Rani Mukerji Receives Raj Kapoor Special Contribution Award at Maharashtra State Film Awards (2026-09-10)

Actor Rani Mukerji was conferred with the Raj Kapoor Special Contribution Award at the 62nd Maharashtra State Film Awards, held in Mumbai on Wednesday. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis presented the honour in the presence of Cultural Affairs Minister Ashish Shelar and members of the film fraternity.

The award recognises her contribution to Indian cinema and her long association with Mumbai and Maharashtra. Born and raised in Mumbai, Mukerji has built a career spanning several decades, with credits including Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Hum Tum, Bunty Aur Babli, Black, Talaash, Hichki and Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway.

Accepting the honour, she spoke about her ties to the state, describing Maharashtra as an inseparable part of her life. "For me, Maharashtra is not just a state. Maharashtra is my birthplace. It is the land where I built my career. And it is an inseparable part of my life," she said in Marathi.

Reflecting on Mumbai's role in her journey, she added that the city had given her an identity, an audience and a career, and had been her home and safe place. She said the award would hold a special place in her heart because it would remind her of "my Mumbai, my Maharashtra."

Mukerji also spoke about the characters she has chosen over the years, saying she had worked quietly to represent the powerful girls and women of India through cinema with its heart in the right place. She said she was drawn to characters that felt truthful — figures with courage and flaws, who refused to fade into the background and were never waiting to be rescued.

Concluding her remarks, she said cinema has never been merely a profession for her, describing it as a deep emotion and Maharashtra as the home of that emotion.