From bit roles in C grade movies to the polished performance in 'Black', birthday girl Rani Mukerji, who turns 29 Wednesday, can look back at the last 10 years with deep satisfaction.
When she joined the film force in 1996 with the box office dud 'Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat', she was literally written off by critics. Rani was plump, short, her voice was rough and nobody was willing to work with her.
Then cousin Kajol, a big star then, put in a word for her and Karan Johar hesitatingly cast her in his directorial debut 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai'. There was no looking back after that. The poor cousin metamorphosed into a rising star, considered one of the most powerful women in Bollywood today.
'When Karan wanted my voice to be dubbed for 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai', I really thought that it was bad and very husky and rough, but slowly I worked to improve my diction, and am now quite comfortable with it,' Rani was quoted as saying.
Karan didn't regret his decision. The film was a blockbuster and Rani got rave reviews. Not only was she honoured with the Filmfare award, offers started pouring in as well.
Since then, Rani has played a successful innings and has given hits like 'Black' (2005) 'Bunty Aur Babli' (2005), 'Paheli' (2005) 'Veer-Zaara' (2004), 'Hum Tum' (2004) 'Yuva' (2004) 'Chalte Chalte' (2003) 'Saathiya' (2002) 'Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham' (2001) and 'Ghulam' (1998).
She was also seen in an unconventional role in Kamal Hassan's 'Hey Ram', which made headlines because of her kissing scene. But she rebuffed all the controversies saying that the kiss with Kamal was mechanical. 'He was constantly checking the right angle. Where was the passion?'
She claims that Kamal re-invented the actress in her after the 'Hey Ram' experience.
Last year, Rani had two releases -- 'Kabhi Alvida Naa Khena' (KANK) and 'Baabul' - both damp squibs. However, that didn't really make a difference because her performance was appreciated and applauded.
With six Filmfare awards in her kitty, the actress has today surpassed her rivals and is touted as one of the most versatile and talented actress.
As she climbed up the success ladder, controversies followed her to the top. In November last year, she was shooting a film in Varanasi when fans crowded the set and security guards beat them up with sticks. There was a storm in the media and reports that said she should have stopped the security guards. Rani even apologised for her behaviour at the conference but it didn't seem enough.
'I was asked to say sorry for my behaviour at the press conference, which I did,' she said.
Another controversy was her tiff with KANK co-star Preity Zinta. Talk of their tiff travelled all the way to India from New York but Rani put a stop to it by making an appearance with Preity on the Holi special episode of STAR Plus' quiz show 'Kaun Bangea Crorepati', hosted by friend and colleague Shah Rukh Khan.
Rani is currently busy with Bhansali's 'Saawariya' and Siddharth Anand's 'TaRa Rum Pum', which is releasing on April 27. The story revolves around a racing driver and Rani is paired with Saif Ali Khan in the film.
She will also feature in Pradeep Sarkar's 'Laaga Chunari Mein Daag', hitting the marquee on Oct 12.
As far as her love life goes, she has been linked with her co-stars like Govinda, Abhishek Bachchan and right now the buzz is that she is dating the elusive Aditya Chopra.
Rani - From Poor Cousin To Bollywood's Biggest Star
After Pepsi ad, Shahrukh and John team up again
After giving us a hilarious Pepsi ad, the newly discovered combo of SRK and John will be seen on the silver screen for yet another acclaimed director – Rajkumar Hirani’s next film. And believe it or not there is more to the already great combination. The film is based on the famous book “Five Point Someone: What Not to Do at IIT” by Chetan Bhagat.
On the book:
Three hostelmates - Alok, Hari and Ryan get off to a bad start in IIT - they screw up the first class quiz. And while they try to make amends, things only get worse. It takes them a while to realize: If you try and screw with the IIT system, it comes back to double screw you. Before they know it, they are at the lowest echelons of IIT society. They have a five-point-something GPA out of ten, ranking near the end of their class. This GPA is a tattoo that will remain with them, and come in the way of anything else that matters - their friendship, their future, their love life. While the world expects IITians to conquer the world, these guys are struggling to survive. Will they make it? Do underperformers have a right to live? Can they show that they are not just a five-point-somebody but a five-point-someone?’
The film will go on floor in November and will release by summer next summer. Now what needs to know is who will play the third character!!! Hmmm…yet another off beat film with SRK and John for commercial element. I have lots of hopes on this one!!!
Amitabh Bachchan not very happy with RGV’s AAG
With Amitabh Bachchan not being happy about the final product of Sholay’s remake ‘Aag’, RGV’s next film Cobra has come to a stand still. As reported earlier, the Amitabh- Abhishek and Ajay Devgan starer Cobra was RGV’s next ambitious project with the Bachchan clan. After the disastrous response from both public and critics, this project had actually become a dream for RGV but Abhishek came to his rescue by suggesting that Cobra should now have either Saif Ali Khan or Salman Khan to make it interesting. And guess what? Papa Bachchan seems very hopeful about this idea and has again taken interest in reviving RGV’s Cobra.
But to come to think of it…will Salman ever be a part of Bachchan films or rather will Salman be able to do the film because of his imprisonment? And also if Saif or Salman have a slot will Ajay be given any role in the film? God looks like RGV is in real mess, if he convinces one the other will be annoyed…
Dutt refuses to comment on use of Govt. vehicle
New Delhi, Sept. 3 (PTI): Bollywood star and Mumbai serial blasts convict Sanjay Dutt's travel by a government car for his pilgrimage to Vaishno Devi cave shrine has sparked controversy with the actor today refusing to comment on the issue.
"I have no idea about it," he told reporters at the airport here after returning from the shrine in Jammu and Kashmir.
Braving rough weather, Dutt and his girlfriend, Manyata, along with two other friends visited the shrine last night.
The 48-year-old actor, sentenced to six years imprisonment in connection with the Mumbai blasts case, is currently out on bail.
Dressed in a white kurta and jeans, Dutt did not respond to any other questions and only said "Jai Mata Di" as he left for Mumbai.
In Jammu, Dutt yesterday said he would seek the deity's blessings for "everyone" including actor Salman Khan, who was convicted in a poaching case