Rani Mukerji’s Brother Raja Reacts To Her First National Award: 'It’s A Different High'

Rani Mukerji, one of Bollywood’s most acclaimed performers, finally added a long-awaited feather to her illustrious cap earlier this year when she bagged her first-ever National Film Award for Best Actress.

The win came for her powerful performance in Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway at the 71st National Film Awards, held last month at Rashtrapati Bhavan in Delhi.

The moment was not just historic for the actress but also deeply emotional for her family. Her brother, Raja Mukherjee, couldn’t hold back his joy when speaking to media from inside a Durga Puja pandal. “Yes, my sister Rani won her first National Award in 30 years and it’s a very proud moment,” he said in a video shared by Instant Bollywood. “We were all there to support her and it was a great moment for us as a family. For me as a brother, to see my small, younger, lovely sister receive such a big award is a different high altogether.”

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Raja also pointed out how special the evening was, with stalwarts like Shah Rukh Khan, Karan Johar, and choreographer Vaibhavi Merchant also being honoured at the same ceremony. “That was the big thing,” he added, “all of them were together in the same award function and we really had great fun. It was truly memorable.”

Rani Reflects on the Honour

While Rani’s win was unanimously celebrated, some of her colleagues’ wins at the awards stirred debate, sparking the age-old conversation about award credibility. In a podcast with ANI, Rani candidly admitted that such controversies often dilute the value of awards.

“Winning the award after three decades was extra special,” she said. “We had the entire country and fans rooting for us. That is the most satisfying feeling because when you win an award and people say, ‘she doesn’t deserve it,’ there is no value in that award. But when you win an award and people say you deserve it, that it is well-earned—that’s what makes me feel fulfilled.”

On whether awards truly matter to actors, Rani was forthright: “Everything matters. I work for my audience. I work hard because I want to impress them. When I get an award, it makes them happy, it makes them proud to be my fans. Of course, winning an award makes it special for them as much as it does for me.”

A Win Long Overdue

For Rani Mukerji, the honour felt like a long-overdue recognition. Known for her iconic performances in films such as Black, Hichki, Mardaani, and Paheli, she has already been celebrated with multiple Filmfare Awards. But the National Award, widely regarded as Indian cinema’s highest recognition, had eluded her until now.

At the ceremony, the actress exuded grace in a brown Sabyasachi saree. Yet it was her necklace engraved with daughter Adira’s initials that stole the spotlight—a reminder of the personal milestones that continue to shape her journey alongside professional triumphs.

Rani’s latest win was for her gut-wrenching portrayal in Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway (2023), where she played a mother locked in a legal and emotional battle against a foreign government to regain custody of her children. The film’s emotional intensity struck a chord with both audiences and critics, cementing Rani’s reputation as one of India’s finest actors.

As she now adds the National Award to her trophy shelf, fans and colleagues alike see it as not just a victory for Rani, but a celebration of perseverance, craft, and an undying bond between an actor and her audience.