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Stealing the show... Chalte Chalte
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Elegant, courteous and aware of her goals. That is Rani Mukherjee.
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QUEEN BEE OF TINSEL TOWN: Life has got better and better for Rani Mukherjee in the wake of "Saathiya" and "Chalte Chalte". — Photos: R.V. Moorthy
SHE ASSURES you of the bonhomie that she exudes within moments of knowing her. Compliment her and you can expect a thank you, ask her if she is doing fine and she won't fail to ask about your health as well. She is genial without being tactful and she makes you take note of it soon, if you can escape being mesmerised by her eyes. This is Rani Mukherjee who seems to be basking in the warmth of her newfound success with hits like Saathiya and Chalte Chalte and is all geared up for some more. The candle of thought waxes and wanes but settles for the fact she has come a long way from her debut in Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat. Her performances in Ghulam and Kuchh Kuchh Hota Hai were enamouring too. From the out and out feminist roles to the conventional lead ones to playing second fiddle to being the lead yet again, life has come full circle for Rani, only this time, the circle seems to have an edge over the past.So, what made her choose multi-starrers of late? "I have always looked for the story and the story only. I believe that the movie should be an entertainer and it should entertain me too. That's the only criterion," says the actress who is about to turn a new leaf with her attempts at comedy in Chori Chori. "A small role can also be a satisfying one if it has substance in it." It seems that her need for satisfaction was being translated into films like Hello Brother and Mujhse Dosti Karoge but here it comes: "Satisfaction comes when we do our scenes. Every time the director says `okay' that's when I get the maximum satisfaction. Besides, I get satisfaction with the amount of adulation that I get from the fans. Everything is audience based in Bollywood," believes she.
But the discerning audience of today loves variety and Rani knows it well. "In Chori Chori, I play Miss Nautanki sharing a Tom and Jerry type of relationship with Mr. Sadhiyal played by Ajay Devgan. It's my first comedy role and the film is different from conventional romantic movies in the respect that love slowly blossoms in it. It's not love at first sight thing. Besides, I am also working in Mani Ratnam's yet untitled film, and in Hum Tum with Saif Ali Khan, Ketan Mehta's 1857: The Rising with Aamir, and Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Black with Amitabh Bachchan."
Switching over to different kinds of roles, however, is old hat for her and she does it with such aplomb that no one notices it. She has now left her flute playing days long behind. And distant are the memories of Manipuri, the dance she learnt in her childhood. "My mother forced me to learn Odissi instead of Manipuri and one really can't refuse what the mother wants. So I started with Odissi in 10th standard. Slowly, I started to like it and I made my debut at the Vrindavan Sammelan Dance Festival last September. Besides, I might also have a recital sometime next month in Mumbai," she informs with a hint of the love she has for concerts. "I keep doing concerts, warna ghar kaise chalega," she surmises.
Times in the film scene are changing. If the producers are to be believed, it's the people from the other world, the world of apparitions that can keep the fire going this monsoon. But Rani has other plans. "I don't intend to do a horror movie as I am very scared of ghosts. In fact my family is uncomfortable with that idea. If they promise me that they will see a horror film, I don't mind doing such a role," she admits.
Now, just as you think that you are getting the hang of the person that she is, it is time for yet another role reversal. Gone is the benign Rani and in comes the girl who doesn't mind slapping and whacking people or at least didn't mind that a few years ago. "Yes, I did slap a guy way back in school. But that was then. I am still in touch with him and he tells me that his friends compliment him that I slapped him once," she chuckles as she recounts her school days.
And what's her philosophy in life? "As human beings you should not take yourself seriously. You might fail sometimes but then that's the time when you can really surprise people with hard work. And when you get success, that's the time you need to be alert. It's then that you are at a competing level with yourself," professes she, even as she sets higher levels for herself with a bunch of hits in her kitty.
S.M. YASIR
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