Happy birthday Rani Mukerji: Commercial cinema colossus to female-centric force — Rani's box-office domination over 20 years

From the moment Ghulam had released back in 1998, Rani Mukerji never looked back at the box office. Sure, the critics adored her performances and heaped praises on her versatility. But to gain entry in the hearts of the audience, and more importantly, stay there, you need to deliver a string of memorable perfeormances in big hits at the box office, which Rani has done right through her career, and continues to do till date. Be it hardcore commercial cinema, indie arthouse flicks or powerful women-oriented dramas, the actress has done it all, and done it by regaling both the critics and masses there's rarely been those times in her career, where a film has been showered with great reviews, but failed to shine at the ticket windows; such is the impact of her pull with the audience. So, with the actress turning 42 today, what better time to look back at her stories career and see how has gone from being a commercial cinema colossus to female-centric force at the box office with equal aplomb.

If Tina from Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Pooja from Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega, Dr. Suhani from Saathiya, Priya from Chalte Chalte, Rhea from Hum Tum, Saamiya from Veer-Zaara and Vimmi from Bunty Aur Babli showed us anything, it's that Rani Mukerji seldom goes wrong in picking a mainstream film that gives her the opportunity to both shine before the camera while the film also packing in enough of ingredients to get over with a large section of moviegoers; moviegoers that grew larger in number with each passing release of hers, to eventually turn into horses of the actress' diehard fans. And now, as the star has ventured into the second phase of her career, she has displayed that same pull with the audience with a bunch of strong, empowered characters like Meera in No One Killed Jessica, Shivani Shivaji Roy in Mardaani and Mardaani 2 and Naina Mathur in Hichki once again balancing roles with immense depth in films that have enough going for them to get over with the masses. Heck, her draw (along with that of Amitabh Bachchan, of course) even managed to turn a complete arthouse feature like Black into a moderate commercial success.

Regardless however much these wonderful films, focused on powerful female protagonists going for them, let's not forget the common driving force that ensures they generate enough interest among cinema lovers and open well at the box office, after which the content doesn't need to struggle to find its footing. That common force was, is and continues to be Rani Mukerji. So, without further ado, let's take a look at her unending repertoire of box-office hits from her early days till now:

You remain a favourite of the critics, a favourite of our film-loving junta and our favorite, too, Rani, and we have not an iota of doubt that your place in our hearts will not fade till the time cinema exists. Happy birthday, Rani Mukerji. Continue shining bright like the legend you are, and we wish that you the world of happiness, health and prosperity on your birthday.

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