
Her mother, Krishna Mukherjee, is a former playback singer. Her father, Ram Mukherjee (born to the Mukherjee-Samarth family), was a former film director and one of the founders of Filmalaya Studios. Mukerji was born in Bombay (present-day Mumbai) on 21 March 1978. Mukerji is married to filmmaker Aditya Chopra, with whom she has a daughter. She has participated in concert tours and stage shows, and featured as a talent judge for the 2009 reality show Dance Premier League. Mukerji is involved with humanitarian causes and is vocal about issues faced by women and children.

The lattermost emerged as her highest-grossing release. This changed when she played a headstrong journalist in the thriller No One Killed Jessica (2011), and further success came for her starring roles in the thrillers Talaash (2012), Mardaani (2014) and its sequel Mardaani 2 (2019), and the comedy-drama Hichki (2018). Mukerji's collaborations with Yash Raj Films from 20 produced several unsuccessful films and led critics to bemoan her choice of roles. She also gained praise for playing an abused wife in the political thriller Yuva (2004) and a deaf and blind woman in the drama Black (2005).

Mukerji established herself by starring in several commercially successful romantic films, including Chalte Chalte (2003), Hum Tum (2004), Veer-Zaara (2004), and Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (2006), and the crime comedy Bunty Aur Babli (2005). Following a brief setback, the year 2002 marked a turning point for her when she was cast by Yash Raj Films as the star of the drama Saathiya. Mukerji had her first commercial success with the action film Ghulam (1998) and breakthrough with the romance Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998).

As a teenager she dabbled with acting by starring in her father Ram Mukherjee's Bengali-language film Biyer Phool and in the social drama Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat (both 1996).

Īlthough Mukerji was born into the Mukherjee-Samarth family, in which her parents and relatives were members of the Indian film industry, she did not aspire to pursue a career in film. Mukerji has featured in listings of the highest-paid actresses of the 2000s. Noted for her versatility, she is the recipient of multiple accolades, including seven Filmfare Awards. Rani Mukerji (pronounced born 21 March 1978) is an Indian actress who works in Hindi films.
