Rani Mukerji forayed into Bollywood in 1997 with Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat in which she portrayed a rape survivor. Although the film was unsuccessful at the box-office her performance was noticed by critics. (All Pics/mid-day, Jagran archives and YouTube)
Rani Mukerji's breakthrough role was in Vikram Bhatt's 1998 directorial Ghulam in which she was paired opposite Aamir Khan. Rani was nicknamed the 'Khandala girl' after the track Aati Kya Khandala from the film gained popularity.
Rani Mukerji starred alongside Shah Rukh Khan and her cousin Kajol for the first time in Karan Johar's directorial debut Kuch Kuch Hota Hai in 1998 in which her performance was lauded by fans and critics alike.
Rani Mukerji shared the screen with Salman Khan for the first time in the 1999 film Hello Brother, which was directed by Salman's brother Sohail Khan.
Rani Mukerji had already gained a name for her versatile acts. She was seen in the 2000 action film Bichhoo opposite Bobby Deol which was directed by Guddu Dhanoa.
Rani Mukerji co-starred with Vivek Oberoi in the 2002 romantic drama Saathiya, which was a remake of the 2000 Tamil blockbuster Alaipayuthe, which starred Madhavan. The film was a Box Office hit and went on to win six Filmfare Awards.
Rani Mukerji reunited with Kuch Kuch Hota Hai co-star Shah Rukh Khan in the 2003 Aziz Mirza romantic drama Chalte Chalte. The film was declared a hit and its songs too became chartbusters.
Rani Mukerji was paired up with Abhishek Bachchan in the 2004 Mani Ratnam directorial Yuva, which was simultaneously shot in Tamil as Ayutha Ezhuthu. Rani's song 'Kabhi Neem Neem' is still liked by music lovers.
Rani Mukerji delivered perhaps one of her finest performances in her first-ever collaboration with filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali with Black in 2005. She played a deaf-mute and blind woman alongside screen legend Amitabh Bachchan in the film.
2005 was a fruitful year for Rani Mukerji, who was seen in big ventures like Bunty Aur Babli and Mangal Pandey. Though Mangal Pandey didn't do well at the Box Office, her role was appreciated by critics.
2007 saw Rani Mukerji reunite with Sanjay Leela Bhansali in his film Saawariya, which marked the Bollywood debuts of Ranbir Kapoor and Sonam Kapoor. Salman Khan was also seen in an important role in the film. Well, again, though the film did not do well at the Box Office, Rani's role was worth mentioning.
Rani Mukerji played a diligent no-nonsense news reporter in the 2011 film No One Killed Jessica, which was based on the Jessica Lal murder case. She worked alongside Vidya Balan for the first time in the film.
Rani Mukerji essayed Aamir Khan's on-screen wife in Reema Kagti's 2012 mystery-thriller Talaash, which also had Kareena Kapoor Khan as part of the cast. Though she did not have much to do in the film, Rani made sure her screen presence made an impact!
This was an exceptional film in her career so far! Rani Mukerji played an action-oriented character for the first time in the 2014 film Mardaani, in which she portrayed a tough police officer on the hunt for a child trafficker. She won praise for her role, so much so that, Mardaani 2 was recently released!
Rani Mukerji played a special school teacher suffering from Tourette's Syndrome in Hichki. The film directed by Siddharth P Malhotra became an internationally acclaimed film, what with Rani's character being hailed by one and all!
Led by her cop character Shivani Shivaji Roy, who is in hot pursuit of a serial rapist, Rani Mukerji's last release Mardaani 2 tackled the subject of violent crimes against women. In fact, the gruesome depiction of a crime in the trailer indicated that the film wasn't for the faint-hearted.
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