Rani Mukerji (born March 21, 1978) is an Indian actress who works predominantly in Hindi cinema. After making her screen debut in the Bengali film *Biyer Phool* (1996), she entered Hindi cinema with *Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat* (1997). She gained wider recognition the following year with the action drama *Ghulam* (1998) and the romance *Kuch Kuch Hota Hai* (1998), winning the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress for the latter.

During the 2000s, Mukerji appeared in *Hey Ram* (2000), *Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega* (2000), *Chori Chori Chupke Chupke* (2001), *Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham* (2001), and *Saathiya* (2002). For her performance in the romantic comedy *Hum Tum* (2004), she won the Filmfare Award for Best Actress, alongside a Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress for *Yuva* (2004). That same year, she starred in *Veer-Zaara* (2004). In 2005, she won both the Filmfare Award for Best Actress and the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actress for the drama *Black*, and also appeared in *Bunty Aur Babli* (2005), *Paheli* (2005), and *Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna* (2006).