In 2019, Shah Rukh Khan received an Honorary Doctor of Letters from La Trobe University in Australia, and now Rani Mukerji has been conferred an honorary doctorate in recognition of her 30 years in Indian cinema and her off-screen contributions. Rani grew emotional while accepting the honour on stage and also wrote a heartfelt note about it.
Rani Mukerji receives La Trobe Honorary Doctor of Letters degree
In a video shared by Viral Bhayani, Rani looked deeply moved and was seen breaking into tears as she received an honorary Doctor of Letters from La Trobe University. She softly brushed away her tears while smiling, indicating they were tears of joy.
Expressing her joy at being awarded the honorary doctorate, she wrote, "Receiving this honorary doctorate from La Trobe University is among the most humbling experiences of my life. As someone who has always believed that films can touch hearts before they influence minds, this honour carries a significance beyond what I can adequately convey."
She said, “I have always selected films that first resonate deeply with me. Stories that must be told. Stories that can inspire and empower. I have consistently worked, often quietly, to portray strong girls and women of India through films that are driven by the right values.” Rani concluded, “Every artist bears a responsibility that goes beyond their performance. We inevitably become quiet ambassadors of our culture.” This recognition highlights the role of cinema in deepening people-to-people connections between India and Australia.
Rani received a separate special citation for outstanding acting from the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM), which highlighted her three decades of notable performances and the global impact of her work. Her acclaimed filmography includes titles such as Black, Hum Tum, Yuva, Bunty Aur Babli, No One Killed Jessica, the Mardaani series, Hichki and, most recently, Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway. In addition, last year Rani earned the National Award for Best Actress for her role in Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway.
About Rani Mukerji's recent and upcoming movies
Rani was last seen in Mardaani 3. The film followed the story of police officer Shivani Shivaji Roy as she investigated the case of 93 young girls who had gone missing under mysterious circumstances in just three months. Directed by Abhiraj Minawala and backed by Aditya Chopra under the banner of Yash Raj Films, the film also featured Janki Bodiwala, Mallika Prasad and others in key roles. The film collected ₹76.27 crore worldwide at the box office.
She will next be seen in Shah Rukh Khan's King. Helmed by Siddharth Anand, the film also stars Deepika Padukone, Suhana Khan and Abhishek Bachchan in lead roles, along with Jaideep Ahlawat, Arshad Warsi, Saurabh Shukla and Raghav Juyal, among others, in key roles. The film is scheduled to release in theatres on December 24, 2026.