Bollywood came together to stand by Rani Mukerji and her family after the heartbreaking loss of her mother, Krishna Mukerji. Krishna passed away on Tuesday at the age of 75, leaving the family and close friends mourning her loss.
Soon after the news broke, several well-known names from the film industry were seen arriving to pay their last respects to Krishna Mukerji. Shah Rukh Khan and his wife Gauri Khan arrived together, while filmmaker Karan Johar, Anil Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Ayan Mukerji and several others were also spotted at the funeral.
Shah Rukh Khan and Gauri Khan arrive together
Shah Rukh Khan, who has shared a long professional and personal bond with the Mukerji family, arrived with Gauri Khan amid heavy security. The actor kept a low profile as he came to pay his respects to Rani’s mother.
Their presence reflected the close relationships that Rani has built in the film industry over the years. For Rani and her family, having close friends around during such a difficult time offered a quiet show of support.
Karan Johar stands by Rani
Karan Johar was also among the first close friends of Rani to arrive at the funeral. The filmmaker and producer shares a long association with the actress and her family.
His arrival was another reminder of the strong friendships Rani has formed during her decades-long career in Bollywood.
Alia Bhatt, Anil Kapoor and Ayan Mukerji also attend
Alia Bhatt was spotted at the funeral along with filmmaker-producer Apoorva Mehta. Veteran actor Anil Kapoor also arrived to pay his last respects.
Rani’s cousin and filmmaker Ayan Mukerji was also seen at the funeral. Several other friends, family members and members of the film fraternity gathered to offer their condolences.
The atmosphere remained sombre as everyone came together to support Rani and her family during their time of grief.
Krishna Mukerji’s family requests privacy
Following Krishna’s death, the family released a statement confirming the news and requested privacy from the media.
“With heavy hearts, we share that Rani Mukerji’s mother Mrs Krishna Mukerji, 75, passed away this afternoon. The family is deeply grateful for your love, prayers, and support, and respectfully requests privacy during this time of immense grief,” the family said in the statement.
The family has asked people to respect their privacy as they cope with the loss.
Krishna Mukerji was a playback singer
Krishna Mukerji was not only known as Rani Mukerji’s mother but also had her own connection with the film industry. She was a playback singer and lent her voice to the song Idd Ke Din Gale Mil Le Raja from the 1982 film Teesri Aankh.
She was married to filmmaker Ram Mukerji, who was associated with Filmalaya Studios and worked on films including Hum Hindustani and Leader.
Coming from a family with strong roots in cinema, Rani grew up surrounded by the film world. However, her journey as an actor was not something her mother blindly encouraged.
When Krishna Mukerji doubted Rani’s acting
One of the most memorable stories Rani has shared about her mother was about her first screen test for Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat.
In a 2025 interaction with ANI, Rani recalled that her mother initially encouraged her to try acting. But after watching her screen test, Krishna was far from impressed.
According to Rani, her mother was so honest about her performance that she even warned the film’s producer against casting her.
Krishna reportedly told the producer that he could end up suffering losses if he cast Rani because she did not think her daughter had performed well in the screen test.
Rani later recalled the incident with a sense of humour and admiration for her mother’s honesty. Instead of simply praising her daughter because she was family, Krishna gave her an honest opinion.
From one screen test to a legendary career
Despite her mother’s initial doubts, Rani went on to prove herself in the Hindi film industry.
After making her debut with Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat, she appeared in films such as Ghulam and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, eventually becoming one of the most respected and successful actresses of her generation.
For Rani, Krishna was more than just her mother. She was someone who supported her, guided her and, when necessary, told her the truth.
As Bollywood gathered to bid Krishna Mukerji a final goodbye, the focus remained on the family’s loss and the memories of a woman who played an important role in Rani’s life and journey.0\
