Cinema VinesAt the 62nd Maharashtra State Film Awards held in Mumbai on Wednesday, actress Rani Mukerji received the Raj Kapoor Special Contribution Award, a prestigious honor named after the legendary filmmaker Raj Kapoor. The award was presented by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at the Ravindra Natya Mandir in Prabhadevi, with Cultural Affairs Minister Ashish Shelar and other dignitaries in attendance.
Born and raised in Mumbai, Mukerji said the recognition carries special meaning as it comes from the state where she has spent nearly thirty years building her career. She reflected on the privilege of being honored by her own people and expressed humility at receiving an award bearing Raj Kapoor’s name, stating, “I truly hope I can live up to this honour.”
Speaking about the city that shaped her, Mukerji noted that Mumbai has given her identity, an audience, a career and a home. She added that the award will forever remind her of “my Mumbai, my Maharashtra.”
The actress highlighted the characters she has portrayed—strong, resilient women in films such as Black, No One Killed Jessica, Hichki, the Mardaani franchise and Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway. She explained that she chooses roles that are truthful, courageous, flawed, and refuse to be sidelined, aiming to represent powerful Indian women on screen.
Beyond acting, Mukerji described her bond with cinema as an emotion rather than a job. She praised the countless people in Maharashtra’s film industry who dream of storytelling, noting that their narratives travel from Mumbai to the rest of India and beyond.
