Says Rani, "People said I had gone into hiding. But aisa kuch nahin hai. I've been building, putting together and decorating my two homes. Whatever time I had to spare from my work I spent with either Twinkle Khanna or Suzanne Roshan who are doing up my two homes."
Twinkle did up Rani's apartment and Suzanne her bungalow, both in Juhu. "Thankfully, the apartment is ready. Twinkle handed it over to me on the Bengali new year last week.In the last few weeks when the apartment was being finalized I spent so much time with Twinkle, her husband Akshay and son Arhaan must be hating me."
Rani reminisces, "Twinkle and I have been friends for quite some time. I'm very fond of her, and she of me. Then she got busy with her work and family. But we picked up the threads of our old friendship quite effortlessly when I asked her to do up my apartment ...
Twinkle has her own unique taste and style. My apartment now has the stamp of Twinkle Khanna. When you enter the space she has created you feel very calm and peaceful. Whoever has visited my place has really liked it."
Suzanne Roshan has been working for two years on Rani's bungalow.
"Suzanne has given her life and blood for my home. In fact Hrithik's baby Hrehaan has been growing while Suzanne has been giving time to my bungalow.
She started doing up my bungalow when she wasn't even pregnant. Rhehaan was born and we're still on the project. Even my niece was born while the two homes were being done up. So I feel very good vibes about my new residence."
Rani will shift with her family into the bungalow. "The apartment would be for my work-related appointments...story sessions, costume sittings, etc. I feel very attached to the apartment because that's where I was born."
Rani looks back on the ten years of her life in the industry with much pride and affection. "Every day you read about some unfortunate incident happening in some family. Every night I thank God that all my family members are healthy and happy.
Mom, Dad and my Raja continue to be happy together. Over the years I've realized family means only your immediate folks. And now my Bhabhi Jyoti has joined us. She has blended beautifully. Today I feel closer to her than to my brother. I feel Jyoti is more my sister than sister-in-law.
And now my niece Myiesha has brought us all even more happiness. Her Bua, that's me, has given her a typically Bengali nickname. Mishti. That's the flavour of my life now. Sweet."