Her infectious laugh and her husky voice have become synonymous with her name. Appearing in movies like 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai', 'Black', 'Saathiya', 'No One Killed Jessica' and ' Mardaani', Bollywood actor Rani Mukherji has carved a niche for herself in the industry and has become one of the most sought-after celebrities over the years.
The actor who was in the city to promote her upcoming film 'Hichki', spoke to Surupasree Sarmmah about the film, life after motherhood and more.
How do you like Bengaluru? How often do you visit this city?
I like Bengaluru a lot. In fact, I came here years back and I used to buy a lot of 'diyas' from M G Road. This time I bought earthen 'tawas' from the road. It is good fun coming to this city. I am hoping that when my daughter Adira grows up and I will travel a little more. I am definitely taking back only pleasant memories with me from Bengaluru. It is a wonderful city.
Tell us a little about your upcoming movie 'Hichki'.
The film is about overcoming a weakness and turning that into a strength. 'Hichki' is an inspirational story about a person who fights all odds. This movie also talks about the educational system of our country and children who come from different socio-economic backgrounds. The kind of discrimination faced by people with disability and children who come from a different background of the society is a major focus.
Why did you choose a project like this?
It would have been impossible to separate me from my daughter if it wasn't for a script like 'Hichki'. It had to be something special for me to be able to leave my child behind and go back to work. This film has that magic because it goes beyond just having a good script with good actors, it is sure to create awareness about Tourette Syndrome - a syndrome that people in India are not very aware of. This film also raises a lot of questions about the discrimination in the society. It is very rare that one gets an opportunity to be part of a project that transcends from just being a film to a film with a purpose.
Many movies in Bollywood today are breaking social taboos by talking about issues like menstruation, cerebral palsy etc . Do you think the taste of mainstream cinema is changing?
People see movies as a mode of entertainment and as long as they see movies that way, they will choose to see all kinds of films. Whether they are films that give out a social message or not, people in India love watching all kind of genres. That is a special quality that we Indian have and that is the reason why our country is one of the largest producers of films. At the end of the day, films are about entertainment.
How has life changed after motherhood?
Life has changed 360 degrees for me. Adira is like a miracle that I am watching every second of my life.
Any tips for new moms?
Only thing I can tell them is that never forget who you are as an individual. Your child is going to be with you for life. Yes, we must spend time with our children but we should also not forget who we are and continue the work we are doing. It is important that children respect their parents equally.
One of your movies that remains your favourite...
I would not like to choose like that but if I have to, it has to be 'Black'.