As Rani Mukherjee completes 30 remarkable years in Indian cinema, her journey stands as a masterclass in longevity, courage, and conscious choices. From becoming one of Bollywood’s most recognisable romantic leads to redefining female-led storytelling with powerful, socially rooted performances, Rani’s career has been driven by instinct, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to meaningful cinema. In a candid reflection on her career with LIPIKA VARMA, she opens up about finding her voice, literally and creatively, embracing challenging roles, the joy of recognition, and why stories should always matter more than labels. Excerpts On retaining her voice while distributors wanted her voice to be dubbed My experience working with Karan Johar on Kuch Kuch Hota Hai is particularly memorable. I remember how Karan trusted me to dub my own lines despite distributors’ concerns about my voice. “I love your voice”—those words from Karan made me stand my ground. That confidence helped me retain my unique voice and paved the way for future roles. On taking challenging roles that inspire and empower women I’m all about taking on roles that challenge me and inspire women. My characters in Hum Tum, Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna and Saathiya are examples of strong, progressive women who break stereotypes. My approach to acting is simple: I immerse myself in each character, leaving my personal biases aside. I am passionate about portraying women who make their own choices, reflecting the evolving Indian woman empowering themselves. My goal is to inspire audiences, especially women, with stories that resonate. On working with Sanjay Leela Bhansali in Black It was transformative. I was inspired by his direction, particularly how he captured scenes with a unique energy. Bhansali’s attention to detail pushed me to give my best performance. Learning sign language for Black, was a challenging yet rewarding experience. I totally

From the ramp at the Miss Universe pageant to the big screen, Riddhi Kumar has been quietly building a diverse career with films like Pranaya Meenukalude Kada in Malayalam, Superboys of Malegaon in Hindi, and acclaimed web series, Candy and Crash Course. She made her Telugu debut with Lover and later impressed audiences with a small role in Radhe Shyam. Now, after three years, she returns with the Prabhas-starrer Raja Saab, marking a key milestone in her journey. In this candid chat with Priyanka Goud, Riddhi opens up about her evolution as an actor, her on-screen chemistry with Prabhas, and the dream roles she’s eager to bring to life. On her journey from Lover, web series to Raja Saab Honestly, I’d describe it as a beautiful ride filled with exploration, experiences, and constant learning. I started with Telugu cinema, then worked in the Malayalam, Hindi, and Marathi industries, which taught me so much about different cultures, creativity, and languages. I’ve been fortunate to collaborate with incredible filmmakers and actors like Prabhas, Adarsh Gaurav, Reema Kagti, and Kamal sir. Now, being back in Telugu cinema with Prabhas for Raja Saab feels like a full-circle moment. I’m truly excited to see how this new chapter unfolds. On her bond with Prabhas, creating a huge buzz among audiences I’m really glad audiences are loving our bond. The gift he gave me, which I wore in The Raja Saab, is just one small example of his big heart. As everyone knows, he’s a real foodie and loves feeding the people around him. Once, he even sent a whole carriage to the set with three types of biryani, non-veg curries, and fried items, all homemade, packed with flavour and absolutely scrumptious! I’ll always cherish the fun moments we had on set, and one beautiful quality

Sankranti is more than just a festival it’s a feeling rooted in memories, traditions, and togetherness. For celebrities juggling packed schedules, the festival offers a rare pause to reconnect with family, roots, and simpler joys. From festive food and kite flying to early-morning rituals and childhood nostalgia, actors Sundeep Kishan, Eesha Rebba, Rahul Sipligunj, and others open up about how they celebrate Sankranti and what makes it one of the most cherished times of the year. Sundeep Kishan: Among all the festivals we celebrate, Sankranti has always been my absolute favourite. It’s that one time of the year when life truly slows down, and everyone comes together like one big family. The festive mornings, flying kites with friends, spending time with loved ones, and reliving childhood memories, it’s pure joy. And Sankranti is never complete without food: hot garelu, ariselu, traditional sweets, and home-cooked delicacies made with so much love. While cockfighting is a big part of the festival in many parts of Andhra Pradesh, that’s something I’ve only witnessed once. Eesha Rebba: Sankranti feels like a beautiful reset for me every single year. No matter how busy life gets, this festival gently reminds me to pause and reconnect with my roots. From cooking together at home and bonding over delicious festive meals to flying kites with my niece and sharing unhurried, happy conversations with family these simple moments are what genuinely make Sankranti special for me. It’s a time filled with warmth, laughter, and togetherness. And of course, Sankranti also comes with its own little indulgence I happily treat it as a cheat day where I eat as much pulihora as I want, because that’s one dish I can never resist. My mom makes the best ariselu and bobbatlu; my mouth waters just thinking about them. Rahul Sipligunj: This

From a small-town girl with big dreams to a fast-rising name across industries, Bhagyashree Borse is carving her own space in South cinema one film at a time. With a background in Business Management and an unexpected entry into the world of acting through modelling, Bhagyashree’s journey has been anything but conventional. After making her presence felt with Hindi cameos in films Chandu Champion, she transitioned seamlessly into South cinema, earning attention for her performances in Telugu and Tamil films, including Mr Bachchan, Kingdom, Andhra King Taluka, and Kaantha. In an exclusive chat with Priyanka Goud, she opens up about her journey, lessons from working with stars like Dulquer Salmaan, Rana Daggubati, staying rooted amid fame, and what excites her about the road ahead. On Her Acting Dream and Career Graph I feel like I’ve come a long way, yet I’m still just beginning. From a small town in Maharashtra to bigger cities with even bigger dreams, my journey has taken me from studying business to modelling and now acting. Destiny has been kind, but hard work has been the real key. Acting was never part of the plan while I was growing up, I’d say it was truly destiny’s call. I started modelling at the age of 18 while pursuing Business Management, and I felt extremely comfortable in front of the camera. That’s where my love story with the camera began. It feels like a beautiful beginning. On navigating success, failures, and audience expectations Honestly, for me, real success lies in the love and support I receive from the audience. When people connect with my characters or appreciate my work that means everything to me. As an actor, all you can do is give your hundred percent and perform to the best of your ability. The outcome that is