Rani Mukerji says she is “overwhelmed” to have won her first National Film Award, almost thirty years after she originally entered the film profession. Her work in Mrs. Chatterjee vs. Norway, in which she portrayed a mother battling to bring her children back home, earned her the Best Actress award. The Mardaani actress expressed her thoughts in her statement, describing it as a significant milestone in her lengthy career in cinema. She also thanked the jury for honouring her work and reflected on the “incredible films” she has made.
Rani also told the film’s crew how happy she was with the win, calling it a “truly special project“. “I’m overwhelmed to have won the National Award for my performance in Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway. Incidentally, this is the first-ever National Award in my 30-year career.” As an actor, she has been fortunate to have some incredible films in her body of work and has received so much love for them.
She thanked the National Award jury for honouring her work in Mrs. Chatterjee vs. Norway. She shared the moment with the entire team of the film—her producers Nikkhil Advani, Monisha, and Madhu, her director Ashima Chibber, and everyone who worked on the truly special project that celebrated the resilience of motherhood, she said.
Rani went on to say that the honour is highly “emotional and personal” for her because the film’s theme is near to her heart, and that it signifies more to her than just acknowledgement for a single movie.
The National Award was dedicated by her to all the incredible mothers of the world. There is nothing like a mother’s love or the ferocity with which she protects her own. She was deeply shaken by the story of an Indian immigrant mother who went all out for her child and took on a nation… a mother’s love for her child, she remarked, is unconditional.
”I realised this when I had my own.” For her, this victory and this movie are very personal and emotional. She believes that a mother can change the world and move mountains for her children. “This film tried to show this,” Rani continued.
The story of Sagarika Chakraborty, whose children were taken away by the Norwegian government in 2011, serves as the inspiration for Rani’s role in Mrs. Chatterjee v. Norway. Debika, played by Rani, is a mother who battles the foreign court system to regain custody of her children. Rani has established a strong career since making her screen debut in Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat in 1996. She picked different roles that demonstrate strength and emotion, from conquering hearts with Kuch Kuch Hota Hai in 1998 to portraying strong and brave women in other flicks.
