All Hail RANI!!

A decade ago, if someone had pointed to Rani Mukherji and said she would be the No. 1 Heroine some day, not a soul would have believed it. However, the petite, light-eyed, intense actress has proved that her girl next door looks can capture the hearts of Indian movie goers just like the seductive looks of Madhuri or Sridevi could.

Long ago, glamorous heroines like Sridevi and Madhuri Dixit ruled the Bollywood marquee.

Kajol, with her spontaneous acting style, almost made it but threw it all up for marriage. Now, an unlikely candidate, Rani Mukherji, has become the top heroine of Bollywood.

For the past couple of years, Rani has been part of some of the biggest blockbusters with Bunty Aur Babli being her most recent hit film. And her fan list reads like a Who's Who � Priyanka Gandhi and Manmohan Singh! Mukherji has been seen with the country�s most powerful. Aamir Khan, no slouch in the acting department himself, is all praise for her acting prowess in his most recent film, Mangal Pandey. It was with Aamir that Rani took her baby steps towards stardom with the hit song AatiKya Khandala in Ghulam.

She chose to play a courtesan in MangalPandey over a young, innocent widow. But then, Rani has always been adventurous. Only Rani dared play Shahrukh Khans first love in KuchKuch Hota Hai with Kajol playing the role of his friend who secretly falls in love with him. She proved that she could hold her own even among the most seasoned stars.

Though Rani comes from a filmi family and Kajol is her cousin, it was only because she had to support her family that she dropped out of school and act. She made some very forgettable films. After delivering hits with Ghulam and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, she acted in flop after flop until Saathiya and Chalte Chalte came along. She played a Pakistani lawyer in Veer Zaara. Now,

Black, in which she starred in a Helen Keller-like opposite Amitabh Bachchan and more recently, Paheli and Bunty Aur Babli, have consolidated her position as a thinking actress.

Having acted with all the leading heroes of Bollywood, Rani is now working in Ravi Chopras Babul where she plays a young widow. Now, we know why she opted out of the widows role in Mangal Pandey � Rani Mukherji does not like repeating herself. No surprise then that the actress has been termed Indias most versatile actress and has managed to become �Heroine No. 1!

Rani's an AUNT!!!!

Rani Mukherjee will have a new role now, that of a doting aunt off screen. Her sister-in-law has recently delivered a little baby girl. The entire Mukherjee house is abuzz with laughter and celebration, as this is the first grandchild in the family. Rani and her brother Raja Mukherjee were both present throughout the delivery at the hospital. Says the proud doting father “We were all waiting for this big moment and it has finally happened. The entire family including Rani was present at the hospital during the delivery. Both the baby and mother, Jyoti are fine.”

The baby girl was born on 8 May in a city hospital. Rani who is particularly close to her sister-in-law wanted to be present for the delivery and share in the joy and happiness of both parents. The Mukherjees have short listed a few names for the baby, but will decide one quickly. They hope to give the baby a beautiful Bengali name. Jyoti who is an actress had a normal delivery. Brother Raja claims it was an extremely overwhelming moment for Rani and himself. They are overjoyed to see the newest member of their family.

Raja Mukherjee says, “At first glance she seems like a mixture of Jyoti, Rani and me. But I have to admit her eyes are definitely like Rani’s light eyes.” Raja is a television producer, he is currently working on two serials, but he says “Now I will take paternity leave. I want to spend as much time as possible with the baby. It’s celebration time.” Rani was overjoyed on seeing the baby and says “I couldn’t believe that I was holding a new born baby. It is indeed such a divine feeling.” Rani had already shopped for the baby, much before the delivery. She says “She is the first baby in our family after so many years; I did not know whether it would be a girl or a boy, so I shopped for both.” Rani is of the opinion that the baby will definitely look gorgeous as she is her niece.

Rani who has just wrapped up the shooting for Karan Johar’s film ‘Kabhie Alvida Na Kehna’ has finally taken some time off, to be present for her sister-in-law’s delivery. The actress will also be seen in Ravi Chopra’s Baabul opposite Salman Khan, Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Saawariya and Ramgopal Varma’s remake of Basanti.

Rani and Ben Afflect???? what????

MUMBAI: Rani Mukherjee might soon be seen with Ben Affleck in a new film. Or will her co-star be Ethan Hawke?

The movie in question is "Bombay California", a love story by avant-garde director Dev Benegal, who shot to fame with the brilliant "Split Wide Open".

After making a well-received documentary on Shabana Azmi, Benegal is back at a feature. It's a romantic comedy in English with three characters - a man, a woman and an Ambassador car.

It'll feature Rani with either Ben Affleck or Ethan Hawke. Both the Hollywood pinup idols have apparently consented, but Affleck is more likely to be Rani's co-star.

"J Lo had better watch out!" laughs Benegal referring to the singer who is the real life love interest of Affleck.

being a mom?

Her new film made Rani Mukherjee think of marriage and children, the Indian actress told the weekly newspaper Screen.

Rani stars with Saif Ali Khan in the film Ta Ra Rum Pum that opens today in the UAE, a day ahead of India. Earlier, Rani had paired successfully with Saif in the rom com Hum Tum.

Ta Ra Rum Pum is about the couple trying to save their marriage after Khan, a racing car driver, is seriously injured in a car accident.

'Smiling face'

Rani, 29, told the newspaper playing a mother was a wonderful experience.

"It made me feel that seven years down the line I would be like that or probably if I had married early and had kids early,
by now I would be the mother of two kids," she said.

She described her new character as a typical woman "who can face tough times with courage and a smiling face".

.....uh oh! oh Raja!

Raja Mukherjee, Rani's brother has been getting into some trouble! Raja Mukherjee, brother of actress Rani Mukherjee, is in trouble over an alleged cheating case, currently being investigated by the Goregaon police. Goregaon-based production house Goldmines Media Limited have alleged in their complaint that Raja Mukherjee manipulated the company’s funds on the pretext of shooting a serial for a television channel. Advocate Ashok Saragoi, representing the production house, said Mukherjee had approached his clients seeking financial help to produce a daily soap titled Pratima to be aired on Sahara Manoranjan Channel some time next year. Through his company J R Entertainers at Andheri (W), Mukherjee had entered into an agreement with the TV channel for production of the soap and approached his client seeking Rs 50 lakh for co-producing the serial on certain terms and conditions, said Saragoi. Between September and October 2003, the complainants paid Mukherjee around Rs 35.5 lakh, including cash payment of Rs 6 lakh for shooting expenses. However, at the time of submitting vouchers, the complainants pointed out to Mukherjee that the figures in bills submitted by him had been manipulated (he had allegedly shown more expenditure than had been actually incurred). It was learnt that Mukherjee had used a sum of Rs 78,000 on expenses other than shooting. A fresh memorandum of understanding was signed, but the misappropriation allegedly did not stop and the company reported the matter to the Borivali Metropolitan Magistrate Court, who instructed police to investigate the case. Manish Shah, managing director of Goldmines Media Ltd, said, “Raja has violated all the clauses in the memorandum of understanding. I will fight till the end for the company’s right.” Additional commissioner of police (north region) Madhu Shinde confirmed that a case has been registered and that the matter was being investigated. Numerous attempts to reach Raja Mukherjee yielded no result. His sister Rani Mukherjee refused to comment on the issue.

Saawariya

Rani has taken a role as a prostitute in the upcoming movie Saawariya.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Saawariya is said to be based on a short story titled White Nights written by Fyodor Dostoevsky. The film is a musical set in the British Raj, shot in the location of Simla. Saawariya has been in news for long since it will launch two star kids, Ranbir Kapoor and Sonam Kapoor. The film also stars Salman Khan and Rani Mukherjee. Rani plays the role of a prostitute named Gulab in the film.

In the short story, the protagonist is young 26 year old man who is a dreamer. He comes across a young lady at St. Petersburg and their story begins. The story is named White Nights as it is actually a weather phenomenon in St. Petersburg when days are as bright as night. The short story is based on four nights that the protagonists spend together.

Knowing the original story, it seems like Bhansali has chosen the location of Simla and the British Raj era to recreate the same effect in India. White Nights has been adapted into films many times in European and American Cinema. In fact, one of its Hollywood remakes released in 2005. Now it is for us to wait and watch how Sanjay Leela Bhansali re-creates White Nights in India.

Is this LOVE?

It's official now… All her denials of a love life is total humbug Rani is in love and how! And in this case instead of love bites, it's the paw marks that let out the secret They lick, lap and love her Simba and Tintin, the two tyrants that Rani both, scolds and spoils. We had recently been to interview the actor at her Yari Road residence and that's when we caught sight of her paw-pair! Must say, they looked adorable. A huge Labrador named 'Tin Tin' and a spitz who Rani calls, Simba. “I have the most demented dogs anyone could have ever asked for!” exclaims Rani watching the playful Simba fool around. “Simba is such a devil!” she remarks. “At times all he wants to do is lie in my lap like a floppy. You should watch him do that. He won't move a single muscle in his body, feels like a lump! And then there are times when he will just not rest. He is all over the place. Try getting a hold on him and he crawls and hides under the table. Such a mischief maker, I tell you” she smiles eyeing him follow TinTin around. She always loved animals? “Absolutely, actually I had this dog of 15 years, Brownie. He died recently and when my family realized that I just couldn't tide over the loss, my sister-in-law Jyoti bought me these twin troubles” she smiles. “TinTin is better behaved. He just wants to be pampered all the time. I will be in and out of the house ten times a day and yet, but each time I ring the door bell, he'll come yelping!” “And before I know, he is all over me, licking me face, feet, hands, there is just no stopping” the bong actress says fondly. “But I can no longer pick him up. He weighs a good chunk and is a tall dog. So we try doing a little walky, but I don't think that interests him too much. He eventually bullies me into picking him” she says running her hand on him. “But he is a real badmaash. Simba came in a 2 months after him. And trust me, this guy was so jealous. He didn't eat for 10 days at a length. But now when I see them, I can't help but laugh. They an item together, reminds me of Tom and Jerry!” Rani ends.