Rani Mukerji says she doesn’t count box office numbers or awards first as she marks 30 years in cinema

rani mukherjee 30 years

• Rani Mukerji marks 30 years in cinema, reflecting on her journey and growth
• She credits motherhood for enriching her craft and her National Award win
• Mardaani 3 will release as a milestone in her 30th year in the industry

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As Rani Mukerji celebrates a major milestone — three decades in Indian cinema — the acclaimed Bollywood actor shared a thoughtful reflection on her life and career that eschews traditional measures of success. In a heartfelt note shared via her studio’s social media, Mukerji emphasised that she doesn’t “count box office numbers or awards first,” preferring instead to value the moments and experiences that have shaped her artistic journey.

Rani penned a long note where she spoke about her 30-year-long journey in the movies. She said that she came into the industry with plans of being an actor and that movies happened by chance. "Thirty years ago, I stepped onto a film set with no grand plan of becoming an actress. It wasn’t a dream I chased — it was something that found me. A young girl, drawn into cinema almost by chance, hesitant at first… and yet, somewhere between instinct and vulnerability, I fell in love with the craft. Cinema has a strange way of freezing emotions. Somewhere inside me, I am still that nervous girl standing in front of the camera for the first time, hoping I wouldn’t forget my lines, hoping I belonged. I didn’t come into films with a master plan. I came with curiosity, fear, and a deep love for stories, for the exploration of the human mind through characters."

She also acknowledged the role motherhood has played in enriching her craft, particularly citing her National Award-winning performance in Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway as a profound milestone that helped her grow both as an actor and as a person.

Thank you for the love for 30 years ❤️ - Rani Mukerji pic.twitter.com/fz37yV8LmV

— Yash Raj Films (@yrf) January 12, 2026

She also spoke about motherhood and its impact on her craft. "Playing a mother gave me my first National Award and I’m a believer in signs. Maybe I was born to play this role, which is why the universe reserved the feeling of me winning this award for when I became a mother and understood what a woman can do for her offspring. Maybe I’m a more complete actor, a more grounded human to play such a role today. I bowed to the universe and took this award with a lot of humility."

Rani Mukerji also feels grateful that her film Mardaani 3 will mark her 30th year in cinema. "It is incredibly special to mark my 30th year in cinema with Mardaani 3 — a franchise that allows me to salute the spirit of today’s women and also the resilience of the Indian police force, especially the women who serve the nation.”

“To have a threequel from the franchise that I have built release in my 30th year is again a sign for me. Maybe the universe is telling me to keep moving forward, keep doing good work, and keep celebrating people and unsung heroes on screen through my craft."

Also read: Mardaani 3 to release on THIS date first poster shows Rani Mulherjee in a fierce look

She closed her note with a pledge to continue learning and exploring as long as there are stories to tell.