Three decades into a stellar Bollywood journey, Rani Mukerji is pulling back the curtain on a painful early career episode. The actress, known for commanding roles in ‘Mardaani’ series, entered the scene in 1997 amid skepticism over her gravelly voice, facing multiple nos from directors.
During a special conversation with Karan Johar to honor her 30 years, Rani thanked him profusely. As a new producer, Johar defied norms by retaining her original voice, empowering her to own it. This trust paved the way for her authentic screen presence in landmark films.
The conversation unearthed a lesser-known story from ‘Ghulam,’ where Rani shared screen space with megastar Aamir Khan. Lacking leverage as a debutante, she reluctantly agreed to dubbing. ‘Working with Aamir was a dream, but dubbing felt like a personal blow,’ she confessed.
Vikram Bhatt disclosed that Aamir, Mukesh Bhatt, and he unanimously opted for it. Aamir later explained it as a necessary compromise for cinematic excellence, drawing parallels to Sridevi’s successful dubbed outings that didn’t dim her stardom.
Johar’s bold stance proved transformative. Despite industry pressures, he stood firm, turning Rani’s voice into her greatest asset. ‘Without Karan, my films wouldn’t have my real voice,’ she noted. This revelation highlights the battles behind Bollywood glamour, inspiring newcomers with Rani’s triumph over adversity.