Mumbai: Bollywood actor Rani Mukerji’s mother, Krishna Mukherjee, passed away on Tuesday afternoon following a brief illness. She was 75. The news of her demise was officially confirmed by Yash Raj Films (YRF), plunging the Mukherjee family and the film fraternity into deep mourning.
In a formal statement released to the media, Yash Raj Films stated, “With heavy hearts, we share that Rani Mukerji’s mother, Mrs Krishna Mukerji, 75, passed away this afternoon. The family is deeply grateful for your love, prayers, and support and respectfully requests privacy during this time of immense grief”.
Krishna Mukherjee was a distinguished figure in her own right, with a deep connection to Indian and Bengali cinema. A former playback singer, she was known for her classical and folk music roots. One of her most recognizable tracks was “Eid Ke Din Gale Mil Le Raja” from the 1982 film Teesri Aankh, composed by the legendary music duo Laxmikant-Pyarelal. She was married to the late filmmaker Ram Mukherjee, one of the founding members of the iconic Filmalaya Studios, who passed away in 2017. Together, they had two children—Rani and producer-director Raja Mukherjee.
Krishna played an instrumental role in shaping her daughter’s illustrious career. Rani has frequently acknowledged that it was her mother who recognized her potential and strongly encouraged her to step into the world of acting, even when she had no initial ambitions to become a movie star. Krishna was a constant pillar of support, often seen accompanying the actor to film screenings, award functions, and public events since the very beginning of her career.
The tragic loss comes at a bittersweet time for the family, as Rani Mukerji was recently honored with the Raj Kapoor Special Contribution Award at the 62nd Maharashtra State Film Awards, as well as an honorary doctorate from Australia’s La Trobe University for her cinematic achievements. As condolences pour in from across the industry, fans and colleagues are standing by the actor and her family during this period of immense personal loss.