Rani Mukherji To Show Hichki To Sanjay Bhansali

Filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali and actor Rani Mukherjee go back a  long way.And now when she  is married and a mother Rani hardly gets  to meet old friends, SLB included.

Not much of a movie viewer SLB has expressed a keenness to watch Rani’s  new film Hichki.

“Rani has evolved as an actor  .When we  first worked together in Black she was  tremendous and motivational. And now I hear she’s playing another  a character   who overcomes  her physical  disability to  conquer prejudices and a  make a success of her life.I’d certainly  like to see how she has interpreted this character,” says  SLB fondly.

He also recalls her pivotal role in Saawariya as  tribute to Aruna Irani in Bobby. ‘Rani played  the  Other Woman , the silent lover the  slightly older very experienced woman to the  virginal hero,with such restrain and sensitivity. Her performance in Saawariya is among  my  favourites in my films,” says Bhansali.

Not too many people  know Rani was  to do a third film with Sanjay Bhansali. Way back in 2003 Bajirao Mastani had been  planned with Salman Khan, Kareena Kapoor and  Rani.

 In  an  interview to this writer  in 2003 SLB had said, “Only Rani can play Bajirao’s wife Kashibai the way I see the character. I need a great performer who is also dignified. Without Rani in Bajirao Mastani I would be as confused as Devdas without Madhuri [Dixit]. I have signed Rani for both Black and Bajirao Mastani. She is a fabulous actress. It would be as wonderful to put her on screen withAmitji in Black, as it would be to put her with Kareena Kapoor and Salman Khan in Bajirao Mastani. The two films offer her a range that actresses only dream about. Rani and I are very good friends in real life. That will help us while working together.”

Eventually Bajirao Mastani  was made with a different cast.But  we wonder what  it would heve been  like with Rani instead  ofPriyanka Chopra playing Kashibai.