In 2019, Shah Rukh Khan was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Letters by Australia’s La Trobe University, and now Rani Mukerji has received an honorary doctorate for her three decades of work in Indian cinema and her contributions off screen. Rani was seen getting emotional as she received the honour on stage and also penned a note.
Rani was last seen in Mardaani 3. The film followed the story of police officer Shivani Shivaji Roy as she investigated the case of 93 young girls who had gone missing under mysterious circumstances in just three months. The film collected ₹ 76.27 crore worldwide at the box office. The film is scheduled to release in theatres on December 24, 2026.
Last year, Rani also won the National Award for Best Actress for her performance in Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway. She added, “I have always chosen films that have made an impact in my heart first. A story that would inspire and empower. I have always silently worked to represent the powerful girls and women of India through cinema that has its heart in the right place. Rani concluded, “Every artist carries a responsibility beyond performance. We quietly become ambassadors of our culture. The honour underscores cinema’s role in strengthening people-to-people ties between India and Australia. Rani was separately honoured with a special citation for acting excellence by the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM), which cited her three decades of memorable roles and the international reach of her work. Some of her memorable films include Black, Hum Tum, Yuva, Bunty Aur Babli, No One Killed Jessica, the Mardaani franchise, Hichki and, most recently, Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway. Directed by Abhiraj Minawala and backed by Aditya Chopra under the banner of Yash Raj Films, the film also featured Janki Bodiwala, Mallika Prasad and others in key roles. She will next be seen in Shah Rukh Khan’s King. Helmed by Siddharth Anand, the film also stars Deepika Padukone, Suhana Khan and Abhishek Bachchan in lead roles, along with Jaideep Ahlawat, Arshad Warsi, Saurabh Shukla and Raghav Juyal, among others, in key roles.
A story that needs to be told.
