Rani Mukerji Receives Raj Kapoor Special Contribution Award at Maharashtra State Film Awards

Actor Rani Mukerji was conferred the Raj Kapoor Special Contribution Award at the 62nd Maharashtra State Film Awards ceremony held in Mumbai on Wednesday. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis presented the honour at Ravindra Natya Mandir in Prabhadevi, with Cultural Affairs Minister Ashish Shelar and several film industry members in attendance.

Born and raised in Mumbai, Mukerji said the recognition carried deep personal meaning as it came from the state where she has worked in cinema for nearly three decades. She described receiving an award named after Raj Kapoor as humbling and expressed hope that she would live up to the honour.

Reflecting on her bond with the city, the actor said Mumbai gave her identity, an audience, a career, and a home. She added that the award would remind her not just of the trophy but of the city and state she belongs to.

Known for portraying strong female characters in films such as Black, No One Killed Jessica, Hichki, the Mardaani franchise, and Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway, Mukerji said she has always sought roles that felt truthful and represented resilient women who did not wait for rescue.

She also spoke about the broader film ecosystem in Maharashtra, calling cinema a deep emotion and the state its home. She acknowledged the thousands of technicians, artists, and storytellers whose work travels from Mumbai to the world.

Mukerji dedicated the award to Maharashtra, its people, its artists, technicians, filmmakers, and the generations of storytellers who made it possible for her to dream.