari Mein Daag (2007) (post-production) (as Rani Mukerji)
- Ta Ra Rum Pum (2007) (as Rani Mukerji) .... Radhika Shekhar Rai Bannerjee/Shona
- Baabul (2006) (as Rani Mukerji) .... Malvika Talwar
- Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (2006) (as Rani Mukerji) .... Maya Talwar
- The Rising: Ballad of Mangal Pandey (2005) (as Rani Mukerji) .... Heera
- Paheli (2005) (as Rani Mukerji) .... Lachchi
- Bunty Aur Babli (2005) (as Rani Mukerji) .... Vimmi Saluja/Babli
- Black (2005) (as Rani Mukerji) .... Michelle McNally
- Veer-Zaara (2004) (as Rani Mukerji) .... Saamiya Siddiqui
- Tum.lkc">Hum Tum (2004) (as Rani Mukerji) .... Rhea Prakash
- Yuva (2004) (as Rani Mukerji) .... Sashi Biswas
- LOC Kargil (2003) (as Rani Mukherji) .... Hema
- Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003) (as Rani Mukerji) .... Special Appearance
- Chori Chori (2003) .... Khushi
- Calcutta Mail (2003) .... Bulbul/Reema
- Chalte Chalte (2003) (as Rani Mukherji) .... Priya Chopra
- Ishq-Ladaaye.lkc">Chalo Ishq Ladaaye (2002) (as Rani Mukherji) .... Sapna
- Saathiya.lkc">Saathiya.lkc">Saathi (2002) (as Rani Mukerji) .... Dr. Suhani Sharma
- Dost.lkc">Dosti.lkc">Dost.lkc">Dosti-Karoge.lkc">Mujhse Dost.lkc">Dosti.lkc">Dost.lkc">Dosti Karoge (2002) .... Pooja Sahani
- Diwana-Hota-Hai.lkc">Pyaar Diwana Hota Hai (2002) (as Rani Mukherji) .... Payal Khurana
- Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... (2001) (as Rani Mukherji) .... Naina
- Nayak: The Real Hero (2001) (as Rani Mukherji) .... Manjari
- Bas Itna Sa Khwaab Hai (2001) (as Rani Mukherji) .... Pooja
- Chori Chori Chupke Chupke (2001) .... Priya Malhotra
- Kahin Pyaar Na Ho Jaaye (2000) .... Priya Sharma
- Dil.lkc">Dil-Jo-Pyar-Karega.lkc">Har Dil.lkc">Dil Jo Pyar Karega... (2000) .... Pooja Oberoi
- Bichhoo (2000) (as Rani Mukherji) .... Kiran Bali
- Di-Aapne.lkc">Hadh Kar Di Aapne (2000) .... Anjali Khanna
- Hey Ram (2000) .... Aparna Ram
- Badal (2000) .... Rani
- Hello Brother (1999) .... Rani
- Mann (1999) .... Sexy girl (song "Kali Nagin Ke")
- Mehndi (1998) (as Rani Mukherji) .... Pooja
- Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998) (as Rani Mukherji) .... Tina Malhotra
- Ghulam (1998) .... Alisha
- Raja Ki Ayegi Baraat (1997) .... Mala
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