Am a learner in front of Aamir and Shah Rukh Khan: Rani Mukherji

Having been part of the film industry since 1995 rendering memorable movies like Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Yuva, Black and No One Killed Jessica, actress Rani Mukherjee says she treats herself as a learner in front of senior actors Aamir Khan and Shah Rukh Khan.

Rani has done two films with Aamir - Ghulam and Mangal Pandey - so far and will next be seen with him in Talaash, while she has done Kuch Kuch Hota Hai,Chalte Chalte, Veer Zaara, Paheli andKabhi Alvida Na Kehna with Shah Rukh Khan.

The actress reveals that it is Aamir and Shah Rukh whose suggestions she follows. “I have always treated myself as a youngster or learner in front of two people – Aamir and Shah Rukh Khan. I do look up to them. I may not be shy in front of them anymore but I learn a lot from them,” Rani said in an interview here. “When they suggest anything its important for me to take it. Because I know what they are suggesting is for my own good,” she said.

Rani feels Aamir is one such actor whose films people compulsorily go to watch as they know it is going to be good. “Aamir is like somebody whose film is like compulsorily to be seen. If you know it is an Aamir Khan movie then you have to go and watch, irrespective of whether you like the promo or not,” Rani expressed.

“If people watch Aamir Khan film it is because he has created an image for himself. That is because of his single-minded focus for his work and his dedication. The kind of films he chooses to do have made an impact in peoples’ lives,” she added.

Rani is all praises for the way Aamir promotes his films and says she would any day go to watch the film. “The strategy with which Aamir promotes his films, we cannot deny the fact that he is a very intelligent person. And if he decides to do it in some way, probably he knows what he is doing,” she said.

Rani first teamed up with Aamir in 1998 for Vikram Bhatt’s Ghulam. “I am a huge Aamir Khan fan. I had a crush on him when I saw Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak. When I did Ghulam with him I used to look at his shoes as I used to be tensed and nervous. I was very nervous while doing romantic scenes with him,” the actress said.

“I would look at his shoes because I couldn’t look into his eyes. But now I look at his eyes, keep gazing until he asks me not to do it,” she said. Rani insists that now she has become good friends with the ‘perfectionist’. “Over the years, Aamir and I have built a friendship which, I would like to believe, is for life. I think I will be attending his 80th birthday,” she said. Now that Rani would be again seen opposite Aamir in Reema Kagti’s upcoming suspense drama Talaash, she feels Aamir has become a more bigger star today. “When I was a newcomer he was a huge star. And today I work with him after 17 years, he is still a much bigger star,” she said.

“His focus, dedication and sincerity towards his craft, his approach towards filmmaking, performance and character, I think that has only become greater and bigger with time. He was as focused and dedicated then, as he is now,” she mentioned.

Rani is geared up for the release of Talaash on November 30. “I would love to discuss the story, the character, the different shades, the layers but I can’t speak a single word,” she said.

Talaash is directed by Reema Kagti, but Rani feels it does not matter if the director is a woman or a man. “Be it a male or female it doesn’t matter. It’s people’s mindset. There is no such difference. The only difference is of a good and bad director. In this case, Reema is really good,” she said.