Neither getting married, nor engaged: Rani Mukerji

After almost a year-long hiatus, Rani Mukerji is back with her new film No One Killed Jessica. The actor chats up Sreya Basu about playing a journalist and marriage. In No One Killed Jessica, you are playing a journo who helps the Lall family to get justice. How far was your character fictionalized? While narrating the script, my director Raj Kumar Gupta told me that there was no one particular reporter, but 10-12 reporters who were handling the Jessica Lall murder case. But since it’s a film, there was not so much screen-time to fit in all characters. So he created my character amalgamating contributions of all the 10-12 reporters in that case. How was it playing a journalist? As we all know, particularly in this Jessica Lall case, media played a crucial role. It was the first time when the media showed that if it uses its power in a proper way then they can actually shake the judicial system of our country, And I think, it’s very, very important for this movie to work. I am very much in awe of the role the media played and feel lucky to get a chance to represent you all…it’s a very difficult job, especially for women. Are you sending out a message through the film?  You have to watch the film to know if we are sending out any message or not. But all of us made sure that the film doesn’t become a docu-drama, because cinema is a medium to entertain people. We see you in very less films these days. Have you gone too choosy about scripts?  I approach a film as an actor. Before signing a film, it is very important for me to know if the makers have talked to concerned people and done their research. I don’t want to land up in controversies because of my films. I am a non-controversial person and like to stay away from any kind of controversy. You have so many filmmaker-friends like Karan Johan and Aditya Chopra… I don’t understand why should people equate friendship with work? Be it Karan Johan or Aditya Chopra or Sanjay Leela Bhansali or Raju Hirani, a director chooses his actor depending if he/she actually fits the role. One doesn’t make friends because you have worked with the person or expect him to cast you in all his films. I have friends from school. I didn’t make friends with them because they will give me work in future. Okay, let’s talk about lighter things. When was the last time you walked down the road at any place?  When I was shooting for No One Killed Jessica in Delhi. On my off days, I used to walk down to Khan Market. There are lovely shops, the ambience is European, and the food is excellent. That must have caused a stampede there?  No, no. There were people staring at me. But neither there was a stampede, nor did I have to call someone to rescue me and run away in my car. When are you getting married?  I feel very happy when people ask me about marriage. But as of now, neither I am getting married, nor engaged. I will tell everybody when I get married. Really?  Seriously. All my audience, fans, well-wishers, who have supported me, blessed me for so many years, have the right to at least know when I get married. And I will tell them myself, trust me. So till then, don’t believe what your sources say (laughs).