As Bollywood actress Rani Mukherjee famous as the Khandala girl turns 32 we take a look at Rani Mukerjee's life so far.
It's Khandala Girl Rani Mukherjee's 32nd birthday today. Let's take a look at her journey so far.
Rani comes from a film-oriented family of Bengali origin.
Rani's father Ram Mukherjee is one of the founders of Filmalaya Studios, while mother Krishna was a playback singer.
Her brother Raja Mukherjee is a film producer-turned-director and is married to Jyoti. The couple has a daughter.
Joining Rani and equally famous cousin Kajol's team is another cousin, Ayan Mukherjee. Writer and director of Wake Up Sid, Ayan is fast earning a name for himself in the industry.
Other cousins Sharbani Mukherjee and Tanisha have also tried their luck in the big, bad world of Bollywood.
Rani was linked to her co-actor Abhishek Bachchan and reports were that the two were secretly engaged but nothing came out of these rumours.
Rani's rumoured affair with Yash Raj Films head Aditya Chopra has been grabbing headlines for quite some time now. Sources claim that Rani and Adi are planning to make it official, even as many fellow actors like Ranveer Singh blurt out juicy details now and then. Our Rani, head of YRF? Not bad, not bad at all!
Rani made her acting debut as the lead in Raja Ki Ayegi Baraat in 1996, where she played a rape victim.
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 earned her the nickname Khandala Girl, still very popular today.
Following this, luck did not favour her much at the box-office. Although Badal was one of the highest grossing films of 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.
Rani next played the lead in Kunal Kohli's romance Mujhse Dosti Karoge, along with Hrithik Roshan and Kareena Kapoor.
Not her biggest success yet, the movie got her the much sought-after entry into the Yash Raj Films banner.
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.
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 Filmfare Best Actress Award.
Rani displayed her fabulous comic timing with Chori Chori, where she starred opposite Ajay Devgn.
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 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 four high-profile films: Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Black, Shaad Ali's Bunty Aur Babli, Amol Palekar's Paheli and Ketan Mehta's Mangal Pandey: The Rising.
Rani was offered the lead role in Mira Nair's Hollywood film, The Namesake but she turned it down due shooting dates clashing with Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna.
Multi-starrer Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna had her share screen space with Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Abhishek Bachchan, Preity Zinta and Kirron Kher.
Romancing SRK on the screen, Rani's bold scenes brought about a complete image-makeover in the industry.
Rani's next release was BR Chopra's Baabul.
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, however, received positive reviews.
Rani donned an itsy-bitsy bikini to show off her toned body best in Dil Bole Hadippa, where she was romanced by Shahid Kapoor.
Rani's last release was No One Killed Jessica with actress Vidya Balan. Directed by Raj Kumar Gupta, the movie made news for more reasons than one.
She also said to have bagged a prestigious project opposite Aamir Khan in Reema Kagti's untitled sensational thriller.
