Rani Mukerji's Mother Krishna Mukerji Dies at 75

Yash Raj Films Confirms the Passing

Yash Raj Films, the production house founded by Rani Mukerji's husband Aditya Chopra, issued an official statement on Tuesday afternoon confirming the death of Krishna Mukerji. "With heavy hearts, we share that Rani Mukerji's mother Mrs Krishna Mukerji, 75, passed away this afternoon," the statement read. It added, "The family is deeply grateful for your love, prayers, and support, and respectfully requests privacy during this time of immense grief." The cause of death was not disclosed in the statement, though one report cited unconfirmed accounts of a heart attack.

A Playback Singer Across Bengali and Hindi Cinema

Krishna Mukerji was a playback singer who lent her voice to tracks in both Bengali and Hindi films. Among her credited works were *Momer Alo*, *Haiwan* (1977), *Teesri Aankh* (1982), and *Tomar Rakte Amar Sohag*. She was particularly noted for singing "Idd Ke Din Gale Mil Le Raja" from *Teesri Aankh*. Her sister is National Award-winning Bengali actress Debashree Roy.

Marriage into the Mukerjee Film Dynasty

Krishna Mukerji married filmmaker Ram Mukherjee in 1972. Ram Mukherjee co-founded Mumbai's Filmalaya Studios and directed films including *Hum Hindustani* (1960) and *Leader* (1964), both starring Dilip Kumar and Vyjayanthimala. He died in October 2017 at age 84. The couple had two children: actress Rani Mukerji, born in March 1978, and filmmaker-producer Raja Mukherjee. The family belongs to the Mukerji-Samarth film lineage, which also includes actress Kajol and filmmaker Ayan Mukerji, Rani's cousin.

Rani Mukerji's Reflections on Her Mother's Influence

Rani Mukerji has repeatedly described her mother as the central influence behind her acting career. In a SCREEN interview, Rani said, "I did not decide (to become an actor). My mum decided that for me." She added, "She said become an actor, so I became an actor. She realised my thing (for acting) before me. I became an actor by default." In a 2023 promotional event for *Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway*, Rani said the character drew heavily from her mother, recalling, "The rest of the character is actually based on my mum. She's the most Bengali person I know." In a 2025 interview, Rani also recalled that her mother had initially tried to discourage her after an early screen test.

Funeral and Industry Tributes

Later on Tuesday, Bollywood figures including Shah Rukh Khan, Karan Johar, Alia Bhatt, Ayan Mukerji, and Apoorva Mehta arrived to pay their last respects at the funeral. Further details regarding memorial arrangements were awaited from the family.