Rani Mukerji opened up about her father’s heartbreak over the National Award snub for her 2005 film Black, recalling the moment she realized that even her best work might not be rewarded.
Rani Mukerji’s performance in Sanjay Leela Bhansali‘s directorial Black (2005), is considered to be one of the most transformative roles of her career. The film follows the journey of a deaf-blind girl, Michelle, and her eccentric teacher, Debraj, who helps her break through isolation and discover language, identity, and dignity.
Her emotionally raw performance as Michelle was hailed by the audience and the critics alike, and there was widespread expectation that she would win the National Award for Best Actress that year.
However, when the awards were announced, Rani’s name was missing in the winners list. The decision left fans, critics, and even her own family stunned.
Recently, when the Kuch Kuch Hota Hai actress graced the India Today Conclave 2025, she revealed that her father was quite disappointed when she didn’t win a National Award for Black.
Rani said, “I gave my all in Black, and I was all 25 at that time when I did that film. There was chatter that I would win and when I didn’t win, that’s when my blinkers came on. I was like ‘even when you do your best work, things might not be in your favour’.”
She continued, “I’ve to be honest and tell you that my father was very disappointed. My baba was very heartbroken that I didn’t win that year. So was Sanjay, who was the director of the film. But, I guess when things are meant to happen, they happen. The way India and my fans cheered for me, it couldn’t have been better than that.”
Two decades later, Rani finally bagged her first National Award for Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway.
When asked whether she felt her father’s presence on the day she was informed about her National Award win, the actress shared that she absolutely did. She recalled being in the very room where her father had passed away, having just completed a pooja before sitting down and telling her mother the news. Her mother began to cry, overwhelmed by the feeling that her husband’s presence was with them.
Describing the moment as ‘deeply beautiful’, Rani said that it felt as though her father had been with her throughout the day and had somehow made the award happen.
The Mardaani star said that the award meant a lot to her fans and well-wishers, especially since it was her first one. Talking about her approach towards work, Rani said that she has always been like a horse with blinkers; fully focused on her craft and determined not to disappoint her audience.
She emphasized that while the success of a film is never entirely in the artist’s control, what one could do is give their absolute best. That, she added, was exactly what she had committed to over the last three decades.
On the work front, Rani Mukerji will next be seen in Mardaani 3.
