Lost my second child: Rani Mukerji on what shaped Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway role

Rani Mukerji revealed the emotional significance of receiving the script for 'Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway' after her miscarriage, and how her experience influenced her decision to portray the story.

Rani Mukerji, a prominent figure in Indian cinema, has spoken about the personal circumstances that influenced her involvement in the film Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway. The script for the movie reached her in 2020, during a period when she was coping with the loss of her second child. This timing made the project especially meaningful for the actor, who has long chosen roles that carry social relevance and emotional depth. She reflected on how the story resonated with her and motivated her to share it with a wider audience.

Mukerji, who earned a National Award for her role in the film, stated that her sense of loss at the time drew her to the film's narrative, which explores a mother's struggle after being separated from her child. In an interview with Pinkvilla, she said, "Wo jo kahani thi wo mujhe bhi aise ek mod pe hua tha, matlab wo film mere paas aayi thi, jab maine mera dusra baccha kho diya tha. Toh yeh sense of loss tha mera bohot aur wo kahani sunke mai itna judd gayi aur maine bola ye kahani mujhe batani hai. (That story came to me at a time when I had lost my second child [due to a miscarriage]. So my sense of loss was huge, and hearing that film’s story, I got attached to it and wanted to let it be known to people)."

Speaking about the hardships faced by those living abroad, she said she wanted to portray the deep sense of longing and desperation of a mother separated from her child. "Mujhe Hindustan ko yeh kahani batani hai aur unko batana hai ki humara jo obsession hai ki hum bahargaon jayein, hum wahan pe settle karenge, ye sacchai nahi hai, sacchai bohot hatke hai. (I wanted to show this film to the people of India, where we are obsessed with moving to other countries and settling there. I wished to display the reality)," she said.

“Apne bacchon ke bina ek maa ka kya haal hota hai aur aapka baccha aapse leke koi chale jaye aapki aankhon ki saamne toh us maa pe kya gujarti hai, bacchon pe kya gujarti hai wo dikhana tha (I wanted to show how a mother suffers when her child is taken away from her right in front of her eyes, and how the kids also feel it.),” she added.

Having debuted in Biyer Phool in 1996, Mukerji’s career in the entertainment industry spans nearly thirty years. She has consistently chosen challenging roles, and she noted that her decision to participate in Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway was driven by a desire to address issues affecting audiences and raise awareness.

Mukerji and her husband, Aditya Chopra, welcomed their daughter Adira in 2015. She discussed her miscarriage in 2023, sharing that it occurred five months into her pregnancy in 2020.