As the auspicious festival of Diwali and Kali Puja casts a festive spell across Bollywood, the city’s glitterati stepped out in vibrant sartorial choices and joyous spirits. Among the star-studded festival celebrations, actress Rani Mukerji made headlines with her heartfelt gesture that has since captured the admiration of fans and social media users alike. She was seen partaking in the rituals and connecting with the community through a simple, yet deeply touching act—feeding sweets to a young child.
Rani, renowned for her gracious and benevolent persona, attended a puja that saw her bonding with attendees, especially the younger ones. Clad in a dazzling purple ethnic attire that was accentuated by pristine white flowers adorning her hair, Rani exuded elegance and charm. This radiant display was only further embellished by the adorable interaction she shared with a child during the festivities. As cameras captured the moment, Rani was seen gently offering sweets to the child, who responded with an innocent, heart-melting smile—a sight that quickly went viral and melted hearts across the internet.
While this small moment of kindness might seem ordinary, it serves as a reminder of the festive season’s essence—sharing joy and fostering connections. It’s not just about the grandeur of celebrations but the warmth and togetherness they bring. Such gestures highlight how filmdom’s celebrities remain grounded and approachable despite their soaring national and international fame.
Simultaneously, Rani Mukerji’s professional life is abuzz with activity and anticipation. She is gearing up for an exciting new venture, reprising her beloved role as the tenacious cop ACP Shivani Shivaji Roy in the upcoming sequel, Mardaani 3. In a cinema landscape often dominated by male protagonists, Rani stands out for headlining one of Bollywood’s few female-led cop franchises, adding depth and diversity to the Indian cinema narrative.
In a recent interaction with Mid-day, Rani spoke candidly about the journey of the ‘Mardaani’ series. The actress recalled how the first film was born out of a collective sense of outrage and empathy following the infamous Nirbhaya case. What initially started as a heartfelt response to real-world issues has now become an acclaimed franchise, admired for its realism and grip on the audience’s conscience.
. Although the script for Mardaani 3 is yet to be finalized, Rani assures fans that the gritty realism that characterizes Shivani’s story will remain intact.
Rani’s dedication to depict a real-world cop experience, avoiding theatrical exaggerations, is a testament to her commitment as an artist. “Even the third part will be raw, gritty, and close to reality. Mardaani is known for its realism. My character is not a larger-than-life, action heroine who is kicking 10 villains, sending them up in the air. Shivani behaves like a real cop; you won’t see a real cop doing somersaults and kicking in the air,” she emphasizes.
The cinematic landscape has been gradually recovering post the pandemic-induced slump, with the film industry seeing a resurgence in cinematic releases through 2023. Rani Mukerji reflects on this shift with optimism, pointing to how blockbusters like ‘Pathaan,’ ‘Gadar 2: The Katha Continues,’ ‘Jawan,’ and ‘Animal’ marked the audiences’ return to theaters. This process has energized the industry, allowing filmmakers to take creative risks without the overshadowing fear of empty theaters.
Rani’s 2023 release, ‘Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway,’ serves as a testimony to this shift, as it received acclaim for its storytelling and engaging content. Through this film, Rani asserts the value of content-driven cinema, which doesn’t rely purely on visual spectacle to draw audiences. For Rani, choosing a project is an instinctive decision, one where the story’s potential impact outweighs commercial considerations. “I choose my movies instinctively. It’s not necessary that a good content-driven film will get an audience in the times that we were releasing it, so there was always a fear. But we went in with our gut instinct, [we knew] it was an important story that had to be told.”
While Rani Mukerji revels in the joys of festivity and prepares for another cinematic endeavor, her gesture towards the child during Diwali remains resonant—a simple, yet profound display of the human spirit during times of celebration.
