The Filmfare Award for Best Actress is given by Filmfare as part of its annual Filmfare Awards for Hindi films, to recognise a female actor who has delivered an outstanding performance in a leading role. The award was first given in 1954.

Superlatives[link]

Nutan and Kajol, with five wins each, have more Best Actress wins than any other actress. Two actresses: Meena Kumari and Madhuri Dixit, have four wins. Vyjayanthimala, Jaya Bachchan and Shabana Azmi have three wins. Eight actresses have won the award twice; in chronological order, they are Waheeda Rehman, Dimple Kapadia, Rekha, Sridevi, Karisma Kapoor, Aishwarya Rai, Rani Mukerji and Vidya Balan.

Four actresses have won the award in consecutive years; in chronological order, they are Meena Kumari (1954–55), Jaya Bachchan (1974–75), Shabana Azmi (1984–85), and Rani Mukerji (2005–06).

Actresses who have won both Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress awards include Vyjayanthimala, Raakhee, Padmini Kolhapure, Nutan, Dimple Kapadia, Rekha, Karisma Kapoor, Jaya Bachchan, Madhuri Dixit, Rani Mukerji and Kareena Kapoor. Rani Mukerji is the first and only actress to win both these awards in the same year. Two actresses were nominated for both these awards for the same performance: Nutan for Saudagar (1974) and for Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki (1979) and Raakhee for Doosra Aadmi (1978).

Apart from being a record holder in this category, Nutan, who has won 6 Filmfare awards (5 for Best Actress and 1 for Best Supporting Actress), is the overall most-awarded performer in the female acting categories along with Jaya Bachchan, who has won 3 awards from each category.

There has been only one tie in the history of this category. This occurred in 1974 when Jaya Bachchan and Dimple Kapadia were both given the award.

Madhuri Dixit, holds the record for most nominations in the Best Actress category, with 13, followed by Meena Kumari (12), Hema Malini (11), Kajol (10) and Shabana Azmi / Aishwarya Rai (9). Raakhee is the overall most-nominated performer in the female acting categories, with 16 nominations (8 for Best Actress and 8 for Best Supporting Actress), followed by Madhuri Dixit, who has 15 nominations overall. Madhuri Dixit also holds the record for most consecutive year nominations with 8 between 1989 and 1996 winning thrice in 1991, 1993 and 1995.

In 1963, Meena Kumari achieved an unusual feat by garnering all the three nominations of this category. She was nominated for Aarti, Main Chup Rahungi and Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam (for which she eventually won).

Shabana Azmi, who received four out of the five nominations of this category in 1984 (and eventually won for Arth), holds the record for the highest number of Best Actress nominations in a single year.

Only once have siblings been nominated for the Best Actress Award during the same year: Karisma Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor in 2002.

Multiple nominees[link]

• 13 Nominations : Madhuri Dixit
• 12 Nominations : Meena Kumari
• 11 Nominations : Hema Malini
• 10 Nominations : Kajol
• 9 Nominations : Aishwarya Rai, Shabana Azmi
• 8 Nominations : Jaya Bachchan, Raakhee, Sridevi
• 7 Nominations : Nutan, Rekha, Rani Mukerji
• 6 Nominations : Juhi Chawla, Kareena Kapoor, Vidya Balan
• 5 Nominations : Karisma Kapoor, Preity Zinta, Tabu, Vyjayanthimala, Waheeda Rehman
• 4 Nominations : Dimple Kapadia, Mala Sinha, Manisha Koirala, Saira Banu, Sharmila Tagore, Smita Patil, Urmila Matondkar
• 3 Nominations : Jaya Prada, Priyanka Chopra
• 2 Nominations : Ameesha Patel, Anushka Sharma, Asha Parekh, Bipasha Basu, Deepika Padukone, Katrina Kaif, Meenakshi Seshadri, Nargis, Padmini Kolhapure, Rati Agnihotri, Reena Roy, Sadhana Shivdasani, Suchitra Sen, Zeenat Aman

List of winners[link]

1950s[link]

• 1954 Meena Kumari – Baiju Bawra as Gauri

• 1955 Meena Kumari – Parineeta as Lolita

• 1956 Kamini Kaushal – Biraj Bahu as Biraj Chakravorty
  • Geeta Bali – Vachan as Kamla
  • Meena Kumari – Azaad as Shobha

• 1957 Nutan – Seema as Gauri

• 1958 Nargis – Mother India as Radha

• 1959 Vyjayanthimala – Sadhna as Champabai / Rajani
  • Meena Kumari – Sahara as Leela
  • Vyjayanthimala – Madhumati as Madhumati / Madhavi / Radha

1960s[link]

• 1960 Nutan – Sujata as Sujata
  • Mala Sinha – Dhool Ka Phool as Meena Khosla
  • Meena Kumari – Chirag Kahan Roshni Kahan as Ratna

• 1961 Bina Rai – Ghunghat as Parvati / Jamuna
  • Madhubala – Mughal-e-Azam as Anarkali
  • Nutan – Chhalia as Shanti

• 1962 Vyjayanthimala – Gunga Jumna as Dhanno
  • Padmini – Jis Desh Men Ganga Behti Hai as Kammo
  • Saira Banu – Junglee as Rajkumari 'Raj'

• 1963 Meena Kumari – Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam as Chhoti Bahu
  • Meena Kumari – Aarti as Aarti Gupta
  • Meena Kumari – Main Chup Rahungi as Gayetri

• 1964 Nutan – Bandini as Kalyani
  • Mala Sinha – Bahurani as Padma
  • Meena Kumari – Dil Ek Mandir as Sita

• 1965 Vyjayanthimala – Sangam as Radha
  • Mala Sinha – Jahan Ara as Jahanara Begum Sahib
  • Sadhana – Woh Kaun Thi? as Sandhya

• 1966 Meena Kumari – Kaajal as Madhavi
  • Mala Sinha – Himalaya Ki Godmein as Phoolwa
  • Sadhana – Waqt as Meena Mittal

• 1967 Waheeda Rehman – Guide as Rosie Marco
  • Meena Kumari – Phool Aur Patthar as Shanti Devi
  • Suchitra Sen – Mamta as Devyani (Pannabai) / Suparna

• 1968 Nutan – Milan as Radha R. Rai
  • Saira Banu – Shagird as Poonam
  • Waheeda Rehman – Ram Aur Shyam as Anjana

• 1969 Waheeda Rehman – Neel Kamal as Rajkumari Neel Kamal / Sita Raichand
  • Nargis – Raat Aur Din as Mrs. Varuna Verma / Peggy
  • Saira Banu – Diwana as Kamini Gupta

1970s[link]

• 1970 Sharmila Tagore – Aradhana as Vandhana Tripathi
  • Asha Parekh – Chirag as Asha Chibber
  • Nanda – Ittefaq as Rekha

• 1971 Mumtaz – Khilona as Chand
  • Sharmila Tagore – Safar as Mrs. Neela Shekhar Kapoor
  • Waheeda Rehman – Khamoshi as Radha

• 1972 Asha Parekh – Kati Patang as Madhavi "Madhu"
  • Jaya Bachchan – Guddi as Kusum "Guddi"
  • Jaya Bachchan – Uphaar as Minoo

• 1973 Hema Malini – Seeta Aur Geeta as Seeta / Geeta
  • Meena Kumari – Pakeezah as Nargis / Sahibjaan (posthumous nomination)
  • Raakhee – Aankhon Aankhon Mein as Parvati

• 1974 Dimple Kapadia – Bobby as Bobby J. Braganza (tied with) Jaya Bachchan – Abhimaan as Uma Kumar
  • Jaya Bachchan – Koshish as Aarti Mathur
  • Moushumi Chatterjee – Anuraag as Shivani
  • Nutan – Saudagar as Mahjubhi

• 1975 Jaya Bachchan – Kora Kagaz as Archana Gupta
  • Hema Malini – Amir Garib as Sunita "Soni"
  • Hema Malini – Prem Nagar as Lata
  • Saira Banu – Sagina as Lalita
  • Shabana Azmi – Ankur as Laxmi

• 1976 Lakshmi – Julie as Julie
  • Hema Malini – Khushboo as Kusum
  • Hema Malini – Sanyasi as Champa
  • Jaya Bachchan – Mili as Mili Khanna
  • Suchitra Sen – Aandhi as Aarti Devi

• 1977 Raakhee – Tapasya as Indrani "Indu" Sinha
  • Hema Malini – Mehbooba as Ratna / Jhumri
  • Raakhee – Kabhi Kabhie as Pooja Khanna
  • Reena Roy – Nagin as Nagin
  • Sharmila Tagore – Mausam as Chanda Thapa / Kajli Thapa

• 1978 Shabana Azmi – Swami as Saudamini "Mini"'
  • Hema Malini – Kinara as Aarti Sanyal
  • Raakhee – Doosra Aadmi as Nisha
  • Smita Patil – Bhumika as Usha (Urvashi) Dalvi
  • Zarina Wahab – Gharaonda as Chaya

• 1979 Nutan – Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki as Sanjukta Chouhan
  • Raakhee – Trishna as Mrs. Aarti Gupta
  • Ranjeeta – Ankhiyon Ke Jharokhon Se as Lily Fernandes
  • Rekha – Ghar as Aarti Chandra
  • Zeenat Aman – Satyam Shivam Sundaram as Rupa

1980s[link]

• 1980 Jaya Bachchan – Nauker as Geeta
  • Hema Malini – Meera as Meera Rathod
  • Jaya Prada – Sargam as Hema Pradhan
  • Poonam Dhillon – Noorie as Noorie Nabi
  • Raakhee – Jurmana as Rama Sharma

• 1981 Rekha – Khubsoorat as Manju Dayal
  • Reena Roy – Aasha as Asha
  • Rekha – Judaai as Gauri Singh Verma
  • Shabana Azmi – Thodisi Bewafaii as Nima Choudhary
  • Zeenat Aman – Insaaf Ka Tarazu as Bharti Saxena

• 1982 Smita Patil – Chakra as Amma
  • Hema Malini – Naseeb as Asha
  • Jaya Bachchan – Silsila as Shobha Malhotra
  • Raakhee – Baseraa as Sharda Balraj Kohli
  • Rati Agnihotri – Ek Duuje Ke Liye as Sapna
  • Rekha – Umrao Jaan as Umrao Jaan

• 1983 Padmini Kolhapure – Prem Rog as Manorama "Rama"
  • Raakhee – Shakti as Sheetal
  • Rekha – Jeevan Dhaara as Sangeeta Shrivastav
  • Salma Agha – Nikaah as Niloufer Bano / Habiba Shabnam Rehmani
  • Smita Patil – Bazaar as Najma

• 1984 Shabana Azmi – Arth as Mrs. Pooja Inder Malhotra
  • Shabana Azmi – Avtaar as Radha Krishen
  • Shabana Azmi – Mandi as Rukmini Bai
  • Shabana Azmi – Masoom as Indu D. Malhotra
  • Sridevi – Sadma as Nehalata Malhotra

• 1985 Shabana Azmi – Bhavna as Bhavna Saxena
  • Jaya Prada – Sharaabi as Meena
  • Rohini Hattangadi – Saaransh as Parvati Pradhan
  • Shabana Azmi – Sparsh as Kavita
  • Smita Patil – Aaj Ki Awaaz as Rajni V. Deshmukh

• 1986 Dimple Kapadia – Saagar as Mona D'Silva
  • Jaya Prada – Sanjog as Yashoda / Asha
  • Mandakini – Ram Teri Ganga Maili as Ganga Singh
  • Padmini Kolhapure – Pyaar Jhukta Nahin as Preeti B. Pratap
  • Rati Agnihotri – Tawaif as Sultana

• 1987 No award

• 1988 No award

• 1989 Rekha – Khoon Bhari Maang as Aarti Verma
  • Juhi Chawla – Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak Rashmi
  • Madhuri Dixit – Tezaab as Mohini

1990s[link]

• 1990 Sridevi – ChaalBaaz as Anju Das / Manju Das
  • Bhagyashree – Maine Pyar Kiya as Suman
  • Madhuri Dixit – Prem Pratigya as Laxmi M. Rao
  • Sridevi – Chandni as Chandni Mathur
  • Vijayashanti – Eeshwar as Lalita

• 1991 Madhuri Dixit – Dil as Madhu Mehra
  • Hema Malini – Rihaee as Taku
  • Juhi Chawla – Pratibandh as Shanti
  • Meenakshi Seshadri – Jurm as Meena S. Varma

• 1992 Sridevi – Lamhe as Pallavi / Pooja Bhatnagar
  • Dimple Kapadia – Lekin... as Reva
  • Madhuri Dixit – Saajan as Pooja Saxena
  • Rekha – Phool Bane Angaray as Namrita Singh
  • Zeba Bakhtiar – Henna as Henna

• 1993 Madhuri Dixit – Beta as Saraswati
  • Juhi Chawla – Bol Radha Bol as Radha / Rita
  • Sridevi – Khuda Gawah as Benazir / Mehndi

• 1994 Juhi Chawla – Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke as Vaijanti Iyer
  • Dimple Kapadia – Rudaali as Shanichari
  • Madhuri Dixit – Khalnayak as Gangotri "Ganga" Devi
  • Meenakshi Seshadri – Damini as Damini Gupta
  • Sridevi – Gumrah as Roshni Chadha

• 1995 Madhuri Dixit – Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! as Nisha Choudhury
  • Kajol – Yeh Dillagi as Sapna
  • Madhuri Dixit – Anjaam as Shivani Chopra
  • Manisha Koirala – 1942: A Love Story as Rajeshwari "Rajjo" Pathak
  • Sridevi – Laadla as Sheetal Jetley

• 1996 Kajol – Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge as Simran Singh
  • Madhuri Dixit – Raja as Madhu Garewal
  • Madhuri Dixit – Yaraana as Lalita
  • Manisha Koirala – Akele Hum Akele Tum as Kiran Kumar
  • Urmila Matondkar – Rangeela as Mili Joshi

• 1997 Karisma Kapoor – Raja Hindustani as Aarti Sehgal
  • Juhi Chawla – Daraar as Priya Bhatia
  • Manisha Koirala – Khamoshi: The Musical as Annie J. Braganza
  • Seema Biswas – Bandit Queen as Phoolan Devi
  • Tabu – Maachis as Virender "Veeru" Kaur

• 1998 Madhuri Dixit – Dil To Pagal Hai as Pooja
  • Juhi Chawla – Yes Boss as Seema Kapoor
  • Mahima Chaudhry – Pardes as Kusum Ganga
  • Sridevi – Judaai as Kaajal Verma
  • Tabu – Virasat as Gehna

• 1999 Kajol – Kuch Kuch Hota Hai as Anjali Sharma
  • Kajol – Dushman as Sonia / Naina Saigal
  • Kajol – Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha as Sanjana
  • Manisha Koirala – Dil Se.. as Meghna
  • Urmila Matondkar – Satya as Vidya

2000s[link]

• 2000 Aishwarya Rai – Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam as Nandini
  • Aishwarya Rai – Taal as Mansi
  • Kajol – Hum Aapke Dil Mein Rehte Hain as Megha
  • Karisma Kapoor – Biwi No.1 as Pooja Mehra
  • Tabu – Hu Tu Tu as Panna

• 2001 Karisma Kapoor – Fiza as Fiza Ikramullah
  • Aishwarya Rai – Hamara Dil Aapke Paas Hai as Preeti Vyas
  • Madhuri Dixit – Pukar as Anjali
  • Preity Zinta – Kya Kehna as Priya Baxi
  • Tabu – Astitva as Aditi Pandit

• 2002 Kajol – Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... as Anjali Sharma
  • Ameesha Patel – Gadar: Ek Prem Katha as Sakina
  • Kareena Kapoor – Asoka as Kaurwaki
  • Karisma Kapoor – Zubeidaa as Zubeida Begum
  • Tabu – Chandni Bar as Mumtaz Ali Ansari

• 2003 Aishwarya Rai – Devdas as Parvati "Paro" Chakraborty
  • Ameesha Patel – Humraaz as Priya
  • Bipasha Basu – Raaz as Sanjana Dhanraj
  • Karisma Kapoor – Shakti: The Power as Nandini
  • Rani Mukerji – Saathiya as Suhani Sharma

• 2004 Preity Zinta – Kal Ho Naa Ho as Naina Catherine Kapur
  • Bhumika Chawla – Tere Naam as Nirjala Bharadwaj
  • Hema Malini – Baghban as Pooja Malhotra
  • Preity Zinta – Koi... Mil Gaya as Nisha
  • Rani Mukerji – Chalte Chalte as Priya Chopra
  • Urmila Matondkar – Bhoot as Swati

• 2005 Rani Mukerji – Hum Tum as Rhea Prakash
  • Aishwarya Rai – Raincoat as Neerja "Neeru"
  • Preity Zinta – Veer-Zaara as Zaara Hayaat Khan
  • Shilpa Shetty – Phir Milenge as Tamanna Sahni
  • Urmila Matondkar – Ek Hasina Thi as Sarika Vartak

• 2006 Rani Mukerji – Black as Michelle McNally
  • Preity Zinta – Salaam Namaste as Ambar "Ambi" Malhotra
  • Rani Mukerji – Bunty Aur Babli as Vimmi "Babli" Saluja
  • Sharmila Tagore – Viruddh... Family Comes First as Sumitra V. Patwardhan
  • Vidya Balan – Parineeta as Lalita

• 2007 Kajol – Fanaa as Zooni Ali Beg
  • Aishwarya Rai – Dhoom 2 as Sunehri
  • Bipasha Basu – Corporate as Nishiganda Dasgupta
  • Kareena Kapoor – Omkara as Dolly Mishra
  • Rani Mukerji – Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna as Maya Talwar

• 2008 Kareena Kapoor – Jab We Met as Geet Dhillon
  • Aishwarya Rai – Guru as Sujata Desai
  • Deepika Padukone – Om Shanti Om as Shantipriya/Sandhya (Sandy)
  • Madhuri Dixit – Aaja Nachle as Dia Srivastav
  • Rani Mukerji – Laaga Chunari Mein Daag as Vibhavari "Badki" S. Sahay
  • Vidya Balan – Bhool Bhulaiyaa as Avni S. Chaturvedi

• 2009 Priyanka Chopra – Fashion as Meghna Mathur
  • Aishwarya Rai – Jodhaa Akbar as Jodhaa Bai
  • Anushka Sharma – Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi as Taani
  • Asin – Ghajini as Kalpana Shetty
  • Kajol – U Me Aur Hum as Piya

2010s[link]

• 2010 Vidya Balan – Paa as Vidya
  • Deepika Padukone – Love Aaj Kal as Meera Pandit
  • Kareena Kapoor – 3 Idiots as Pia Sahastrabuddhe
  • Kareena Kapoor – Kurbaan as Avantika Ahuja/Khan
  • Katrina Kaif – New York as Maya
  • Priyanka Chopra – Kaminey as Sweety Shekhar Bhope

• 2011 Kajol – My Name Is Khan as Mandira Khan
  • Aishwarya Rai – Guzaarish as Sofia D'Souza
  • Anushka Sharma – Band Baaja Baaraat as Shruti Kakkar
  • Kareena Kapoor – Golmaal 3 as Daboo
  • Vidya Balan – Ishqiya as Krishna Verma

• 2012 Vidya Balan – The Dirty Picture as Reshma/Silk
  • Katrina Kaif – Mere Brother Ki Dulhan as Dimple Dixit
  • Mahi Gill – Saheb, Biwi Aur Gangster as Madhavi
  • Priyanka Chopra – 7 Khoon Maaf as Susanna Anna-Marie Johannes
  • Vidya Balan – No One Killed Jessica as Sabrina Lal

See also[link]

• Filmfare Awards
• Filmfare Best Actor Award

External links[link]

• Filmfare Nominees and Winners
• Official site

Best Actress is the name of an award which is presented by various film, television and theatre organizations, festivals, and people's awards. It may refer to:

Film award[link]

• Academy Award for Best Actress
• Ariel Award for Best Actress
• Asianet Fim Award for Best Actor - Female
• Australian Film Institute Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role
• Australian Film Institute International Award for Best Actress
• BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role
• Bavarian Film Awards (Best Acting)
• Bengal Film Journalists' Association – Best Actress Award
• Best Actress (Golden Rooster Awards)
• Best Actress Award (Annecy Film Festival)
• Best Actress Award (Cannes Film Festival)
• Best Actress Award (Shanghai International Film Festival)
• Best Actress Award (Vietnam Film Festival)
• BET Award for best Actor & Actress of the year
• BIFA Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a British Independent Film
• Black Reel Award: Best Actress
• Bollywood Movie Award – Best Actress
• Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actress
• Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress
• César Award for Best Actress
• Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress
• Chlotrudis Award for Best Actress
• Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress
• David di Donatello for Best Actress
• Edda Award for Best Leading Actor or Actress
• Empire Award for Best Actress
• Empire Award for Best British Actress
• European Film Award for Best Actress
• Filmfare Award for Best Actress
• Filmfare Award for Best Actress (Kannada)
• Filmfare Award for Best Actress (Malayalam)
• Filmfare Best Actress Award (Tamil)
• Filmfare Best Actress Award (Telugu)
• Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress
• Genie Award for Best Performance by a Foreign Actress
• Genie Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
• GIFA Best Actress Award
• GIFA Critics Best Actress Award
• Golden Arena for Best Actress
• Golden Calf for Best Actress
• Golden Eagle Award for Best Leading Actress
• Golden Eagle Awards (China) for Best Actress
• Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama
• Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
• Golden Horse Best Actress award
• Goya Award for Best Actress
• Goya Award for Best New Actress
• Hong Kong Film Award for Best Actress
• Hundred Flowers Award for Best Actress
• IIFA Award for Best Actress
• Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead
• Italian Online Movie Award for Best Actress
• ITFA Best Actress Award
• ITFA Best New Actress Award
• Japan Academy Prize for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
• Kansas City Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress
• Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress
• Las Vegas Film Critics Society Award for Best Actress
• List of Best Actress winners by age
• London Film Critics Circle Award for Actress of the Year
• Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress
• Nandi Award for Best Actress
• Nastro d'Argento Best Actress
• National Board of Review Award for Best Actress
• National Film Award for Best Actress
• National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actress
• NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture
• NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special
• New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress
• Oklahoma Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress
• Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Actress
• Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Actress
• Polish Academy Award for Best Actress
• San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Actress
• San Francisco Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress
• Santosham Best Actress Award
• Sarasaviya Best Actress Award
• Satellite Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama
• Satellite Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
• Saturn Award for Best Actress
• Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
• Seattle Film Critics Award for Best Actress
• Shanghai Film Critics Award for Best Actress
• Silver Bear for Best Actress
• Silver Hugo Award for Best Actress
• Southeastern Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress
• St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress
• Star Screen Award for Best Actress
• Star Screen Award for Best Actress (Critics)
• Star Screen Award for Best Actress (Popular Choice)
• Stardust Best Actress Award
• Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actress
• Toronto Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress
• Vancouver Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress
• Vancouver Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress in a Canadian Film
• Vijay Award for Best Actress
• Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress
• Zee Cine Award – Critics' Choice Best Actress
• Zee Cine Award for Best Actor – Female

• Adult Broadcasting Award for Best Actress
• Asian Film Award for Best Actress
• CineMAA Award for Best Actress
• Detroit Film Critics Society Award for Best Actress
• Evening Standard British Film Award for Best Actress
• FAMAS Award for Best Actress
• Jutra Award for Best Actress
• Myanmar Motion Picture Academy Award for Best Actress
• Montreal World Film Festival Award for Best Actress
• New York International Independent Film and Video Festival Award for Best Actress
• Nigar Awards for Best Actress
• Photoplay Award for Best Actress
• Pink Grand Prix Award for Best Actress
• Pinky Ribbon Award for Best Actress
• Tokyo International Film Festival Award for Best Actress

Television award[link]

• Australian Film Institute Award for Best Lead Actress in Television Drama
• Best Leading Actress in a Mini-series (Golden Bell Awards)
• Best Leading Actress in a Television Series (Golden Bell Awards)
• Black Reel Award for Best Actress: T.V. Movie/Cable
• British Academy Television Award for Best Actress
• Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film
• Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama
• Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy
• NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series
• NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series
• Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
• Saturn Award for Best Actress on Television
• Satellite Award for Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film
• Satellite Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama
• Satellite Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy
• Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series
• Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series
• Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie
• Sun Kudumbam Best Actress Award
• TVB Anniversary Award for Best Actress

• British Soap Award for Best Actress
• Ewwy Award for Best Actress in a Comedy Series
• Ewwy Award for Best Actress in a Drama Series
• TV Quick and Choice Award for Best Soap Actress

Theatre award[link]

• Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress
• Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical
• Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role
• Molière Award for Best Actress
• NAACP Theatre Award for Best Lead Female – Equity
• NAACP Theatre Award for Best Lead Female – Local
• The Natasha Richardson Award for Best Actress
• Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play
• Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical
• Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical
• Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play

• Alfréd Radok Award for Best Actress
• Critics' Circle Theatre Award for Best Actress
• Manchester Evening News Theatre Award for Best Actress In A Leading Role

Other[link]

• Best Actress (film), a 2000 film starring Thomas Calabro and Jaime Pressly

This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the same title. If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article.

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Filmfare Awards
57th Filmfare Awards
220px
Awarded for	Best in film
Presented by	Filmfare
Country	India
First awarded	1954
Official website	www.filmfare.com

The Filmfare Awards are presented annually by The Times Group to honour both artistic and technical excellence of professionals in the Hindi language film industry of India. The Filmfare ceremony is one of the oldest and most prominent film events given for Hindi films in India.^[1][2][3] The awards were first introduced in 1954, the same year as the National Film Awards. They were initially referred to as the Clare Awards after the editor of The Times of India, Clare Mendonca. A dual voting system was developed in 1956.^[4] Under this system, "in contrast to the National Film Awards, which are decided by a panel appointed by Indian Government, the Filmfare Awards are voted for by both the public and a committee of experts."^[5] The Filmfare Awards have been often referred to as Hindi film industry's equivalent to the Oscars.^[1][2][3][6]

History[link]

The Filmfare awards were first introduced in 1954. The Clares was the original name of the award ceremony, named after The Times of India critic Clare Mendonca. Readers of Filmfare were polled to decide the winners, and over 20,000 readers spread throughout India participated in the polls; trophies were given to winners of the popular vote. In the first awards function, held on 21 March 1954 at the Metro Theatre of Mumbai, only five awards were presented: Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Music Director. Do Bigha Zameen was the first movie to win the award for Best Film. The first winners for other four categories were: Bimal Roy for his direction of Do Bigha Zameen, Dilip Kumar for his performance in Daag, Meena Kumari for her performance in Baiju Bawra, and Naushad for his music in Baiju Bawra.

The statuette, depicting a woman whose arms uprise in a dance number with her fingers touching, is commonly referred to as "The Black Lady" (or "The Lady in Black"). Originally designed by N.G. Phansare under the supervision of Times of India's art director Walter Langhammer, it is generally made of bronze, its height is 46.5 cm and it weighs around five kg.^[7] To celebrate the 25th year of the awards, the statues were made in silver and to celebrate the 50th year the statues were made in gold.^[8]

Awards[link]

As of 2012, there are 37 awards. There is a separate category of film-critics awards, decided by noted film-critics rather than popular votes. This dual format has also generated some controversy amongst viewers and recipients. Awards are given in the following categories. Follow the links for lists of the award winners, year by year.

Merit awards[link]

• Best Film
• Best Director
• Best Actor
• Best Actress
• Best Supporting Actor
• Best Supporting Actress
• Best Performance in a Negative Role (category removed after 2007)
• Best Performance in a Comic Role (category removed after 2007)
• Best Male Debut
• Best Female Debut
• Best Music Director
• Best Lyricist
• Best Male Playback Singer
• Best Female Playback Singer

Critics' awards[link]

• Critics Award Best Movie
• Critics Award Best Actor (pre-1998 was known as one common category for both male and female actors: Critics Award Best Performance)
• Critics Award Best Actress (pre-1998 was known as one category common for both male and female actors: Critics Award Best Performance)
• Best Documentary (category removed after 1997)

Technical awards[link]

• Best Story
• Best Screenplay
• Best Dialogue
• Best Action
• Best Art Direction
• Best Background Score
• Best Cinematography
• Best Editing
• Best Choreography
• Best Sound Recording
• Best Special Effects
• Best Costume Design

Special awards[link]

• Lifetime Achievement
• Power Award (category removed after 2008)
• Special Performance Award
• Best Scene of the Year
• RD Burman Award for New Music Talent
• Best Film of 50 Years (2005)

Records and facts[link]

• Most awards to a single film
  • Black (2005) - 11
  • Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995) - 10
  • Devdas (2002) - 10

• Most directing awards
  • Bimal Roy - 7

• Most acting awards – male (Best Actor + Best Supporting Actor)
  • Dilip Kumar (8+0) = 8
  • Shahrukh Khan (8+0) = 8
  • Amitabh Bachchan (5+3) = 8

• Most acting awards – female (Best Actress + Best Supporting Actress)
  • Nutan (5+1) = 6
  • Jaya Bachchan (3+3) = 6
  • Kajol (5+0) = 5
  • Madhuri Dixit (4+1) = 5
  • Rani Mukerji (2+3) = 5

• Most awards for music direction
  • A. R. Rahman = 10
  • Shankar Jaikishan = 9

• Most playback singer - male
  • Kishore Kumar = 8
  • Mohammed Rafi = 6

• Most playback singer - female
  • Asha Bhosle = 7
  • Alka Yagnik = 7

• Most Lyricist Awards
  • Gulzar = 10
  • Javed Akhtar = 8

• Most Choreography Awards
  • Saroj Khan = 8
  • Farah Khan = 6

See also[link]

• Filmfare Awards South
• Bollywood
• Cinema of India

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Filmfare Awards

• The Official Site
• Times Syndication Service archives of photos of FILMFARE awards since the beginning.
• Filmfare Awards - Year wise Internet Movie Database
• List of Filmfare Award Winners and Nominations, 1953-2005

Ranbir Kapoor
Kapoor at the BIG Star Entertainment Awards, December 2011
Born	(1982-09-28) 28 September 1982 (age 29) Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Occupation	Actor
Years active	2007–present
Parents	Rishi Kapoor Neetu Singh
Signature	150px

Ranbir Kapoor (born 28 September 1982^[1]) is an Indian actor who appears in Bollywood movies.

Making his acting debut in the 2007 film Saawariya, for which he won the Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut, Kapoor earned positive notice for his performance in Wake Up Sid (2009). He later appeared in the romantic comedy Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani (2009) and the political thriller Raajneeti (2010), with the later being his biggest commercial success to date.^[2] In 2011, Kapoor starred and earned critical acclaim for his performance in Rockstar for which he received the Best Actor and Best Actor (Critics) awards at the Filmfare ceremony.

Early life[link]

Ranbir Kapoor, the son of actors Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh, was born into a family of Punjabi origin;^[3] his sister is Riddhima Kapoor Sahni. He is the grandson of actor and filmmaker Raj Kapoor, great grandson of Prithviraj Kapoor, nephew of actors Randhir Kapoor and Rajiv Kapoor, grand-nephew of actors Shashi Kapoor and Shammi Kapoor, and first-cousin of actresses Karisma Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor. Kapoor studied at Bombay Scottish School in Mahim, Mumbai and went on to pursue method acting at The Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in New York.^[4]

Career[link]

Before starting off his career as an actor, Kapoor appeared in two short films: Passion to Love (2002), which was also directed by him, and India 1964 (2004). He later began working as an assistant with director Sanjay Leela Bhansali, where he was involved in the making of the film Black (2005).^[5] Kapoor who initially had plans of becoming an actor was later cast by Bhansali in his next directional venture, Saawariya opposite newcomer Sonam Kapoor. The film failed to do well at the box office,^[6] though his performance was largely appreciated. Kapoor was then seen in Siddharth Anand's romantic comedy Bachna Ae Haseeno (2008) alongside Bipasha Basu, Minissha Lamba and Deepika Padukone. The film was a semi-hit at the box-office.^[7]

2009 saw Kapoor appear in three movies. His first release was Ayan Mukerji's Wake Up Sid, in which he portrayed the character of Siddharth Mehra, a spoiled and self-centered college student from Mumbai. Featured opposite Konkona Sen Sharma, the film was a critical and commercial success.^[8] Shrey Patnaik wrote, "Ranbir's Sid is a near-perfect portrait of the aimless young man searching for a direction in life. Ranbir handles the character's inner life with the effortlessness of a Sitar maestro twiddling with his instrument's strings to create a music that takes the audience to a world where the sounds suggest a harmony between art and life. In Wake Up Sid, Ranbir proves once and for all that he's the future of Hindi cinema."^[9] Kapoor earned several nominations for Best Actor. He next starred alongside Katrina Kaif in Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani, which surfaced as one of the biggest hits of the year.^[10]

Following this, Kapoor appeared in Shimit Amin's drama Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year. Upon release, the film received positive reviews by critics but failed to do well.^[11] Kapoor's performance was critically acclaimed, with one critic writing, "Ranbir brings to his part a whole lot of earnestness and heart. His natural and utterly contagious exuberance so much on display in his last two films Wake Up Sid and Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani is effortlessly curbed here."^[12]

In 2010, he featured in Prakash Jha's multi-starrer political thriller Rajneeti. The film opened to positive reviews and was declared a "blockbuster".^[13] His performance was well received with critic Nikhat Kazmi concluding, "The film finally belongs to Ranbir Kapoor who perfects the art of minimalism – and literally grows before your eyes – as the simmering volcano that cannot be held back, once it erupts. He's as grey and soot-filled, as volcanoes go."^[14] In the same year, Kapoor appeared alongside Priyanka Chopra in Siddharth Anand's Anjaana Anjaani which was a moderate box office success.^[13]

2011 saw Kapoor feature opposite newcomer Nargis Fakhri in Imtiaz Ali's Rockstar. The film, upon release, met with positive to mixed reviews^[15] and grossed over Rs.1 billion worldwide^[16] In a review published by CNN-IBN, Rajeev Masand wrote: "Rockstar belongs to Ranbir Kapoor over everyone else. It is a riveting performance [...] and Ranbir roots it in the real. Watch how he seizes the stage in the "Sadda Haq" number and virtually makes the track his own. For Ranbir alone, this film deserves a watch."^[17] The film earned Kapoor a Best Actor and Best Actor (Critics) award at the 2012 Filmfare awards ceremony.

As of April 2012, Kapoor is scheduled to appear in Anurag Basu's Barfee alongside Priyanka Chopra and Ileana D'Cruz and Ayan Mukherjee's Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani alongside ex-girlfriend Deepika Padukone.

In the media[link]

Kapoor currently lives with his parents in Pali Hill in Mumbai, Maharashtra. During an interview in March 2008, he announced that he was dating Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone;^[18] the couple later broke up in 2009.^[19] In 2008, Kapoor co-hosted the 54th Filmfare Awards alongside Imran Khan; he was later chosen to co-host the 56th and 57th edition of the award ceremony alongside Imran Khan and Shah Rukh Khan respectively. During November 2010, he made an appearance on the talk show Koffee with Karan alongside Imran Khan.

Awards and nominations[link]

Filmography[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Ranbir Kapoor at the Internet Movie Database

Rani Mukerji
Mukerji at the Lonely Planet Awards in Mumbai, May 2012
Born	Rani Mukherjee (1978-03-21) 21 March 1978 (age 34) Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Other names	Rani Mukherji Rani Mukerjee
Occupation	Film actress
Years active	1997–present

Rani Mukerji (born Rani Mukherjee on 21 March 1978)^[1] is an Indian film actress who works in Hindi movies. Born to the Mukherjee-Samarth family, she made her acting debut with a cameo appearance in the Bengali film Biyer Phool (1996), on the insistence of her mother. The following year, Mukerji made her Hindi film debut with Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat, and subsequently had her first, and still biggest commercial success with Karan Johar's romance Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998), which won her a Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress. She later starred in several films that fared below expectations, before featuring in the critically acclaimed drama Saathiya, for which she won her first Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actress.^[2]

In 2004, her performances in the hit romantic comedy Hum Tum and the critically acclaimed Yuva earned her the Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress awards, respectively, at the 50th Filmfare Awards. She later received unanimous praise for her portrayal of a blind, deaf and mute woman in Black (2005), for which she garnered two more Filmfare Awards: Best Actress and Actress - Critics.^[3] She went on to play leading roles in the comedy Bunty Aur Babli (2005) and the adult drama Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (2006), both of which emerged as major commercial successes in India as well as overseas.^[4] Mukerji thus established herself as a leading actress of Hindi cinema.^[5] She then played a series of roles, a majority of which were under the Yash Raj Films banner, that stereotyped her as a weepy, sacrificing woman. None of these films performed well at the box office. However, in 2011, she earned praise for her portrayal of a headstrong, independent woman in the semi-biographic thriller No One Killed Jessica.^[6]

In addition to acting in films, Mukerji has featured as a talent judge for Sony Entertainment Television's reality show Dance Premier League.^[7] She is a regular stage performer and has been involved in philanthropic endeavors related to women and children. Despite constant speculation, she remains guarded about her personal life and is sometimes labelled a recluse by members of the media. Mukerji currently lives in Juhu with her parents.

Early life and background[link]

Mukerji was born in Mumbai on 21 March 1978 to a film-oriented family of Bengali origin. Her father, Ram Mukherjee, is a retired director and one of the founders of Filmalaya Studios while her mother, Krishna, was a playback singer.^[8] Her brother, Raja Mukherjee, is a film producer turned director.^[9] Her maternal aunt, Debashree Roy, is a Bengali film actress and her cousin, Kajol, is a popular Bollywood actress.^[10] Another cousin of hers, Ayan Mukerji is the writer and director of Wake Up Sid (2009).^[11] As part of a tradition, the Mukherjee family celebrates the festival of Durga Puja at Santacruz every year. Mukerji, being a religious person, takes part in the festivities with her entire family.^[12][13]

Mukerji is a trained Odissi dancer and began learning the dance in the tenth grade.^[14] She was schooled at Maneckji Cooper High School in Juhu, and graduated from SNDT Women's University in the field of Home Science. Despite her family background, Mukerji was never interested in becoming an actress.^[15] In 1994, director Salim Khan approached her to be a part of his directorial, Aa Gale Lag Jaa. Her father was against her working in films and hence, she turned down the offer.^[16] However, she finally decided to take up acting on an experimental basis, on the insistence of her mother.^[17]

Acting career[link]

Early work and breakthrough (1997–2002)[link]

After doing a cameo appearance for the first time in her father's Bengali film Biyer Phool (1996), Mukerji made her Hindi film debut the following year, as the protagonist of Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat.^[18] Her performance as a rape victim was well-received, but the film failed to do well at the box office. Nevertheless, she received a Special Jury recognition at the Star Screen Awards.^[19] The film's commercial failure made her return to college to complete her education. However, she was inspired by her cousin Kajol, who had established herself as a successful actress in Bollywood, and thus decided to try films again.^[20]

Mukerji had a successful comeback in 1998 with Vikram Bhatt's Ghulam, opposite Aamir Khan. The film did moderately well at the box office, while the song "Aati Kya Khandala" earned her public recognition.^[21][22] Karan Johar's directorial debut, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, starring Shahrukh Khan and Kajol, was her next release. She played the supporting role of Tina Malhotra, a sophisticated girl in love with Khan's character. Of her performance, Rediff.com wrote, "Rani Mukherjee is a pleasant surprise — totally comfortable, clearly having suspended all disbelief".^[23] The movie was a blockbuster, with an adjusted worldwide gross of 182 crore (US$36.31 million),^[24] and Mukerji went on to receive her first Filmfare Award in the Best Supporting Actress category. Due to her slightly broken voice texture, her lines were dubbed by a dubbing artist in Ghulam. However, she dubbed for her own lines in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. She quoted, “When Karan Johar wanted my voice to be dubbed for Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, I really thought that it [my voice] was bad and very husky and rough, but slowly I worked to improve my diction, and am now quite comfortable with it."^[25]

She subsequently played leading roles in the films Mehndi (1998) and Hello Brother (1999), with the latter opposite Salman Khan.^[26] Both these films were critically and commercially unsuccessful.^[27]

Mukerji's first release of 2000 was Raj Kanwar's action drama Badal opposite Bobby Deol. The film emerged as one of the highest-grossing films of the year,^[28] but met with negative reviews from critics. She then essayed a brief role in Kamal Haasan's Hey Ram as the protagonist's first wife, Aparna Ram.^[29] The controversial film, based on Mahatma Gandhi's assassination, was a critical success and was chosen as India’s official entry to the Oscars that year.^[30] Mukerji next appeared in Bichhoo, an unofficial adaptation of Luc Besson's Leon, as the foul-mouthed, coarse daughter of a drug dealer.^[31] The film and her performance received negative reviews from critics.^[32] She also starred alongside Govinda, for the first time, in the comedy Hadh Kar Di Aapne.

Later that year, she teamed up with Salman Khan for two films, Raj Kanwar's Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega and Kahin Pyaar Na Ho Jaaye. While the former was inspired by the Sandra Bullock starrer While You Were Sleeping (1995), the later was a remake of Frank Coraci's The Wedding Singer (1998).^[33][34] She was appreciated for her performance in Har Dil Jo Pyaar Karega and received her second Filmfare nomination in the Supporting Actress category.^[35]

In 2001, Mukerji starred in Abbas Mustan's romantic drama Chori Chori Chupke Chupke, co-starring Salman Khan and Preity Zinta. The film was released after a one-year delay, and was one of the first Bollywood movies to handle the issue of surrogate childbirth.^[36] Mukerji's role was that of Priya Malhotra, a woman who is unable to conceive after a miscarriage and thus, hires a surrogate mother. Rediff.com wrote, "Rani Mukherji is handicapped with a role that doesn't give her much scope besides weeping and sobbing. To her credit, she manages to hold her own even while playing a stereotypical sacrificing bhartiya nari [Indian woman]."^[37] She next played the love-interests of Abhishek Bachchan and Anil Kapoor respectively, in two predominantly male-centric films: Bas Itna Sa Khwaab Hai and Nayak: The Real Hero. Upon release, both films under-performed at the box office.^[38]

Success (2002–06)[link]

In 2002, Mukerji essayed the lead role of Pooja Sahani in Kunal Kohli's romance Mujhse Dosti Karoge!, alongside Hrithik Roshan and Kareena Kapoor. The film marked the first of her many collaborations with one of India's largest production companies: Yash Raj Films.^[39] Although the movie flopped in India,^[40] it performed well overseas.^[41] That year, she acted opposite Govinda once again in two commercially unsuccessful films, Pyaar Diwana Hota Hai and Chalo Ishq Ladaaye.

Later that year, Mukerji starred in Shaad Ali's critically acclaimed Saathiya opposite Vivek Oberoi. Essaying the role of Suhani Sharma, a medical student who deals with the tensions and discontent of being married at a young age, she won a Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actress, and received her first Best Actress nomination at the same ceremony. BBC reviewed, "Mukerji plays the character of a middle class girl with great conviction",^[42] and Udita Jhunjhunwala writing for Mid Day added, "Her expressions and acting are understated in a role that fits her like a glove."^[43] The film, which earned a moderate domestic total of 18 crore (US$3.59 million), rejuvenated her fading career.^[40] In an interview with Hindustan Times, she said, "[Before Saathiya] nothing that was coming my way excited me... I knew Saathiya was a special film. I felt it while making it."^[44]

Mukerji's first release of 2003 was Aziz Mirza's box office hit Chalte Chalte opposite Shahrukh Khan.^[45] Though the film saw her play a role similar to the one she played in Saathiya, her new "tanned" look was appreciated and her portrayal earned her a second nomination for Best Actress at the Filmfare awards.^[46] She next featured as the protagonist in Milan Luthria's Chori Chori opposite Ajay Devgan, Sudhir Mishra's Calcutta Mail alongside Anil Kapoor and Manisha Koirala and J.P. Dutta's multi-starrer war film LOC Kargil.^[47] All three of them were critical as well as commercial failures.^[48]

Mukerji at the 6th International Indian Film Academy Awards in Amsterdam. She won both the Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress awards, for Hum Tum and Veer-Zaara respectively, at the ceremony.

In 2004, she acted in Mani Ratnam's composite film Yuva alongside Ajay Devgan, Abhishek Bachchan, Vivek Oberoi, Kareena Kapoor and Esha Deol. The film, which narrated the story of three youngsters from different stratums of society, saw Mukerji play a Bengali housewife opposite Bachchan. Though the film failed to do well at the box office,^[49] the film by itself and her performance were critically acclaimed. Rediff.com, as part of a performance analysis noted, "Her inspiring work in Yuva as the devoted yet frustrated wife of a local goon came alive every time she flashed those big fire-filled eyes at her husband or broke down angrily at an unsuspecting onlooker."^[50] The film fetched Mukerji her second Best Supporting Actress award at the Filmfare ceremony. She received further success by playing the leading role in Yash Raj Films' romantic comedy Hum Tum, directed by Kunal Kohli, which became one of the biggest hits of the year with a lifetime nett of 30.5 crore (US$6.08 million).^[49] The film starred Mukerji along with Saif Ali Khan and followed the arcs of their characters at different stages of their lives. Mukerji's portrayal of Rhea Sharma, an independent woman, won her several Best Actress awards, including her first Filmfare Award for Best Actress. BBC observed, "Rani is fast becoming one of the more dependable and versatile actresses of her generation."^[51] She eventually became the first actor to have received both the Filmfare awards for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress in the same year.^[52]

Her last release of the year was Yash Chopra's love saga Veer-Zaara, in which she co-starred alongside Shahrukh Khan and Preity Zinta. The film, which emerged as a major commercial success, grossing 94 crore (US$18.75 million) worldwide,^[41][49] narrated the love story of the title characters, Veer Pratap Singh, played by Khan, and a Pakistani woman, Zaara Hayaat Khan, played by Zinta. Mukerji played the supporting role of Saamiya Siddiqui, a Pakistani lawyer who takes it upon herself to find the truth about Singh. The film, which was screened at the Berlin Film Festival met with positive reviews.^[53] A review carried by Rediff.com noted, "...Rani walks away with the best lines and a performance full of grit."^[54]

In 2005, Mukerji starred in four high-profile films: Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Black, Shaad Ali's Bunty Aur Babli, Amol Palekar's Paheli and Ketan Mehta's The Rising. She was primarily noted for her performance in Black. When Bhansali first offered the film to Mukerji, she turned it down^[3] as she was not confident enough to play a deaf-blind person.^[3] Once Bhansali reinforced his faith in her, she agreed and intensely studied sign language with professionals at the Helen Keller Institute in Mumbai.^[55] Black was a major critical success, and Mukerji received unanimous acclaim for her performance. Rediff.com noted, "The performer in Rani Mukerji must have turned more than a few mental cartwheels when she got Black. It is a pure, performance-driven role, and Rani does it with a fluid maturity that is great to watch.".^[56] She eventually won the Best Actress and the Best Actress - Critics at the Filmfare Awards ceremony.^[57] Filmfare included her performance in their list of the "80 Most Iconic performances", while commenting,

Her next release, Bunty Aur Babli, surfaced as one of the biggest hits of the year. She played the character of Vimmi "Babli" Saluja, a con woman, opposite Abhishek Bachchan. The film, which became a box office success with a gross of 77 crore (US$15.36 million), opened to mixed reviews, and so did Mukerji's performance. A review carried by Variety mentioned, "Three years ago, in Saathiya, helmer Shaad Ali managed to rediscover Mukerji's earlier vivacity, and he's done it again here in a role that the raspy-voiced diva-ette simply eats up" ^[59][60] Consequently, Mukerji received another nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actress for her work.

Her third release that year, Paheli, opposite Shahrukh Khan, was screened at the Sundance Film Festival and was chosen as India’s official entry to the Oscars for the 79th Academy Awards.^[61] The film was critically acclaimed, as was Mukerji's performance, which Raja Sen called "another perfectly played part".^[62] In her final release of the year, The Rising, she played a prostitute, Heera, who is the love interest of the protagonist Mangal Pandey, played by Aamir Khan.^[63] Derek Elley of Variety mentioned that she made "the most of her feisty nautch-girl," inpite of having "a small role for a star of her caliber."^[64]

In 2006 she starred in Karan Johar's drama Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna, featuring Amitabh Bachchan, Shahrukh Khan, Abhishek Bachchan, Preity Zinta and Kirron Kher. The film opened to mixed reviews but emerged as a major international success with a worldwide gross of 113 crore (US$22.54 million).^[41] The film told the story of two unhappily married couples in New York, which later results in an extramarital affair. Mukerji played the role of Maya Talwar, a woman layered with self-doubt and question about the relationship between her and her husband, played by Abhishek Bachchan. Her performance was well-received with Rajeev Masand from CNN-IBN concluding, "Rani looks a million bucks and she dives under the skin of her character to make that part one that we will remember for a long time."^[65] She received several nominations for the role, including her fifth Filmfare Best Actress nomination, and won the IIFA Best Actress Award for the third consecutive year.

Mukerji's next release was B.R. Chopra's tearjerker Baabul alongside Amitabh Bachchan, Salman Khan and John Abraham. The movie did not do well at the box office in India,^[66] but proved to be a hit overseas.^[41] Her portrayal of Malvika, a young widow, met with mixed reviews from critics with Sarita Tanwar from Mid Day commenting, "Rani Mukerji breathes life into a somewhat confused character".^[67]

Professional setbacks and recent work (2007–present)[link]

From 2007 to 2009, Mukerji featured primarily in films produced by Yash Raj Films (with the exception of Saawariya).^[68] Her first release was Siddharth Anand's melodrama Ta Ra Rum Pum, where she played Radhika Rai Banerjee, a pianist turned housewife opposite Saif Ali Khan. The film performed decently at the box office,^[69] while her performance was generally well-received. Adarsh wrote, "Rani enacts the role of the mother/wife proficiently."^[70] Negative reviews, however were directed towards the film itself, with Rajeev Masand writing, "neither Saif Ali Khan nor Rani is able to make much of an impression because their characters are so unidimensional and boring."^[71] Her next release of the year was Pradeep Sarkar's drama Laaga Chunari Mein Daag alongside Jaya Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, Konkana Sen Sharma and Kunal Kapoor. The film met with mixed reviews, while Mukerji was criticised for playing stereotypical roles that required her to cry often.^[72] A review carried by Indian Express noted, "Rani holds the film together, even if her part, both as the ingénue and the hooker, doesn’t have freshness."^[73] Her performance nonetheless fetched her yet another Best Actress nomination at the Filmfare ceremony. Her final release of the year was Sanjay Leela Bhansali's tragedy Saawariya, where she essayed a smaller part of a sex-worker. The film, which featured debutants Ranbir Kapoor and Sonam Kapoor in lead roles, was a critical and commercial failure,^[69] but Mukerji's performance earned her a fifth Filmfare Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

In 2008, Mukerji was paired with Saif Ali Khan again for Kunal Kohli's Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic. This fantasy film had Mukerji play an angel who comes to Earth to help four troubled kids. The film, which flopped at the box office, met with generally positive reviews from critics.^[74] The box office failure of her recent films made Mukerji lose weight and undergo a makeover in her following release, Dil Bole Hadippa (2009). The project, co-starring Shahid Kapoor, saw Mukerji portray a cricket-obsessed Punjabi village girl masquerading as a man.^[75][76] The film, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival under performed at the Indian box office.^[77] A review carried by The Economic Times noted, "Mukerji's mock sob-whine-whimper do not amuse anymore. Also after a point you dislike visualizing the charming actress as the moustached male player."^[78]

Mukerji (right) along with co-star Vidya Balan while promoting No One Killed Jessica (2011). She won a third Filmfare Award in the Supporting Actress category for her performance in the film.

Though her performances in the films during this period were generally well-received, none of them performed well commercially, leading to major setbacks in her career.^[79][80][81] She was not seen in any 2010 releases. When questioned about working only under the Yash Raj Films banner, she said, "An actor is here to act and pick great roles and scripts. I was getting great roles from Yash Raj at that point, roles that any actor would give an arm to do. I stand by those films regardless of their fate".^[82]

In 2011, Mukerji starred in UTV Motion Pictures' semi-biographic thriller, No One Killed Jessica, based on the Jessica Lal murder case. She played the fictional character of a foul-mouthed television journalist, Meera Gaity, deeply involved with the case. In an interview with The Calcutta Telegraph she said, "It was such a different role to portray. It wasn’t a role that was typical of a Hindi film heroine. Meera was more like a hero. It was a character that actually took the story forward.... Meera made a lot of things happen. It wasn’t something that I had ever done before. I actually had to play a man! "^[83] Upon release, Mukerji's performance received mostly positive reviews. The Times of India wrote, "Rani's character being fictional and glamourized seems superficial to an extent but she packs in the punch required for her dynamic character."^[84] While other critics praised her performance, with Daily News and Analysis describing it as "one of her best performances till date,"^[85] several critics were less positive, including Anupama Chopra of NDTV, who called her role, "the fatal, false note in No One Killed Jessica," arguing that "The character is written superficially and Rani’s portrayal of her is equally banal. It’s all about externals. She argues a lot and proudly labels herself a bitch but her hair stays perfectly in place and in the end, she even gets to do a super-hero-like slow motion walk."^[86] The film eventually earned 49 crore (US$9.78 million) and was especially noted for being a commercial success, despite the absence of any prominent male actors.^[87] Consequently, Mukerji won her third Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress.^[88]

As of March 2012, her upcoming films include Reema Kagti's suspense thriller Talaash co-starring Aamir Khan and Kareena Kapoor and Sachin Kundalkar's Aiyaa opposite Prithviraj.^[89][90]

Other work[link]

Television[link]

In 2009, Mukerji made her television debut as a talent judge with the reality show Dance Premier League on Sony Entertainment Television. She explained her stint with television, saying that it made her "more accessible" to the audience and helped her "gain visibility when [she was] not doing too many films."^[7] In 2011, she reprised her role of Meera Gaity on the TV series C.I.D. in a guest appearance to promote her film No One Killed Jessica.^[91]

Philanthropy and stage performances[link]

Involved with several social causes, Mukerji remarked, "It's my dream that every child in India is educated because the way India is growing I don't think without education, we can see a very bright future. So if we want a bright future for our country, I think education is foremost."^[92] Mukerji has stated that she feels strongly for causes that affect women, because, "it angers me to know that women are ill-treated".^[18] In March 2004, Mukerji visited the desert of Rajasthan, where she spent a day at the army training base to boost the morale of the jawan troops. The visit was conducted for a NDTV show, Jai Jawan, on which entertainers and actors visit Indian troops.^[93] In February 2005, Mukerji performed at the HELP! Telethon Concert to help raise money for the victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake alongside several other Bollywood stars.^[94] In March 2006, Mukerji interacted with the physically challenged children of the Helen Keller Institute, during her birthday celebrations. She had previously worked with them while researching for her role in Black.^[95] In November 2010, she was part of a fund raising auction for the "Because I am a Girl" charity campaign.^[96]

Among her stage performances, Mukerji has participated in two world tours. Her first concert, Magnificent Five was in the year 1999 with actors Aamir Khan, Aishwarya Rai, Akshaye Khanna and Twinkle Khanna.^[97] Five years later, she was a part of the Temptations 2004 concert. Mukerji performed alongside Shahrukh Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Preity Zinta, Arjun Rampal and Priyanka Chopra in nineteen stage shows across the globe.^[98] Mukerji was also part of the Temptations 2005 concert in New Delhi. She helped to raise funds for the National Centre For Promotional of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP), a disabled rights' group, with the show which also featured Shah Rukh Khan, Fardeen Khan, Ameesha Patel and Malaika Arora Khan.^[99] In 2010, Mukerji joined Shahrukh Khan, Arjun Rampal, Ishaa Koppikar, among others for a concert at the Army Stadium, Dhaka, Bangladesh to a packed audience.^[100]

Personal life and media image[link]

Mukerji at the Sabsey Favourite Kaun award ceremony, 2007

Rani uses the English transliteration of "Mukerji" instead of the original "Mukherjee" for her surname. She has never clarified the reason for having done so.^[101] Mukerji has three homes in Mumbai, including her childhood home. She currently lives in Juhu with her parents.^[102]

Mukerji is extremely guarded about her personal life, and despite constant media speculation, has never spoken about her relationships.^[103] However, in an interview with Simi Garewal she claimed to have been "absolutely in love", without divulging the name of the person.^[104] As opposed to most of her contemporaries, Mukerji limits her media interactions and is often termed as a recluse. However in 2011, in an interview to Screen India she clarified, "Today actors have become more open with the media. But this has posed a problem for actors like me because if I don’t do that, then I end up being called reclusive. So now I have changed myself and am easily approachable." ^[105] She is additionally known for her friendly image and shares a close friendship with several Bollywood stars including Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan and Karan Johar.^[106][107]

In June 2005, Mukerji was widely criticized following the publication of an interview with British newspaper Desi Xpress. Mukerji was asked to name her idol and she replied, "Adolf Hitler".^[108] However, in an interview with Times Now a year later, she denied ever mentioning Hitler's name.^[108] In November 2006, Mukerji was shooting for the film Laaga Chunari Mein Daag in Varanasi when avid fans crowded the set. Security personnel beat the crowd back.^[109] A media storm followed as various groups insisted that Mukerji should have stopped the security guards. Mukerji later issued an apology.^[109]

Mukerji occupied the top slot of Box Office India's Top Actresses list for two years in a row (2005–2006).^[110] She was also placed number one on Rediff's Top Bollywood Female Stars Rankings for three consecutive years (2004–2006), while in 2007, she was ranked at number five.^[5] In February 2006, Filmfare placed her eighth amongst the "Ten Most Powerful Names of Bollywood", an achievement she repeated from the previous year, where she was ranked at number ten, the only woman on the list.^[111][112] In 2007, she was ranked at number five.^[113] On Women's International Day 2007, Mukerji came in fourth on the Best Bollywood Actresses Ever listing.^[114] She was placed at number 36 by the UK magazine, Eastern Eye, as one of Asia's Sexiest Women (2006).^[115] Mukerji is frequently featured in various lists by Rediff.com, including, Bollywood's Most Beautiful Actresses,^[116] Bollywood's Best Dressed Women^[117] and Women of Many Faces.^[118]