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She is not very tall, her voice is husky and she does not have fair complexion like other actresses. Still, she came, she conquered and she is now ruling the Bollywood. Yes readers, I am talking about none other than Rani Mukherjee. With her acting talent, this Bengali beauty captivated the Hindi movie audience. Big film producers do not have to worry about casting her in their movies any more. She is one of those actresses who can play any kind of roles and make it look real on big screens.

Rani was born on March 21 1978 to Ram Mukherjee and Krishna Mukherjee. Ram Mukherjee was a director and one of the founders of Filmalaya Studios. Her mother Krishna Mukherjee was a playback singer. Rani has one brother Raja Mukherjee who is now working as a director.  

In 1992, Rani first appeared in a Bengali movie at the age of fourteen titled “Biyar Phool.” The movie was directed by her father. Then Salim Akhtar offered her to work in his movie Aa Gale Lag Jaa. Rani’s father did not want her to get into movies for she was very young. Rani’s debut movie as a heroine was Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat in 1996. In this movie she was paired up with Shadaab Khan, son of famous Bollywood actor Amjad Khan. The movie did not do well.

Success as an actress:

Success came in 1998, with Ghulam, directed by Vikram Bhatt. In this movie, Rani Mukherjee worked with Amir Khan. The movie was very successful and one of the songs “Aati Kya Khandala,” was a super hit and Rani became popular as “Khandala Girl.” That same year, Rani worked in a supporting character in Karan Johar’s movie Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. In this movie, Kajol, her cousin and Shahrukh Khan worked with her. Kuch Kuch Hota Hai was the block buster film of that year and for working in the movie Rani Mukherjee got Film Fare Best Supporting Actress Award.       

1999 to 2001:

Rani Mukherjee did not give any major hit movie at this time. However, Hey Ram (2000) was submitted in the foreign film category in the Oscar. The movie also created controversy for its story and the kissing scene between Rani Mukherjee and Kamal Hassan. In her defense Rani said, “The kiss with Kamal Haasan (in Hey! Ram) was mechanical. He was constantly checking the right angle. Where was the passion?" For her role in Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega (2000) she was again nominated for Film Fare Best Supporting Actress Award.

2002:

Rani Mukherjee again came to limelight in 2002. In Mujhse Dosti Karoge! (2002) she was paired up with Hrithik Roshan. Based on NRI love story, Mujhse Dosti Karoge! did not do well in India but it did great in abroad. Saathiya (2002) was one of the top five movies of 2002. It is actually remake of a Tamil movie, Alaipayuthey, directed by Mani Ratnam. Rani Mukherjee plays the character of Suhani Sharma who falls in love with a law student Aditya (Vivek Oberoi). The two get married without their parents' consent and start living in a poorly decorated apartment. In the begining, their life was fine but then they face various problems. One day, when Suhani does not return home Aditya becomes anxious and goes out to look for her. He finds Suhani in the hospital. Suhani was run over by a car. Aditya then understands how deeply he loves Suhani. Saathiya is a movie on marriage problems.Both Rani Mukherjee and Vivek Oberoi got positive reviews for their performance in Saathiya.