In 2019, Shah Rukh Khan was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Letters by Australia's La Trobe University, and now Rani Mukerji has received an honorary doctorate for her three decades of work in Indian cinema and her contributions off screen. Rani was seen getting emotional as she received the honour on stage and also penned a note.
In a video shared by Viral Bhayani, Rani was seen getting emotional and breaking down in tears as she received the honorary Doctor of Letters degree from La Trobe University. She was seen softly wiping away her tears while smiling, hinting at tears of joy.
Sharing her happiness about receiving the honorary doctorate, she wrote, “Receiving this honorary doctorate from La Trobe University is one of the most humbling moments of my life. For someone who has always believed that films can change hearts before they change minds, this recognition means more than I can possibly express.”
She added, “I have always chosen films that have made an impact in my heart first. A story that needs to be told. A story that would inspire and empower. I have always silently worked to represent the powerful girls and women of India through cinema that has its heart in the right place.” Rani concluded, “Every artist carries a responsibility beyond performance. We quietly become ambassadors of our culture.” The honour underscores cinema's role in strengthening people-to-people ties between India and Australia.
Rani was separately honoured with a special citation for acting excellence by the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM), which cited her three decades of memorable roles and the international reach of her work. Some of her memorable films include Black, Hum Tum, Yuva, Bunty Aur Babli, No One Killed Jessica, the Mardaani franchise, Hichki and, most recently, Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway. Last year, Rani also won the National Award for Best Actress for her performance in Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway.
Rani was last seen in Mardaani 3. The film followed the story of police officer Shivani Shivaji Roy as she investigated the case of 93 young girls who had gone missing under mysterious circumstances in just three months. Directed by Abhiraj Minawala and backed by Aditya Chopra under the banner of Yash Raj Films, the film also featured Janki Bodiwala, Mallika Prasad and others in key roles. The film collected ₹76.27 crore worldwide at the box office.
She will next be seen in Shah Rukh Khan's King. Helmed by Siddharth Anand, the film also stars Deepika Padukone, Suhana Khan and Abhishek Bachchan in lead roles, along with Jaideep Ahlawat, Arshad Warsi, Saurabh Shukla and Raghav Juyal, among others, in key roles. The film is scheduled to release in theatres on December 24, 2026.
Riya Sharma is a content producer at Hindustan Times who lives and breathes entertainment. If there’s gossip making noise in Bollywood or a reality show moment breaking the internet, chances are she’s already writing about it. She loves digging out the juiciest stories, spotting viral pegs and turning it into easy-to-read content. A journalism graduate from IP University, Riya began her career as a social media executive, where she learned the art of grabbing attention in a scroll-heavy world. But her love for showbiz soon pulled her into entertainment journalism, because for her, it’s always been entertainment, entertainment and more entertainment. An artist at heart, Riya has a deep passion for acting, music and dance, which shapes how she watches and writes about films and reality shows. She loves sharing her views and reviews, especially when something excites, surprises or completely disappoints her. A hardcore reality show fan, Riya enjoys tracking every twist, task and meltdown, and breaking them down for readers who can’t get enough of high-voltage drama. Movies are equally close to her heart, whether it’s a big theatrical release or a binge-worthy OTT series, she’s always watching, and analysing what’s worth the time. She loves talking to celebrities, asking questions that go beyond the usual. When she’s not working, she’s either glued to a new web series, hunting for underrated thrillers on OTT platforms, or rewatching iconic Bollywood moments.Read More
