Rani Mukerji Still "Feels Like A Newcomer" After Completing 30 Years In Cinema
Updated on: 13 January, 2026 01:04 PM IST |Shweta Shah
30 years of Rani Mukerji in cinema
2026 started with a bang for Rani Mukerji as the trailer of Mardaani 3 took the internet by storm. The actress revives her infamous role as DSP Shivani Shivaji Rao – a quiet strength without loud heroic flaunts.
The actress completed three decades in cinema, and celebrating the milestone, she looked back at her incredible journey. On Monday, Rani reflected that it all began with “curiosity, fear, and a deep love for stories.”
Rani Mukerji reflects on her 30 years in cinema
On Monday, Yash Raj Films` Instagram handle shared a heartfelt note penned by the actress, saying, “Thirty years… When I say that out loud, it feels unreal but also tells me that if you do something that you love from the bottom of your heart, time flies and you are left hungry for more.”
Also Read: Top 5 Trendsetting Looks By Rani Mukerji
"Thirty years ago, I stepped onto a film set with no grand plan of becoming an actress. It wasn’t a dream I chased – it was something that found me. A young girl, drawn into cinema almost by chance, hesitant at first... and yet, somewhere between instinct and vulnerability, I fell in love with the craft,” the note further read.
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For the uninitiated, Rani Mukerji made her acting debut with the 1996 release, Raja Ki Aayegi Baaraat.
Recalling the beginning of her journey, she continued, “When I did Raja Ki Aayegi Baaraat, I was barely aware of what a career in cinema would look like. I only knew that acting made me feel alive. That film taught me my first big lesson: cinema is not about glamour first – it is about responsibility. Playing a woman fighting for dignity so early in my journey shaped the actor I would become.”
"Cinema has a strange way of freezing emotions. Somewhere inside me, I am still that nervous girl standing in front of the camera for the first time, hoping I wouldn’t forget my lines, hoping I belonged.”
The turning point in Rani`s career
Speaking about playing multiple characters and experimenting with different genres, the Mardaani 3 actress shared that Saathiya marked a turning point in her career, opening doors for films like Black and Hum Tum.
Also Read: Vivek Oberoi Recalls Saathiya - Ram Gopal Varma`s Disapproval, Filming On Zero Budget, And More
She added that working with Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Amitabh Bachchan in Black was all things transformative. It challenged all her beliefs about herself as an actor, and it continues to remain one of the most intense experiences of her life.
“It taught me that silence can speak louder than words – and that acting is as much about listening as it is about performing.”
Rani Mukerji on portraying strong women on-screen
For her, Mardaani continues to hold a special place in her heart. The 47-year-old went on to reveal what drew her to roles of strong, undaunting women that challenged the world around them.
"Whether it was the spirited small-town girl with big dreams in Bunty Aur Babli, the fierce journalist in No One Killed Jessica, or the relentless police officer in Mardaani, I felt a deep connection to characters who refuse to back down, who want to shatter patriarchy and have a lot of grace while doing so," she shared.
“Mardaani in particular holds a special place in my heart. Shivani Shivaji Roy is not loud heroism – she is quiet strength. Through her, I discovered how powerful it is to tell stories that make people uncomfortable but also hopeful,” the diva added.
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According to the Kuch Kuch Hota Hai actress, motherhood didn`t slow her down; instead, it gave her more clarity and focus.
“I became more selective, more protective of my energy, and more aware of the kind of legacy I wanted to build and the films that I want to lend my voice to.”
Rani Mukerji signed off by adding, “Thirty years later, my love for cinema is still the same, perhaps deeper, certainly calmer, and infinitely more grateful.”
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