Rani Mukerji's blockbuster Mardaani franchise, in which she essays the character of Shivani Shivaji Roy, has won her unanimous love and acclaim. The film completed 9 years earlier this week. Rani says, “I’m very proud of the Mardaani franchise. As an actor, I have tried to project women very differently through my films. I realised I could contribute towards showcasing women as real agents of change for society to look at.”
She adds, “I have tried to show women as ambitious, self-reliant, courageous, go-getters who are uncompromising, feisty and upright individuals. Mardaani fits into my vision for women in cinema aptly and because of this synergy, I think I have been able to give 200 percent to this character.”
Rani feels there is a lot of similarity between her Mardaani character, Shivani Shivaji Roy and how she is in real life. Rani says, “Shivani and I are the same. There is no difference. I have never let anyone tell me how to lead my life and I have fought all my battles by myself. Shivani Shivaji Roy is exactly the same. Maybe this is why people love the franchise and my character so much because I’m actually playing myself through this cop.”
“Mardaani franchise is quite a glass-ceiling-shattering one as it’s a blockbuster franchise with a woman as the lead. I hope the success of this franchise will help in many more films being made with women at the forefront,” she says.
Mardaani was a 2014 action thriller film directed by the late Pradeep Sarkar and starring Rani Mukerji. The film was a critical and commercial success, and it earned Tahir Raj Bhasin a lot of praise for his performance as the villain. ALSO READ: 9 Years of Mardaani: Tahir Raj Bhasin remembers late director Pradeep Sarkar; shares BTS featuring Rani Mukerji
