30 years of Rani Mukerji: 30 times she made us fall in love with her in the most unconventional way!

Rani Mukerji built a career that never stood still and here’s how we grew with her cinema each passing year!

Rani Mukerji’s three decades in Indian cinema is proof enough that truly no one does it like her in Bollywood! Over the past 30 years, she has carved one of the most versatile filmographies and constantly redefined what it means to be a leading lady on-screen. From her first film aka Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat,  where she portrayed a young woman navigating her life to becoming the absolute core of iconic romantic films like Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Saathiya, Bunty Aur Babliand Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna, Mukerji quickly established herself as an actress who is here to stay and make a mark on Indian storytelling. 

Yet, her journey never remained confined to romance alone. She fearlessly stepped into morally complex and a lot more impactful narratives be it portraying a visually impaired woman in Black, a gritty Mumbai cop aka Shivani Shivaji Roy in Mardaani, or a flawed yet compassionate teacher in Hichki. Long before ‘female-led cinema’ became a trend in the industry, she was already someone who carried the entire story on her shoulders and chose roles that demanded her talent as an actor rather than just being there for the glam! She consistently challenged how women were written, framed and remembered in mainstream Indian cinema and over the years that we have seen her, film after film, there were multiple moments where even when she was doing the most wholesome, romance or questionable things on-screen, it was the conviction she did it all with that make us love her even today!

Also Read: 25 life lessons I learnt from 25 iconic characters played by Kareena Kapoor Khan

Here are 30 on-screen moments where we fell for her little by little each time!

When she asked her 8 year old daughter to play matchmaker for her husband and the girl who loved him back in college in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai

When she gave us "Chup Kar Chudail" in Raja Ki Aayegi Baarat and became an internet meme for it, 28 years after the movie was released!

When she became a style icon with "Ae Kya Bolti Tu" and her iconic laugh during that song in Ghulam which we're all still trying to recreate!

When she showed us what deadpan expressions look like in Bichhoo in an outfit that screams Wednesday Adams!

When she pretended to be Tina and wrote all those letters to Raj in Mujhse Dosti Karoge

When she was our first choice even though she wasn't Rahul’s in K3G

When she made us weep buckets in Mrs Chatterjee Vs Norway

When she played a huge role in bringing Veer and Zara together. She clearly seems to have helped Shah Rukh Khan get his leading lady quite a bit!

When she was an absolute boss lady in Mardaani!

When she confronted the idealistic man she married in Yuvva only to realise that he has chosen violence over her

When she sought a ghost-seeker’s help to connect with her dead son in Talaash, we loved her anyway. 

When unflinchingly, as a village belle, she went toe-to-toe with a Chief Minister on live television in Nayak

When she, as a young widowed woman, chose to rebel against her father in law's wish to have her remarried in Baabul

When she picked an unconventional yet gut-wrenching role in Black at the peak of her career and won everyone's hearts with her stellar performance!

When she pretended to be a boy just so she could play cricket in Dil Bole Hadippa

When she owned her truth and reached out for her happiness in Laga Chunari Mein Daag

When she played the Indian Marry Poppins in Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic

When she conned all of India in Bunty Aur Babli

When she had an extra marital affair with a ghost in Paheli

When she forced her husband to sleep with a hooker because that was her idea of surrogacy in Chori Chori Chupke Chupke, we loved her for her innocence!

When she had a questionable bowl cut and anger issues in Hum Tum

When she showed us the realities of marriage in Chalte Chalte

When she did what she had to do so her family could stay afloat in Ta Ra Rum Pum

When she turned her weakness into her biggest strength in Hichki

When she taught us to be head over heels in love in Aiyya

And when she also showed us that love is not a field of roses in Saathiya

When she played a fierce investigative journalist in No One Killed Jessica

When she was encouraging infidelity in Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna, she did it with style and almost fooled us all

Lastly, Mukerji made every dark skinned girl feel represented and made us feel like maybe we could be a part of the big screen too!

Congratulations on completing 30 years in the industry, you legend! Thank you for teaching an entire generation how to confidently sing "Om Jai Jagdish" while donning a mini skirt.

For more entertainment, follow us on @socialketchupbinge