It's Rani Mukherji's 35th birthday today. Let's take a look at her journey so far.
Rani Mukherji was born on March 21, 1978 in Mumbai. She went to Maneckji Cooper High School and graduated in Home Science from SNDT Women's University.
Rani Mukherji comes from a film-oriented Bengali family. Rani's father Ram Mukherji is one of the founders of Filmalaya Studios, while mother Krishna was a playback singer. Her brother Raja is a film producer-turned-director. Her maternal aunt, Debashree Roy is a renowned Bengali actress.
Rani's cousin is actress Kajol. Another cousin, Ayan Mukherji, the writer and director of Wake Up Sid and Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, is the latest family member to make a splash in Bollywood. Other cousins Sharbani Mukherji and Tannishaa have also tried their luck in Bollywood.
Rani made her acting debut when she was fourteen, in the Bengali film Biyer Phool (1992). She made her Bollywood debut playing the lead role of a rape victim in Raja Ki Ayegi Baraat in 1996. Later, she returned back to college to complete her education.
After a two year hiatus, Rani got a glamorous role in Karan Johar's directorial debut Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998), with Shah Rukh Khan and cousin Kajol. And the rest, as they say, is history!
She also won a Filmfare for Best Supporting Actress Award for her performance in the movie.
Rani starred opposite Mr Perfectionist Aamir Khan in Ghulam, the same year. The hit song Aati Kya Khandala is still very popular today.
Rani's early successes were then followed by a string of forgettable films. Although Badal opposite Bobby Deol and Hello Brother, also featuring Salman Khan, were box office hits in 1999 and 2000, she still had a long way to go.
In 2001, Rani starred in Abbas Mustan's romantic drama Chori Chori Chupke Chupke, co-starring Salman Khan and Preity Zinta.
The actress next played the lead in Kunal Kohli's romance Mujhse Dosti Karoge! (2002), along with Hrithik Roshan and Kareena Kapoor. It was the first of many collaborations with Yash Raj Films.
Rani then starred in Shaad Ali's critically acclaimed Saathiya, opposite Vivek Oberoi. She won a Filmfare Critics' Award for Best Performance, and among several other nominations, received her first Best Actress nomination at the Filmfare. Saathiya proved to be a turning point in Rani's career.
Rani's first 2003 release was Aziz Mirza's drama Chalte Chalte opposite Shah Rukh Khan. Her role was similiar to her character in Saathiya, and she received her second nomination for the Filmfare Best Actress Award.
In 2004, her performance as a Bengali housewife in Mani Ratnam's Yuva won Rani her second Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award.
Next up was the romantic comedy, Hum Tum, which became one of the biggest hits of the year. The film, based on the 1989 film When Harry Met Sally..., was directed by Kunal Kohli. Rani finally got her first Filmfare Best Actress Award.
Yash Chopra's love saga Veer Zaara (2004) alongside Shah Rukh Khan and Preity Zinta, had Rani playing the role of a lawyer.
Rani's most critically acclaimed performance as the blind, deaf and mute Michelle McNally in Black (2005), earned her the Filmfare Best Actress Award for the second year in a row.
In 2005, Rani starred in three other high-profile films: Shaad Ali's Bunty Aur Babli, Amol Palekar's Paheli and Ketan Mehta's Mangal Pandey: The Rising.
The actress was offered the lead role in Mira Nair's Hollywood film, The Namesake but she turned it down because the shooting schedule clashed with that of Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (2006). The multi-starrer film had her share screen space with Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Abhishek Bachchan, Preity Zinta and Kirron Kher.
Rani's first 2007 release, Ta Ra Rum Pum, where she played a pianist turned housewife, was a semi hit.
Critical and commercial failures like Pradeep Sarkar's drama Laaga Chunari Mein Daag and Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Saawariya failed to do justice to Rani's acting talent.
Rani's role in Kunal Kohli's Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic (2008), however, received positive reviews.
Rani donned an itsy-bitsy bikini to show off her toned body best in Dil Bole Hadippa (2009), where she featured opposite Shahid Kapoor. But it the film turned out to be a box office dud.
In 2011, Rani made a comeback of sorts in No One Killed Jessica with actress Vidya Balan. Directed by Raj Kumar Gupta, the movie made news for more reasons than one.
2012 was a great year for the actress as she had two major releases. Rani received good reviews for her acting chops in Anurag Kashyap's production venture Aiyyaa, although the film failed to make an impact at the box office.
Right after Aiyyaa, she was seen sharing screen space with Aamir Khan once again in Reema Kagti's sensational thriller Talaash. The film was a hit.
Rani and director Aditya Chopra have long been rumoured to be a couple, albeit one of Bollywood's most secretive. Rani habitually dodges questions about and photographs with Aditya, but was recently spotted wearing a diamond ring at a cocktail party. Sources claim that Rani and Aditya are planning to make it official.
