Actor Rani Mukerji’s mother, Krishna Mukerji, has died at the age of 75, the family confirmed in a statement on Tuesday.
“With heavy hearts, we share that Rani Mukerji’s mother Mrs Krishna Mukerji, 75, passed away this afternoon,” the family said. They thanked well-wishers for their “love, prayers, and support” while requesting privacy during what they described as a period of immense grief.
Krishna Mukerji was also associated with the film industry as a playback singer. She is known for lending her voice to “Idd Ke Din Gale Mil Le Raja” from the 1982 film Teesri Aankh. She was married to filmmaker Ram Mukherjee and was the mother of Rani Mukerji and Raja Mukherjee.
Krishna also played an important role in Rani’s entry into the film industry. Rani previously recalled that it was her mother who encouraged her to try acting, although Krishna was initially unconvinced by her daughter’s first screen test and even advised a producer against casting her because she feared Rani was not ready.
Rani eventually made her Hindi-film debut as a lead actor in Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat in 1997 and went on to become one of Bollywood’s most prominent actors. Further details surrounding Krishna Mukerji’s death have not yet been released by the family.
