The actor says she has "changed as a person as well as an actor" after the birth of daughter, Adira.

She was last seen in Mardaani (2014). But clearly, Rani Mukerji's absence from the silver screen has had no effect on her ebullient nature and happy-golucky avatar. Looking like a million bucks, the actor - armed with her 1,000 watt smile - seems raring to go in her new film and feels that her "journey has begun now". As she readies for the release of her next, Hichki, we caught up with her about the film and more.

It has been almost four years since your last release. Feeling excited or a bit sceptical?

I don't feel sceptical because I have always believed that whatever I have achieved is great for a person, who never wanted to be an actor. What can go wrong now? God has been kind and my fans have been supportive. I've learnt one thing in life that whatever the situation may be, one must get ahead in life while accepting them, especially dealing with situations which can make your life better. The more you try to fight a situation - especially since things don't turn out the way you want them to at that particular time - the more it hurts you.

You witnessed a blockbuster chapter of your life post Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998). In the same vein, do you look at this as a new chapter of your life?

Absolutely. It is a new chapter of my life. I feel my journey has begun now. I have changed as a person and an actor after Adira's birth. I also witnessed my father's death, so I have gone through so many emotions of late. So much has happened with me that I am a different person now. In this new phase of my life, my daughter will be my side. My first phase started 22 years back and now, I am starting another one for the next 22 years. So, it does feel like starting a fresh innings.

What's the most exciting thing vis­a­vis this new phase?

My daughter! As she grows up, Adira will know that her mother is a working woman. She will see my work and comment on it, so it would be a new thing. I miss the comments coming from my father. It's always been important for me to know what my mum and dad thought of my films. Now that my father is gone, she will balance that out. I am only worried that unlike our parents, who filter things, our kids won't do that (laughs).

And you also have Aditya Chopra (husband; fim­maker) around...

Adi is my husband, not my kid, so there will be a little difference [between their reactions to her films].

Could the difference be because your husband is afraid of you?

That you have to ask him only (laughs). When it comes to Adi, it's great that he is very good in multi-tasking and departmentalising. So when I am at home, it's different but when he talks to me as a professional, his approach is not the same. He behaves like two different people when he talks to me as a wife and as an actor. Adi comes from a different space when he discusses something workrelated with me.

What made you come back from a sabbatical and say yes to a film that is not run­of­the mill (her character in the film suffers from Tourette syndrome)?

For me, my script is always the king, which people don't seem to understand nowadays. If a script is good, it will remain the same regardless of how bad the acting or direction is. The spine that keeps a film standing straight is a script. Also, my husband was very keen that I do a film. He knew that I am a family person, and I would require a push to get out of that zone and do a film. He told me, 'Adira is going to be with us throughout our life, but you have to be responsible to your fan base'. If you have an understanding husband, who also respects who you are, that works very well. Had it been any script other than Hichki, I would have said, 'I need time' and would not have been so excited. But I felt the need to do Hichki.


'Having Adi in life is a blessing'

Does having Aditya Chopra (film-maker) around help with your work?

I don't see it as being helpful; I feel that it's a blessing. When I have a person with me who is so forward thinking and who respects women, that really helps. It also shows in his upbringing. There's a lot of respect for women in the way Yash (Chopra) uncle and Pamela aunty have brought him up, and you can see that in his films. Women characters are very strong in the studio's films, because of the genuine respect that they have for them.

You're going to make a comeback of sorts with Hichki. Are you feeling any pressure to perform?

Pressure is very good, as it makes you work [hard] and doesn't keep you constrained. When you look at Hollywood, actresses are leading their personal lives in parallel with their professional lives. But in India, actresses postpone weddings and are even asked to delay plans for getting married or have kids. Today, fans have begun talking about subjects like these and are expressing their love. In a way, that tells an actor that times are changing, and inspires us to give our fans what they want to see. I don't think personal stuff matters in an actor's life and it shouldn't be given much importance. We have to work hard for our fan base and be able to live up to their love and adulation.

At the same time, movies are all about magic. Do you agree?

All my life, I have believed that when a film has to work, it works. There is a certain time and energy about films. You need to work hard for every film, because it's not as if there's no hard work involved in films that don't do well. Kuch films ki kundli aisi hoti hai ki jab woh aati hain, sab kuch work kar jaata hai. Ultimately, the people decide the fate of a film. After all, why do we call them, 'janta janardan'? People give a lot of respect to films that work at the box office. It's important that more and more people come in to watch your film.

Were you worried about this film, considering its sensitive nature?

Yes I was! I didn't know if I'd be able to pull off this role. I just hoped to do justice to the character. When you are playing a differently-abled character, you have to be very sure about how you are portraying their life on the screen. It has to be a very sensitive portrayal. Somehow, I feel connected to them, because such characters come to me. It is my duty to portray them correctly whenever I get an opportunity. The script has to be uplifting, too.

You played a differently­abled character in Black (2005) as well. Do such parts need you to connect with the character in a completely different manner?

Yes, but I guess I've been lucky to work with actors like Kamal Haasan, Aamir Khan and Shah Rukh Khan, as I learnt a lot from them. Whenever I have approached my character, I try to do it so my audience does not see me, but sees my character instead. I have to make her very makebelieve, as she has to look very real. Uske liye mujhe kya kya karna padega, main woh tarkeeb nikaal kar aati hu. If you don't innovate as an actor, you will lose your audience. I have to offer them something different every time so that they can be proud of me.