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Bollywood actor and National Award winner Rani Mukerji believes that acting has become a more practical and widely accepted career choice for today\u2019s youngsters than it was when she began her journey. Reflecting on her early days, the actor shared that her father was not in favour of her pursuing acting. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe (father Ram Mukherjee) was not keen because at that time, it wasn\u2019t very normal for children of film families to take up acting, especially girls. It was more the men who used to follow the profession, not like today, when all the children are so motivated to follow their parents\u2019 footsteps,” Rani said in an interview with ANI.<\/p>\n
She further added that back then, the industry wasn\u2019t seen as a strong career path. \u201cThat time it was slightly different. I don\u2019t think the film industry, in general, looked like a very feasible option to pursue as a career back then. Like, even while I was growing up, I don\u2019t think it was something to be very proud of to say in school that I\u2019m from a film family. It was very different at that time,” she said.<\/p>\n
While her father had reservations, her mother took a lighter approach. Rani shared a humourous anecdote from her first screen test. \u201cSo for my mother, it was like you do it and see how it goes. Though after my first screen test, she found me so bad that she told the producer \u2018I think you\u2019ll ruin your film by taking my daughter. You\u2019ll go through losses. Better you don\u2019t take her,\u2019\u201d Rani recalled.<\/p>\n
Despite her mother\u2019s doubts, producer Salim Akhtar went ahead and signed her for ‘Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat’, which released in 1996 alongside ‘Biyer Phool’, directed by her father. These films marked her debut in the industry.<\/p>\n
Looking back at her two-decade-long career, the ‘Hichki’ actor expressed happiness at the changing outlook towards cinema<\/a><\/strong>. \u201cI think times have changed, the atmosphere is different today. I think more and more young people are motivated to become actors. Not only from the industry, but even from outside the industry,” she said.<\/p>\n Rani also pointed out that the image of actors has shifted. \u201cIt\u2019s become feasible, I would say, a career option for a lot of people, and they look up to cinema not the way it used to be looked upon at that time. That time, movie stars were looked upon more as probably nymphs or Apsara and larger than life. Now it\u2019s become more regular person can also be acting in the films,” she added.<\/p>\n