Mumbai, January 22 (NationPress) - Bollywood actress Rani Mukerji expressed her heartfelt gratitude to filmmaker Karan Johar for having faith in her distinctive ‘husky’ voice, something that had been dismissed by numerous directors early in her career.

She credited Karan Johar for encouraging her to keep her natural voice in subsequent films. Rani reminisced about filming the teaser for Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, where Karan inquired if her voice was being dubbed in Ghulam.

Upon confirming, he asked if she was okay with dubbing in her own voice. “He told me, ‘I adore your voice, and you will be dubbing for my film,’” she recalled.

Rani noted that Karan stood firm in his beliefs, despite the pressures faced by a debuting filmmaker, and trusted her voice. “Thanks to him, my voice has become a core part of my identity as an actress,” she said, adding that without his support, many of her films might not have featured her authentic voice.

She further shared her disappointment about her voice being dubbed in her acclaimed film Ghulam, which left her feeling heartbroken.

As a newcomer, Rani felt she had limited choices. Sharing her experience, she mentioned that acting opposite Aamir Khan was a significant opportunity for her, given his superstar status at the time, which led her to accept the voice dubbing situation.

She later discovered from director Vikram Bhatt that the decision to dub her voice in Ghulam was made collaboratively by Vikram, producer Mukesh Bhatt, and Aamir Khan. Rani recounted how Aamir explained the rationale behind the decision. “He told me that sometimes, for the greater good of the film, actors must make sacrifices,” she said.

According to Rani, Aamir mentioned that the team believed her voice might not fit the character. He asked her who her favorite actress was, to which she promptly replied Sridevi. He then pointed out that Sridevi’s voice had been dubbed in various films, yet that did not hinder her rise to stardom. “He advised me to surrender to what was best for the film,” Rani added.

Although the decision disheartened her, she chose to mask her feelings. She emphasized that being a team player is vital in filmmaking, asserting that personal setbacks should not overshadow the film's overall intent. Ultimately, her voice was dubbed in Ghulam.

The touching exchange between Rani Mukerji and Karan Johar took place during the celebration of her 30 years in Bollywood, organized by Yash Raj Films.

As for Ghulam, it is a 1998 Hindi action drama directed by Vikram Bhatt and produced by Mukesh Bhatt under the Vishesh Films banner. The film starred Aamir Khan and Rani Mukerji in lead roles, complemented by Sharat Saxena, Rajit Kapur, and Dalip Tahil in supporting roles. Released on June 19, 1998, Ghulam gained popularity for its compelling performances and engaging storyline.