“I told Nikkhil Advani, ‘as a producer, aap woh jhel nahin paayenge jo mere khud ke pati jhelte hai’” – Rani Mukerji

Rani Mukerji is gearing up for the release of thriller-drama, Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway, which arrives in cinemas on March 17. The film’s trailer has been well-received and it has boosted the morale of the team. On Friday, March 10, Rani and producer Nikkhil Advani had a conversation with Karan Johar wherein they divulged some fascinating trivia about the film.

\

Rani Mukerji said, “When Nikkhil narrated the film’s idea, I was shocked. I asked him to send the script. However, I was so emotionally charged with the story that I immediately started Googling. I was stunned when I read the real story. I wondered how will we translate Sagarika Chakraborty’s story on celluloid. At times, the story is promising but the screenplay fails to do justice. So, I read the script. But even the screenplay was spot-on.”

Rani Mukerji continued, “Fir maine socha ki main Nikkhil ko tol mol ke dekhti hoon! I told him, ‘It’ll be difficult for you to work with me. I am now a mother. Unlike other actors, I can’t devote long working hours. My priority is my daughter. As a producer, aap woh jhel nahin paayenge jo mere khud ke pati jhelte hai’ (laughs)!” Rani is married to Yash Raj Films’ (YRF) high honcho, Aditya Chopra.

Rani then said, “Nikkhil however told me, ‘We’ll work as per your convenience’. He didn’t give me a reason to say ‘No’. Then I jokingly asked him, ‘Tum mujhe mere pati ki tarah pyaar de paaoge?’. He told me, ‘Main toh aapko Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998) ke time se pyaar karta hoon’ (laughs)!” Incidentally, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998), which also starred Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol, was directed by Karan Johar and had Nikkhil Advani as one of the assistants.

Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway is inspired by the real-life story of Sagarika Chakraborty whose children were taken away by the government of Norway citing that she’s not taking care of them appropriately. How she waged a legal war against the unfair system forms the crux of the film.