Rani Mukerji put out a statement after winning the National Film Award for Best Actress for the film, Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway on Friday. The actor said that receiving the award is a validation of her 30-year body of work. In the film, Rani plays an Indian woman living in Norway who fights to regain custody of her children after the authorities take them away.
Rani said that she is overwhelmed after getting the award. “Incidentally, this is the first ever National Award in my 30-year career. As an actor, I have been fortunate to have some incredible films in my body of work and have got so much love for them. I thank the National Award jury for honouring my work in Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway,” said the actor while naming the film’s producers, Nikkhil Advani, Monisha and Madhu, and director Ashima Chibber.
She added, “For me, this award is also a validation of my 30-year body of work, my dedication to my craft with which I feel a deeply spiritual connection and my passion for cinema and this beautiful film industry of ours.”
Rani dedicated the award to all mothers. “There is nothing like a mother’s love and her ferocity to protect her own. The story of this Indian immigrant mother who went all out for her child and took on a nation shook me deeply. A mother's love for her child is unconditional. I realised this when I had my own. So, this win, this film feels deeply emotional and personal. A mother can move mountains for her children and also make the world a better place. This film tried to show this.”
Lastly, Rani thanked her fans for supporting her in the last decades. “Your unconditional love and support is everything that I have ever needed to stay motivated, to show up at work every day and to deliver performances that have entertained you. You’ve embraced every role, every character, every story I’ve had the good fortune to bring to life. So, without you I would be a nobody today,” she concluded the statement.
Producer Guneet Monga Kapoor also shared a statement as their production Kathal: A Jackfruit Mystery won the award for Best Hindi Film. She said, “Every time a story from the heart of India is honoured, it’s a win for every voice that deserves to be heard. We are incredibly honoured to receive the Best Hindi Film award for Kathal: A Jackfruit Mystery at the 71st National Film Awards. Grateful beyond words for this recognition.”
Congratulating the director, Guneet said, “A heartfelt congratulations to our brilliant director Yashowardhan Mishra, and his co-writers Ashok Mishra, for crafting a story that is sharp, original, and deeply human.”
She added, “Kathal wouldn’t have been possible without the unconditional support of my co-producer Achin Jain and the incredible team at Sikhya Entertainment, this journey wouldn’t have been possible without your belief and support.”
She also praised the performance of Sanya Malhotra and said, “You brought Mahima to life with such nuance, warmth, and unwavering strength, dil jeet liya! Thank you for leading this story with such grace, authenticity, and quiet power.”
The 71st National Film Awards were announced on Friday. Shah Rukh Khan and Vikrant Massey jointly won the award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for their films Jawan and 12th Fail while the Vidhu Vinod Chopra directorial also bagged the prize for Best Film.
