Marking 30 glorious years, Rani Mukerji shares the raw truth behind her vocal journey in Bollywood. Launching with ‘Raja Ki Aayegi Baarat’ in 1997, the ‘Mardani’ star battled rejections due to her distinctive, throaty voice early on.
Chatting with Karan Johar on this milestone, Rani spotlighted his pivotal role. As an emerging producer, Johar bet on her natural voice against odds, giving her the courage to wield it as a weapon in her arsenal.
Flashback to ‘Ghulam’ (1998): Paired with superstar Aamir Khan, newcomer Rani faced the dubbing verdict silently. ‘Aamir was untouchable; I couldn’t protest, though it stung,’ she recounted vividly.
Director Vikram Bhatt confirmed the decision stemmed from discussions with Aamir and Mukesh Bhatt. Aamir defended it as a filmmaker’s priority, invoking Sridevi’s examples where dubbing coexisted with superstardom seamlessly.
Johar’s conviction flipped the script. Enduring new-producer scrutiny, he insisted on Rani’s voice, embedding it in her identity across blockbusters. ‘He turned potential weakness into my brand,’ Rani affirmed. Her revelations offer a glimpse into Bollywood’s tough choices, celebrating a career built on unyielding authenticity.