Rani Mukerji, the Aati Kya Khandala girl who changed from a glamorous doll to a
woman of substance especially in her movies in the post 2000 era, has won several awards, including seven Filmfare
Awards. Her roles have been cited as a significant departure from the
traditional portrayal of women in Bollywood,
And
now, her latest offering Hichki, a black comedy on the education system is long awaited and going to add
another feather to her strong women-oriented filmography. 
Hichki Movie Poster
It’s almost 20
years since Rani was born into the Mukherjee-Samarth
family--- her father Ram Mukerji was
a famous director and her mother was a Bengali playback singer.
Rani
did not aspire to pursue a career in films. However, when still a teenager, she
dabbled with acting by playing a supporting role in her father's Bengali film Biyer Phool (1996) and later accepted a leading role in the
1997 social drama Raja Ki Aayegi
Baraat at the insistence of her
mother. The film went unnoticed, but the A-grade
producers made a beeline for her.
A Still From Ghulam
Soon, she bagged
Ghulam opposite Aamir Khan where she replaced Pooja Bhatt and became the Aati
Kya Khandala girl, and the rest as they say, is history.
But the movie that made the biggest impact to change her career was Karan
Johar’s Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (she had replaced Twinkle Khanna) where she was a
presented as a glamorous diva opposite Shahrukh Khan and her cousin Kajol.
A Still From Kuch Kuch Hota Hai
In the coming
years, she did big budget movies opposite Salman khan, Govinda, Bobby Deol,
Abhisek Bachchan and others... those were regular potboilers and did not do too
well at the turnstiles, but another game-changer lay in her destiny- Yash Raj
Films- Mujhse Dosti Karogii and Saathiya.
Saathiya was a
huge success both at the box- office and then Yuva, Chalte Chalte and Hum Tum
brought her more accolades and awards.
A Still From Veer Zaara
Veer Zaara, Talaash, No One Killed Jessica, Mardaani... the list became
longer and better.
We now await Hichki, inspired by the life of Brad Cohen, which will
portray her as Naina Mathur, an aspiring teacher suffering from the
Tourrette Syndrome.
Image Source: Instagram/ranimukherjeefp