Krishna Mukerji, the mother of Bollywood actor Rani Mukerji, passed away at the age of 75 on Tuesday, September 22. The family confirmed the news in a statement and requested privacy as they mourn their loss.
Rani Mukerji has often spoken about her close relationship with her mother and the important role she played in her life and career. Krishna was not only a loving mother but also someone who was honest with Rani and never hesitated to tell her what she truly felt.
In a 2025 interview with ANI, Rani recalled how her mother reacted after watching her screen test for her debut film, Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat (1996). Interestingly, although Krishna had initially encouraged Rani to explore acting, she was not impressed with her daughter’s first screen test.
Rani revealed that her mother even warned the film’s producer against casting her.
Speaking about the incident, Rani said that her mother had taken a practical approach and told her to try acting and see how things went. However, after watching the screen test, Krishna felt Rani was not good enough at that stage.
Rani recalled her mother telling the producer, “I think you’ll ruin your film by taking my daughter. You’ll go through losses. Better you don’t take her.”
According to Rani, Krishna was able to recognise that her daughter needed to improve and was honest enough to express her concerns, even when it came to Rani’s first opportunity in the film industry.
Despite her mother’s reservations, Rani’s career soon took off. After making her debut with Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat, she went on to work with Aamir Khan in Ghulam. She later appeared alongside Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol in Karan Johar’s directorial debut Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. The film became one of the biggest successes of its time and went on to become a landmark in Hindi cinema.
After the success of Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, there was no looking back for Rani. She went on to establish herself as one of Hindi cinema’s leading actresses, taking on a wide range of roles throughout her career.
Krishna Mukerji herself had a connection with the film industry. She was a playback singer associated with the Bengali film industry and was known for songs including “Idd Ke Din Gale Mil Le Raja” from the 1982 film Teesri Aankh.
Rani’s father, Ram Mukerji, was also a filmmaker. However, Rani recalled that he was initially hesitant about her entering the film industry. At the time, acting was not necessarily seen as the most conventional career choice for children from film families, particularly for daughters.
Rani once explained that her father did not initially feel that acting was a practical career option for her. She also remembered that growing up, being from a film family was not something children necessarily spoke about proudly at school.
Over the years, however, Rani proved herself through her work and became one of the most respected actresses in Hindi cinema. Behind that journey was the support of her family, including her mother, whose honesty and guidance remained an important part of Rani’s life.
On Tuesday afternoon, the family released a statement confirming Krishna Mukerji’s death.
“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 statement read.
Krishna Mukerji’s passing marks a deeply personal loss for Rani and her family. Her memories, however, will remain closely connected to the journey of a daughter who went from being questioned by her own mother after her first screen test to becoming one of Bollywood’s most celebrated performers.
