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Rani Mukerji: I wouldn't like to take orders from Aditya Chopra
'If a director is ready to work with me during my pregnancy, I will surely work,' Rani Mukerji tells Sonil Dedhia.
Unlike most married actresses who flash their rock-sized solitaire rings, Rani Mukerji wears a simple diamond ring.
The actress will soon be seen in Mardaani, where she plays a tough cop.
Sonil Dedhia listens in as Rani discusses her marital life, why she doesn't want to be directed by husband Aditya Chopra, and why she wants to continue acting.
Rumours about your pregnancy are the talk of the town.
Rumours about my marriage started even before I actually got married and here I am today, happily married and settled.
So if rumours of my pregnancy also come true, then great because very soon I will become pregnant. These rumours will somewhere reach the universe and the universe will make it happen.
For every woman, it is important to feel like a woman and go through the cycle of being a mother. I am no different.
The rumours got stronger because of the way you were dressed on a reality show. Is it discomforting when people constantly judge you?
No, it doesn't matter if I am judged. I am in an industry where everyone is judged.
If people stop judging me then I would feel like I have accomplished everything.
In this industry, any news is good news.
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'I have not come across a person as clean as Aditya Chopra'
After marriage, actresses often cut down on their work. Will you do that?
Not really. Women try to cut down on work because they are pregnant and during that time, they are physically not capable.
In Hollywood, many actors work when they are pregnant. If a director is ready to work with me during my pregnancy, I will surely work.
It also depends on how supportive a husband is. Adi (Aditya Chopra) is a very supportive husband. I don’t think he would want me to slow down.
How does it feel being married?
It’s my parents' blessing that I finally found a man who is compassionate, extremely kind and a very good human being.
I always wanted a partner who I would look up to. I have been working in this industry for long so I am aware of how people are.
Honestly, I have not come across a person as clean as Adi. He is very pure at heart. He is a much better human being than I am.
'I would support Adi by loving him and being there whenever he needs me'
How romantic is Aditya Chopra?
Adi has made and written some of the best romantic films; he will not be able to do it if he doesn’t believe in it. I think you got the answer.
How do you plan to support him?
By truly loving him and being there whenever he needs me.
I don’t think any man today wants to make his wife sit at home and cook. Everyone respects a working woman.
I would love to support Adi by working and make him feel that I am independent.
'I hate dressing up, so I am happy that he doesn't go out'
What traits of his father-in-law Yash Chopra do you see in your husband?
The most important trait is that they love food (laughs). They are a true Punjabi family. Adi loves food and it’s a very big challenge for me to keep a check on my weight.
He is a combination of a very lenient husband and a strict producer. On the one hand, he feeds me, and on the other hand he gets stressed to see me put on weight!
Aditya is media shy. Will he be seen more often now?
My husband has a very different personality. Although he is married to an actor, I don't think he is compelled to become media savvy.
He likes to maintain his privacy. He likes to remain anonymous and enjoy movies with the normal crowd.
He has been doing this since he was a kid. I respect his decision. As long as he is visible to me, I am very happy (smiles).
I am a lazy person. I hate dressing up and so I am happy that he doesn’t go out. The headache of dressing up is gone.
We are happy sitting at home, watching television, eating food and catching up with friends. I like Adi because he is exclusive.
'I don't want Adi to direct me'
Does he have any plans to direct you in a film?
No, I don’t want Adi to direct me.
I don’t think I will be able to take his direction because directors are like the captain of the ship and you have to be very professional.
There are times when directors shout on you and tell you what to do. I wouldn’t like to take his orders so it’s better that I just play the role of a wife so that I can tell him what to do (laughs).
Most scripts demand kissing or intimate scenes. Now that you are married, would you do such roles?
My husband is a filmmaker and a creative person and he knows what goes into filmmaking. He isn’t a narrow-minded person. If the script requires me to do certain things, I am sure he will allow me to do it.
I don’t think he is going to check my scripts. He is too busy with his own work.
'I hope this film works so that we can come up with Mardaani 2'
Mardaani is the first Yash Raj film to get an ‘A’ certificate.
Unfortunately, in our country, we don’t have a separate censor certificate for people above 12 years and below 18 years. Either we have an A certificate which is only for adult audiences (18 years or over) or we have a UA certificate for people of all ages but it is advised that children below 12 be accompanied by a parent.
I would love to see people, especially women and girls, across all age groups watching this film. The film will inspire girls to speak their mind and be brave and bring out their mardaani (brave and bold) spirit.
Why did you choose a script with such a serious subject?
The film gives a message of women’s empowerment. It deals with the issue of trafficking of girls.
It is time that women in our country take matters like self-protection into their own hands.
I don’t want any girl to be dependent on her father or brother to go somewhere just because she is scared.
Today, every parent is concerned when their daughter steps out of the house. I want girls to enrol in self-defence classes like karate, kickboxing etc.
I hope this film works so that we can come up with Mardaani 2 and tell another story that will make an impact.
'I will pray that all YRF films are superhits'
You play a cop in the film. Did you take inspiration from anyone?
I am inspired by my mother. She is a tigress.
From her, I have learnt how to be in hold of my actions. She is a very strong personality in the house.
When it comes to women officers we only know of Kiran Bedi but there are a thousand Kiran Bedis out there today.
When I was doing the research for my film, I met many such women police officers. I took inspiration from them too.
We have to change the way people look at a woman police officer. This film is one step towards bringing that change.
Since your husband is the producer of the film, you obviously want the film to do well at the box office.
I definitely want this film to work.
In fact from now on, I will not only pray that my films work, I will also pray that all YRF films are superhits (laughs).
'My next film will be outside the YRF banner'
Are there any plans to be creatively involved in Yash Raj Films?
No, not at all. There are many capable people who take care of everything.
Adi is at the helm and I don't think he requires anybody else. I don’t want to produce or direct a film.
Does one now expect you to star only in YRF films?
No, not at all. My next film will be outside the YRF banner.