Indian actress Rani Mukerji recently achieved a milestone in her career by winning her first ever National Award. She was honoured with the Best Actress award for her role in Mrs Chatterjee Vs Norway. At the ceremony in New Delhi, she wore a pendant engraved with her daughter Adira’s name, a gesture that carried deep personal meaning.
The actress later revealed that the necklace was her way of making her daughter part of the special occasion. Adira had wanted to attend the function but children under 14 were not allowed at the ceremony. Rani Mukerji explained that her daughter was upset when told she couldn’t be there, describing how the little one felt it was unfair to miss such a proud moment. To comfort her, Rani promised she would still carry her presence symbolically and that is why she wore the pendant.
Rani Mukerji added that her daughter is her lucky charm and the necklace felt like the closest she could do to having Adira with her. After the ceremony, Rani said she showed her daughter those many social media posts where people wrote that she had taken Adira along with her by wearing the pendant. Those heartwarming reactions helped ease the disappointment for the young girl.
Rani also reflected on what it meant to win the National Award for her powerful performance in Mrs Chatterjee Vs Norway. She explained that she drew inspiration for the character of Devika from her own mother. Though she was born and raised in Mumbai, she wanted to stay true to the essence of a Bengali woman from Kolkata and the best reference she had was her mother’s life and values.
According to Rani, the way her mother raised her left a strong impression that shaped how she portrayed the role. She consciously modelled Devika’s character on her mother’s personality, behaviour and resilience. That connection made the performance especially personal and the award felt like an acknowledgment of both her craft and her bond with her mother.
Winning her first National Award was an unforgettable moment for Rani Mukerji, not only as an actress but also as a daughter and a mother. For her, the occasion became more meaningful because she found a way to share it with Adira, even if only through a small but heartfelt gesture.
Rani is certainly an adorable mother!
