Rani Mukerji stages comeback with Hichki
Her daughter's birth gave her immense joy. And her father's death left her with ‘extreme pain’. Bollywood actress Rani Mukerji says she channelises all her emotions and energy into her work.
Rani, who is married to filmmaker Aditya Chopra, gave birth to their daughter Adira in December 2015. Has motherhood changed her?
"Yes, with a child we undergo a huge transformation," Rani told IANS in an interview.
"I felt what true love is. That happens with motherhood... Till I had my child, I did not realise that I could love someone more than myself. At the same time, a few months ago, I lost my father. So I know what extreme pain feels like," the actress said. After a pause, she added, "As an actress, I channelise all my emotions and energy into my work. I feel the vacuum of my father, but instead of crying and brooding over it, I channelise the emotions."
Rani's comeback vehicle Hichki, in which she plays a person with Tourette Syndrome, a neurological disorder, has won her praise. She is excited about working in more films and is glad that her daughter has begun understanding this.
"She is a very playful child and stays without me when I am working. She is a happy baby. She has begun to understand that I go for work. I wanted to teach her that I will be away at work for a certain time and make her feel secure that I will return," said the 40 year old.
From playing London-returned style diva Tina in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai to a deaf, blind and mute Michelle McNally in Black, from the outspoken strong-headed Meera in No One Killed Jessica to police officer Shivani Shivaji
Roy in Mardaani - Rani has proved her versatility and acting talent with many films in the last 22 years.
She says as long as an actor looks relevant to the character he or she portrays on screen, age ‘really doesn't matter’.
"I think it is very important for an actor to look the part. When Aamir Khan played a father in Dangal, he looked very convincing as the character. When he did Dhoom, he completely transformed himself. The beauty of an actor comes from the transformation for every film. When I play a character, I should look so real to it that the audience does not question my age... I should look the part.”
In Hichki, Rani plays a teacher who struggles to fit into a regular school.
The challenge for Rani was not to just portray the effects of the syndrome, but to not let external elements affect her performance.
"As actors, we face the challenge of isolating ourselves from everything around us - it’s our job. We shot Hichki during peak Mumbai summer. It was so hot. But as an actor, it’s my job to not let that affect my performance.”
As an actress, I channelise all my emotions and energy into my work
Rani Mukerji