Photo by Sheldon Santos
Rani Mukerji has been thrilling audiences on the big screen for over 30 years. She is an actress who has it all: the comedy chops, the depth of emotion, and the all-encompassing fall into her characters that makes her one of the greatest to grace the screen.
This year at the prestigious Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM), which is taking place August 13-23, Rani Mukerji is being celebrated for her “extraordinary journey, her powerful impact on global cinema, her dedication to championing strong female voices on screen, and her massive contributions to Indian cinema.”
On IFFM shining the spotlight on her career, Mukerji said, “When I entered the Indian film industry as a young girl, I never imagined that one day my films and the characters that I have been fortunate enough to play would take me across oceans and that people in a beautiful country like Australia would embrace me with so much warmth. Entertaining people across the world with my cinema is the greatest gift this profession has given me. Australia has always welcomed me & Indian cinema with open arms. It has become a place where cultures meet through storytelling, where films remind us that emotions don’t need passports and where love, laughter and hope speak a language we all understand.”
Adding, “I’ve been fortunate to play women who laughed loudly, loved deeply, fought fearlessly and never stopped believing in themselves. In many ways, every character has changed me a little. They’ve made me a better actor, but more importantly, they’ve made me a better human being.”
“As actors, we perform in front of a camera,” she continued, “But the real story begins only when that performance reaches someone’s heart. To know that for three decades my films, my characters and my voice have travelled so far from home and still found a place in your lives is incredibly humbling.”
La Trobe University in Australia also awarded the noted actress an Honorary Doctor of Letters. Talking about this honor, Mukerji said, “Some moments make you stop and take a moment to truly appreciate the journey. Today is one of them. Receiving an Honorary Doctorate from La Trobe University, after nearly three decades in cinema, is a deeply humbling honour. Every character, every story and every experience has shaped the person and actor I am today. And to all the audiences who have welcomed my work into their homes, hearts and memories over the years, this journey would not have been the same without you. I carry this honour with immense gratitude, pride and a renewed belief in the power of stories.“
