Rani Mukherjee

Member of the same illustrious film family from which Kajol draws her lineage Rani Mukherjee may still be at a distance from the citadel that houses her cousin. But there is no doubt about the light-eyed Bengali girl's mass appeal. Moreover, she is putting all her efforts and working hard to reach there.

Precocious yet innocently oblivious of it, it is the actress's unassuming self which draw friends and well-wishers to her.

Producers made a beeline for Rani's door (she was riding high on the success of Ghulam and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai) and just as she was gradually shifting positions towards the top in the popularity charts, she started getting the jolts. Good nature did not really help Rani in gaining stronghold and consolidating her position in Mumbai.

Films like Baadal cast a shadow on her prospects. The film left theatres in India without a whimper. Hope was alive in the form of Hadh Kar Di Aapne, which was in the pipeline. Rani had faith in Govinda and David Dhawan's saleability at the box office. Unfortunately, the film failed to raise a laugh and the cash boxes did not ring.

Rani tried to remain unfazed. She was looking towards the future and Hey Ram. As an actress, Rani was proud to be associated with an actor-director of Kamal Haasan's caliber and was thrilled to have Hey Ram in her lap. Even Hey Ram did not propel her career to the extent she had expected. There wasn't any critical appreciation of her performance in the film. Infact, Rani's fans became aloof when they saw their favorite actress locked in a passionate kiss in the film.

The actress does not regret though. ''I wanted to work with Mr. Kamal Haasan. The rest did not matter'' she said in an interview some time ago.

Rani still is excited about the projects that are lined up as her next films. A series of unsuccessful runs have not dampened the giggly self. She continues to be sprightly.