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Rani Mukerji made us all proud by winning Best Actress at the 71st National Awards for her film Mrs. Chatterjee Vs Norway. The film was helmed by Ashima
Chibber and hit theatres in 2023. Now, in an interview with a media portal, the director reacted to Rani's win, spoke about whether she was the first choice for the film, and much more. Read on!
Mrs Chatterjee Vs Norway director on Rani Mukerji's National Award win
Talking to India Today, Ashima said, "When the script and actor are married, magic happens. Even before the announcement, I messaged her, 'Party kidhar hai?' because I was so confident. When an actor is announced as the winner, it means the most to the director, as it's such a validation for everyone's work."
Recalling what she told Rani after the win, Ashima added, "I told her it was cosmic or something bigger than that. This award had her name written all along."
Ashima praised Rani's acting skills, saying that while she has delivered strong performances in all her films, she truly gave her best in Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway. Ashima shared that Rani’s powerful acting touched audiences worldwide, as she received emails and messages from people across different countries praising the film. The director said, "They were so moved by the story and Rani's performance. It's an accomplishment for an actor to portray a role in such a way that it crosses boundaries, borders, generations, and lifetimes. I call it a privilege for a director to get an actor who has that strength."
Confirming that Rani was the first choice for the film, Ashima said, "The story was written by Rahul and Sameer, and when I read it, I could only see her. Rani has done some wonderful roles, but I felt that I wanted to see her as this mother, fighting for her children. Those expressions, those emotions – the world had not yet explored them. And since I had already worked with YRF, she did know about me. She took a couple of days to read the script but said yes instantly. I think she's also one of the most intelligent actors we have. She's sharp—razor sharp, like a blade. She got the character perfectly."
The director also shared her thoughts on whether she finds Rani and Shah Rukh Khan's accolades late, considering their illustrious careers in the industry, and said, "It's late, but not too late. This is a huge recognition for both of them. They are the pillars of our industry. And who's replacing them? They can't be. These people are like Kohinoors."
