Rani Mukerji had an emotional moment in Melbourne as she received an honorary Doctor of Letters from Australia's La Trobe University. The actor was seen wiping away tears while accepting the honour at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) 2026.
The honour recognises Rani's three decades in Indian cinema and her contribution beyond acting. A video from the ceremony shows the actor smiling through tears as she received the degree on stage.
Rani Mukerji calls the honour ‘one of the most humbling moments’
Rani later shared a note about the honour, describing it as one of the most humbling moments of her life.
“Receiving this honorary doctorate from La Trobe University is one of the most humbling moments of my life,” she wrote.
She spoke about her choice of films and characters over the years, particularly stories centred on women. Rani said she had always tried to support stories that could inspire and empower people.
She also wrote, “Every artist carries a responsibility beyond performance. We quietly become ambassadors of our culture.”
The actor's work has often gone beyond conventional Bollywood roles, with films such as Black, No One Killed Jessica, Hichki, the Mardaani franchise and Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway tackling subjects including disability, justice, education, women's safety and motherhood.
Rani Mukerji's three decades in cinema
Rani made her acting debut in the 1990s and went on to become one of Hindi cinema's most recognisable actors. Her performances in films such as Hum Tum, Yuva, Black and Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway have earned her several major awards.
She was also recently honoured with a special citation for acting excellence by the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne, which recognised her three decades in cinema and the international reach of her work.
Rani won the National Award for Best Actress for Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway last year.
What is Rani Mukerji's next film?
Rani was last seen as police officer Shivani Shivaji Roy in Mardaani 3.
She will next appear in Shah Rukh Khan's King, directed by Siddharth Anand. The film also stars Deepika Padukone, Suhana Khan, Abhishek Bachchan, Jaideep Ahlawat, Arshad Warsi, Saurabh Shukla and Raghav Juyal.
King is scheduled to release in theatres on December 24, 2026.
Rani Mukerji had an emotional moment in Melbourne as she received an honorary Doctor of Letters from Australia's La Trobe University. The actor was seen wiping away tears while accepting the honour at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) 2026.
The honour recognises Rani's three decades in Indian cinema and her contribution beyond acting. A video from the ceremony shows the actor smiling through tears as she received the degree on stage.
Rani Mukerji calls the honour ‘one of the most humbling moments’
Rani later shared a note about the honour, describing it as one of the most humbling moments of her life.
“Receiving this honorary doctorate from La Trobe University is one of the most humbling moments of my life,” she wrote.
She spoke about her choice of films and characters over the years, particularly stories centred on women. Rani said she had always tried to support stories that could inspire and empower people.
She also wrote, “Every artist carries a responsibility beyond performance. We quietly become ambassadors of our culture.”
The actor's work has often gone beyond conventional Bollywood roles, with films such as Black, No One Killed Jessica, Hichki, the Mardaani franchise and Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway tackling subjects including disability, justice, education, women's safety and motherhood.
Rani Mukerji's three decades in cinema
Rani made her acting debut in the 1990s and went on to become one of Hindi cinema's most recognisable actors. Her performances in films such as Hum Tum, Yuva, Black and Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway have earned her several major awards.
She was also recently honoured with a special citation for acting excellence by the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne, which recognised her three decades in cinema and the international reach of her work.
Rani won the National Award for Best Actress for Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway last year.
What is Rani Mukerji's next film?
Rani was last seen as police officer Shivani Shivaji Roy in Mardaani 3.
She will next appear in Shah Rukh Khan's King, directed by Siddharth Anand. The film also stars Deepika Padukone, Suhana Khan, Abhishek Bachchan, Jaideep Ahlawat, Arshad Warsi, Saurabh Shukla and Raghav Juyal.
King is scheduled to release in theatres on December 24, 2026.
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