rani mukerji iffm honour

Melbourne: Bollywood actor Rani Mukerji has been honoured at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) with a special citation recognising her excellence in acting and her remarkable three-decade-long contribution to Indian cinema. The honour celebrates Mukerji’s extensive body of work, which has not only shaped her career in Hindi cinema but has also travelled beyond India, connecting with audiences across borders.Reflecting on her journey, Mukerji said the greatest reward of her career has been the enduring connection between her films and audiences around the world. “When I entered the Indian film industry as a young girl, I never imagined that one day my films and the characters that I have been fortunate enough to play, would take me across oceans … and that people in a beautiful country like Australia would embrace me with so much warmth,” she said.The actor described Australia as an important meeting point for cultures through cinema and storytelling. “Australia has always welcomed me & Indian cinema with open arms. It has become a place where cultures meet through storytelling, where films remind us that emotions don’t need passports and where love, laughter and hope speak a language we all understand,” Mukerji said.Speaking about the craft of acting and its impact on audiences, Mukerji said an actor’s performance ultimately finds meaning when it reaches people emotionally. “As actors, we perform in front of a camera. But the real story begins only when that performance reaches someone’s heart,” she said.She added that seeing her films and characters continue to resonate with audiences after three decades has been deeply humbling. “To know that for three decades my films, my characters and my voice have travelled so far from home and still found a place in your lives is incredibly humbling,” she said.Mukerji also credited the women she has portrayed on screen for influencing her personal growth. “I’ve been fortunate to play women who laughed loudly, loved deeply, fought fearlessly and never stopped believing in themselves,” she said. The actor added that every character had changed her in some way, making her not only a better performer but also, in her words, “a better human being.”Mukerji’s recognition at IFFM also highlights the expanding international footprint of Indian cinema. Australian audiences have increasingly embraced Hindi as well as regional Indian films through festival screenings and theatrical releases. For Mukerji, whose career spans more than 30 years, the honour represents more than individual recognition. It reflects the ability of Indian stories and performances to cross geographical and cultural boundaries and create an emotional connection with audiences worldwide.