CREDIT: FILMFARE
Rani spoke to Filmfare editor Jitesh Pillai. Read on.
While it’s difficult to make a reticent Rani Mukerji admit to her much speculated upon relationship, Filmfare enjoys playing hide ‘n’ seek with her
Marriage rumours?
Rumours of my marriage? Maybe some insecure actor or a group of people spread them. I read about it in the tabloids with dates and venues. I’d always be mildly amused wondering who’d concoct such stuff. For the past four years, I’ve being married off every six months. Where’s the marriage? When I do get married, it will be with band baaja baaraat. I’m sure these stories were planted. No journo is going to sit in his office and imagine these stories unless he gets a tip off from a ‘well-wisher’ of mine.
Okay, what about the constant rumours linking you with Aditya Chopra?
(Laughs) The good part is that it is constant. I’m glad I’m being linked with just one person not many. I enjoy that ‘constant’. I’m not comfortable talking about a certain whoever in my life. It leads to so much speculation.
Okay, let me make this easier. So are you in a relationship or not?
Lovely! I would like to say no. I choose to say that at this point. In our industry anyone who admits to a relationship gets into a loop. It sets off a chain of never ending explanations. I’d like to wait this one out. I’m not comfortable talking about my personal life since there’s already been so much intense speculation. I’ve seen so many actors go through this and being embarrassed by all the public scrutiny.
Hmmm…
Listen, you have to be responsible about what the ‘other’ person wants. When two people are in a relationship, you have to take the other person’s feelings into consideration. I may want to speak about a relationship, but I won’t if the person I’m in a relationship with is not comfortable with me talking about him. I would love to tell my fans that I’m in love and in a relationship but I don’t think the time is right yet.
What about stories of you not getting along with Aditya’s parents, Yash and Pam Chopra?
That is utter nonsense. Yash Chopra is a legend; I’ve always looked up to Yash uncle. To insinuate something like that is belittling his stature. Yash uncle is such a humble human being despite all his success. And I can never forget how Pam aunty looked after me so beautifully on the sets of Mujhse Dosti Karoge. I spent a considerable time with her; she looked after me just like she would do it for any member of her family. Let me assure you that I share a fabulous relationship with the Chopras.
Okay, how do you feel when you are in love?
I feel beautiful in love. (Laughs) There’s a lot of love in the beholder’s eyes for you. That makes you happy.
You’ve been in love in your 20s. Is it any different now?
Love in your 20s! You are an idiot then, it’s not really love. Love at 30 is true love.
What's the craziest thing you’ve done in love?
I’ve done many crazy things in love. I’m quite crazy, I just drive the man nuts!!!
Would you have a live-in relationship? Do you think marriage is over-rated?
Nope, I don’t come from that headspace. It’s important for me to marry the man I love. Marriage is not an overrated institution but it’s fast going extinct and I need to get married before that happens. I’ll be last of my generation to get married.
Tell me what went wrong with your friendship with Abhishek Bachchan? Is it because you weren’t invited for the marriage?
Only Abhishek can throw light on that. The truth is that if a person chooses not to invite you to their wedding, you realise where you stand with the person. You may be deluded and think you are friends
but maybe the friendship was only restricted to being co-stars on the sets. It doesn’t matter. It became very clear and evident that we were only co-actors and not friends. Moreover inviting someone to a wedding is a personal choice. Tomorrow when I decide to get married, I will choose the handful of people I want to invite. A lot has been blown out of proportion. Poor guy has been married for many years, we should all move on. I will always have fond memories of working with him.
But apparently you guys look through each other at parties?
Do we? Maybe the lighting in the party was bad. I’ve no idea.
What about his wife Aishwarya Rai Bachchan? She doesn't seem to have forgotten the Chalte Chalte episode where you replaced her.
You’ll have to ask her that. We are always civil to each other. If I see her, I’ll definitely wish her. She's a fabulous actor from my generation.
What about your cousin Kajol, there’s no love lost there.
On Koffee With Karan I asked why she doesn’t like me as much as I like her. I have no idea. She’s five years older than me, she's closer to my brother's age. I respect her.
You like her performances?
I’ve liked all her performances be it Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge or Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham. She cries so beautifully on screen.
Who else do you like?
From my generation, Aishwarya and Preity Zinta. Preity and I have done the maximum number of films together and the press tried to pit us against each other as well. Though she came later, I adore Bebo
(Kareena Kapoor). I love Priyanka (Chopra), she’s lovely too. Anushka (Sharma) is damn talented too. Among the new girls I like Katrina (Kaif), Deepika (Padukone), Sonam (Kapoor), they are all so
beauuuutiful.
Any role u would have loved to play in recent times?
Among the women? None. Among the men, I’d have probably loved to do Salman Khan’s role in Dabangg. That would be cool.
Once again you are doing a film with Aamir Khan. Have you come full circle?
Absolutely. At the beginning of my career, after my debut in Rajaa Ki Aayegi Baraat, I signed Ghulam with him. Now I’ve signed another film with Aamir. (Laughs) Suddenly I feel like a newcomer again. So my contemporaries will now be Anushka, Sonam and Deepika (full-throated laughter).
Okay, let me give this one last try. Do you like Aditya Chopra as a director?
I love his sense of romance especially in Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge and Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi.
Didn’t Adi direct you in Veer Zaara?
No. Yash uncle did, though Adi was supervising some of the scenes.
Has Adi ever asked you to do a film for him? As in would you like to be directed by him?
I’d jump at the opportunity if Adi offered me a film. I don’t think anyone makes romantic films like he does. I’ve interacted with him so much on the other films he’s produced. I love his sense of romance… in
the movies.
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Rani long forgotten... and as far as Awards are concerned... Ash doesn't need to buy one like others did.. No matter what haters say.. Ash will always be loved... Ash rocks!!!
aishwarya cant act to save her life. but the media loves her...because the western media loves her. when the "west" hadnt discovered aishwarya, the indian media used her as toilet roll! and she was even prettier then!!
now, since she's been "discovered" by the west, all she needs to do is show up, and the indian media are gaga over her.
rani, poor thing, can act her heart out. who says thats what actresses need to do? :-)
Aish fans are just upset their heroine is irrelevant !!! When was the last time she won a filmfare ..... 2002 !! And Rani's last filmfare .... 2011 Okay so pipe down shut the fck up and hop of Rani's train
I like ranis sense of humor..she is honest...
RANI N PREITY SHLD WORSHIP N THANK KAJOL FOREVER FOR THEIR ONCE BEAMING CAREERS.IF NOT 4 KAJOL"S PREGNANCY,ASH WLDNT HAVE NABBED CHALTE CHALTE,LET ALONE RANI,ND PREITY WLDNT AV NABBED KAL HO NA HO.COS KAJOL WAS THE FIRST CHOICE FOR THESE TWO FILMS,ACCORDING TO SRK N KJO.BUT HER FRIENDS LET HER BE WHEN SHE DECLINED COS OF THE BABY. ND I THINK KAOL N RANI HAVE FAMILY PROBLEMS.HEARD TANUJA N RANI"S MUM DISLIKED EACH OTHER,SO ITS NATURAL 4 D TWO NOT TO BE CLOSE.I WLDNT LIKE TO HURT MY MUM BY BEING CLOSE TO SUMONE SHE DISLIKES.ND RANI REALLY DISGRACED HERSELF WIT DIS SILLY INTERVIEW N D MADHURI DIXIT EPISODE WHICH I FIND RANI"S ADORATION OF MADS VERY FAKE...IF U ASK HER TO CHOOSE BTW KAJOL N ANY OTHER ACTRESS,AM SURE HONESTLY,SHE WONT CHOOSE KAJOL.ND I CANT BLAME HER COS,EVERYTHING SHE HAS EER WANTED IN LIFE N DOESNT HAVE YET COMES EASILY INTO HER COUSIN KAJOL"S LAPS.BUT I PRAY GOD ANSWERS HER PRAYERS N MINE TOO,N EVERY ONE TOO.CIAOOOOO.
aish is a ho who's been around. vivek, salman, the list goes on. nothing wrong with having a colorful dating history, but she calculatedly used them and dumped them before moving on to a big name like bachchan. shrewd businesswoman. she's a gold/fame digger like deepika, but at least deeps is more real/honest which makes her an easy target.
yes she's a ho for sure
rani is a ho
wait, let's get this straight.. Reese and Salma get to be 5 feet 2 inches and a star in Hollywood.. but we put down a Rani for being 'short' in a nation where women are petitie???!!!!! whoooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaahhh
Rani has such spectacuallar golden eyes.. even if she was 4 feet 5 inches, she would be a beauty. she's normal height for a desi.. normal. let the hate go, ppl. let it go.
Who cares if she is short? She isnt a model, there's no height criteria to fill.
Some of the worlds sexiest women are short, Shakira, Salma Hayek, Christina Aguilera. They are all under 5'3.
Who cares if she is short? She isnt a model, there's no height criteria to fill.
Some of the worlds sexiest women are short, Shakira, Salma Hayek, Christina Aguilera. They are all under 5'3.
all shallow ash fans calling Rani a back stabber read this!!
Fri, 2011-03-25 08:51 — Anonymous "remember what ash did to vivek...she used to say he is a good friend...so if he really was a good friend of ash why she left him at the time when he needed her the most. specially when he was trying to expose her abusing ex boyfriend???this tells a lot about ash's personality...if she can choose her career over a friend than why cant Rani do this...before bashing Rani you need to take a good look at your idols as well"!!
@Mon, 2011-03-28 07:03 — Anonymous...sore grapes....lol
even if Rani is 5"0 so what?? she worked with the most handsome and tall actors of this industry...she has a bank balance that we can only wish we had...she is well known and she has the most famous and good looking best friends....dear god take 4 inches from my height and bless me with everything Rani has!!
@Fri, 2011-03-25 23:59 — Anonymous "Aishwarya is the best that is why they named a tulip after her ,Rani might get or should get condoms named after her".
people like you deserves to be aishwarya rai's fan.... Rani doesn't need sick and mentally challenged fans like you:)
no matter how rani looks, said, doing, i just love her.for me she is my superstar. she is my angel.the best creature made by god.
ditto like ur fav actress, u will like them no matter what wrong they doing, how bad they look, right?because nobody perfect and we don't know the real story about them.
same with me.she is fabulous actress, gorgeous women esp her eyes(i've never seen the eyes like her), the warmest person, the sweet and bubbly.
i don't care what the haters want to say, but one thing i know........I LOVE RANI MUKHERJI A LOT AND A LOT............
~rani is superstar in malaysia~
So many comments critical and abusive of Rani, so few in support of her. I've written multiple comments on this post - not a single one published. So typical of this forum. To appear unbiased they print some supporting Rani but the vast majority are from crazy Aish fans.
The ones in support of Rani are intelligent and normal. The ones TRYING to discredit Rani are just abusive and focus on her height and ALLEGED affairs.
I for one am glad that she is with Aditya Chopra if that is what she wants. But there are those who despite putting down YRF know that should Rani marry AC she will be a very important lady in Bollywood. That's what Aish fans can't stomach. No more parts for her and dear hubby in their films - apart from Abhi playing a stooge in Dhoom sequels.
Aish it's time to have babies. How many directors and producers will you and your hubby put out of business before you realise that you don't have it any more. How many more directors/producers can daddy dear arm-twist into giving you both parts? How many more causulties will be left as you bachchans walk past and trample on? One things for sure no more Mani Ratnam films coming your way for sure!
Sun, 2011-03-27 13:18 — Anonymous
i have to agree with you , I too admire self made woman and Aishwarya is the biggest self made lady and queen of all she surveys, and I admire Deepika and Priyanka too, and Deepika and Priyanka admire Aishwarya
cool huh?love them!
Self-made Bollywood superstars rock. Not the ones who made it because of their filmy background.
Rani's height is 5'0" exactly. Its her desperate PR who made it 5'3" on IMDB. That means she's just one inch shorter than Karisma? YEAH RIIIIIIIGHT!
Lalita Shitterjee is so lost!
Sun, 2011-03-27 13:18 — Anonymous
The three you admire have done some things you mentioned in your explanation :-) There is no such thing as self made. They use someone to get roles even though they cannot ACT and aish deepika and sonam cannot ACT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
People say things for publicity. There are those who did shady stuff and hid it from everyone.
yes rani is a good actress but nothing compaired to kajol, kajol is a legend who holds the recored with her aunty with the most filmfare awrds female. rani is soooooooooooooooo jealouse of kajol. nearly all rain films were first offfer to kajol first. directors wish to work with kajol, even karan said it "she is a directors delight" and "nothing but magic". rani is not even beautiful without make up as to were kajol is. if kajol put a lot of effort in the way she looked she would top all the actresses.
cant wait till kajol does another film and wins another filmfare award, just to see the jealouse look on rains face
The first time I watched rani in KKHH I've liked her, because her's very sweet and was'n changed until now,,, just love RaNi,,,,,!
@Sat, 2011-03-26 21:51 — Lalita Chatterjee
Your condescension towards shorter women is misplaced unless you're Danish or Scandinavian. The average height for an Indian female is 5'1/5'2 and Indian men come in at 5'7. At 5'3, Rani is average heighted at the very least, if not slightly above average. For comparison, American women average around 5'4.
Calling her a bug or a cactus won't undo her charisma or her status as an actor, but it does make you sound petty. She's immensely likeable, and that isn't something you can inject in your forehead or implant in your cheeks.
-----
Who has a problem with short-height?? We are talking about Superstars here.
A short actress is not an ideal "Bollywood superstar" to many. Rani is a good actress-Yes. SUPERSTAR-NO. She is not a complete package due to her height, weight and an average face(as per the norms/requirements of a superstar). She can always do good Character roles but her fans cannot expect everybody to accept her as a Superstar.
You like RANI- AWESOME, we don't. We do not find actresses ( who break homes,,, suck up to every Important person around,,, do cheap lesbian acts in public for Publicity,,, tell the whole world about their bedroom secrets and sexual desires,,,cry and talk about their broken relationships in Public)...
L I K E A B L E:):):)
-----someone who admires Aishwarya, Deepika, Priyanka(self-made bollywood superstars)-----
i still don't understand what the big deal is. u guys sound like ready to go to war over this interview. and also, i think pinkvilla should be renamed ashvilla.
@ the person saying Rani has alot fans on star forum, I never heard of that! on pinkvilla or any othwr major site aishwarya hs more fans,why do u think Aishwarya win the fav actress poll,sexiest ect etc,these r thing u can only vote once for they check the cookies and ip address,and like that anon she tried make 3 or 4 comments to praise rani,how sad rani fans have comments several times,when aishwarya fans are stronger in number,look up who has the biggest fan base world wide #1 Aishwarya #2 Katrina 3# Kareena 4# priyanka poor Rani is not anywhere to be seen check it out on google there is proof .
@Thu, 2011-03-24 07:54 — Sujata
"Agree with Green, a 'Bug' or a 'Cactus' would suit her personality well. But she's not a dwarf lol. She's just a midget."
Your condescension towards shorter women is misplaced unless you're Danish or Scandinavian. The average height for an Indian female is 5'1/5'2 and Indian men come in at 5'7. At 5'3, Rani is average heighted at the very least, if not slightly above average. For comparison, American women average around 5'4.
Calling her a bug or a cactus won't undo her charisma or her status as an actor, but it does make you sound petty. She's immensely likeable, and that isn't something you can inject in your forehead or implant in your cheeks.
I agree with the other anons, kajol fans rani is the better mukherjee rani is beautiful and she is
a better actress than that loud crude kajol.kajol is very dull and not at all pretty. rani was so good in black
kajol can never act like that !
Rani didnt day anything bad about Aish or Abhi, so why are Aish fans getting so cranky?!?! She praised her for gods sake :|
Also, the reason why she talked about it, is cause she was ASKED, and hoepfully it'll put a rest to all the rumours and stuff that go around.
Why do you Aish fans pour so much poison, when Rani has only praised Aish here?!
More pro Aish comments always get posted. I know because i've written many comments on her recent photos and none have been published.
A few that criticise get printed, the vast majority only published if they praise her. Not so in the case of Rani. This probably wont get printed. I have written at least 3 in this section and none so far have been shom. What can you expect from a pro- Aish site i guess!
Rani has many many fan. You only have to visit other sites to know that. For example on Star Forums Rani has the biggest no. of fans after Katrina. Aish is somewhere down the bottom.
Why is Rani so obsessed with Kajol. Kajol never talks about Rani. Kajol is not double-face opportunist like you Rani. She's not a sweeet poison like you. If certain people are not interested in you accept it if you have some self-respect and move on!