Rani Mukerji, marking 30 years in the film industry, recently looked back at some defining moments of her career during a conversation with filmmaker Karan Johar. As she prepares for the release of Mardaani 3, the actor recounted experiences that shaped her journey and highlighted the significance of her original voice in Bollywood.
During the discussion, Rani spoke about the early challenges she faced regarding her voice in films. While working on the set of Ghulam (1998), she was told by Aamir Khan that her voice was “not apt” for the film. As a result, another artist dubbed her dialogues. Rani shared that the decision was “upsetting” but she chose to maintain professionalism on set.
The 47-year-old elaborated on the situation, saying, “I could not show the fact that I was upset because you need to be a team player when you are part of the film. Even if there are personal disappointments, it does not matter if the intent is true for the film.” The approach, she explained, helped her remain focused on the larger goals of the projects she worked on.
Reflecting on her experiences, the National Award-winning actor described the emotional impact of having her own voice replaced. She acknowledged the importance of teamwork in filmmaking, while quietly wishing for more opportunities to showcase her genuine talent on screen. The period was a significant learning phase in her career.
The turning point came when Karan Johar, while working on Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998), asked her about the dubbing decision in her previous film. An emotional Rani recalled, “I really owe this to Karan, when we were shooting for the trailer of Kuch Kuch Hota Hai I remember you asked me whether I had dubbed my voice in my first film and if I had a problem with it and I said no, I did dub my voice. You said, ‘I love your voice!’ and I still remember it. Thanks to you, Karan that I could retain my voice.”
The popular filmmaker responded with appreciation for Rani’s distinctive qualities, stating, “I love your voice!”
For audiences unfamiliar with the backstory, Rani’s dialogues in Ghulam were dubbed by Mona Ghosh Shetty, while her original voice was featured in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, which released later in 1998. The latter film became a major box office success, helping viewers recognise and appreciate the actor’s real voice.
Looking back, Rani credited Karan Johar for allowing her individuality to shine through. The choice to retain her own voice played a significant role in building her identity in the industry, and remains an important part of her enduring legacy as she enters her fourth decade in cinema.
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