TLI Staff
New Delhi: Rani Mukerji has made a mark in Bollywood with the right mix of commercial hits and critically acclaimed films like Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Ghulam, Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham, Saathiya, Hadh Kar Di Aapne, Hum Tum, Bunty Aur Babli, Black and many others in a career spanning more than two decades.
The actress is known for her magnetic screen presence and fine acting chops but her fans might not be aware that Rani was not interested in acting initially and cried copiously when she got her first-ever offer by Salim Khan when she was in Class 9.
In a candid chat on JioSaavn NoFilterNeha Season4, Rani opened up on her disinterest in films and how she rejected Salim Khan’s offer to star in Aa Gale Lag Jaa. Destiny had some other plans for her and she agreed to audition for Raaja Ki Aayegi Baraat and ended up landing the role. After that, there was no looking back,
Here’s how a reluctant Rani made a beginning in Bollywood.
My mum told the producer, don’t sign her
Rani was called for audition when she was in Class 9 and describes it as a horrible experience. Eventually, her mother had to tell the producer, don’t sign her.
“At that time I think I was giving my 9th grade so Salim uncle basically wanted to cast me in his movie and he told my mum that I think Rani has got a very photogenic face and I think she should be in films. So to keep matters short, when Salim uncle came home and offered me ‘Aa Gale Lag Jaa’ for some strange reason I started crying because you know I was in a school in Juhu and being filmy was not considered very hip and cool those days. It was like why would I want to be in films. So I didn’t go for the audition.”
When Rani finally auditioned for her debut movie: I was like what are these clothes
“And then finally after my 12th grade, Salim uncle again came back because he was making this film called ‘Raja Ki Aayegi Baarat’, he had just produced a film with Aamir and Mamta called ‘Baazi’ which was directed by Ashutosh Gowarikar. So next he was doing this film called ‘Raja Ki Aayegi Baarat’ and for some strange reason he decided that he wants to go with a new face. And by that time I was a little more mature because I was in my 12th grade so this time when the offer came, my mum straight away came and told me see Rani opportunity doesn’t come and knock you on your door everyday, this has come to you, you should be grateful.
So I said okay. As a 12th grader I thought chalo year let me just do a film and I’ll become a lawyer later. Karte karte Salim uncle told my mom that haan this is all fine but let’s just see how Rani looks in front of the camera, we’ll see how it goes. So that’s when they made me wear Mamta Kulkarni’s boots, short skirt, and clothes from Baazi. So I was like what are these clothes, I have never worn these clothes ever in my life and they made me say some lines and they gave me one page long lines and they put glycerin in my eyes and I’m like who are these people putting horrible things in my eyes. I was like what is happening, no I never want to do this. And I was really bad and they thought that I looked really photogenic. The cameraman, the director, Ashok Gaikwad and Salim uncle, they all three were really happy with the way I looked and they said if she prepares herself, I’m sure she can do it.”
Rani’s acting lessons and her first shot
“When I went to Roshan Taneja’s classes and I do remember that very clearly even till date because it had such a big impact in my life that I do remember it today after 24 years you know where I understood that there is no method of really learning acting, you have to feel it. It has to be inside you, you have to feel the emotion.
And then I went for these classes and Chandrachoor Singh and Jimmy Sheirgill, they were my seniors and they were debuting with ABCL films’ Tere Mere Sapne, so they were getting better at the thing so they were already there. I remember Roshan Taneja telling me that watch Chandrachoor, see how he performs and stuff like that so I remember all those things very clearly.
And then I started my first film after that one month of being with Roshan Sir which I think really helped me because somewhere I was able to lose a little bit of my inhibition, because I was shy, I was an introvert. In the mahurat when I gave my first shot, something clicked because I had said my lines without any hesitation and everybody clapped after that, you know that typical mahurat shot that used to happen at that time.
And after that it was no looking back for me. Then it just came naturally to me, then after one by one by one by one. So you have to thank my mum for that. It’s like the way god had planned this for me. I cant think of anything else because like you know this debate on nepotism that people from the industry of course get opportunity which I do agree because you are close to the circle that is making films. But at he end of the day its the audience that either approves of you or disapproves of you. So anybody can be from an industry but not necessarily is going to be successful.”