Rani Mukerji’s Mother Krishna Mukerji Dies at 75
Rani Mukerji’s mother Krishna Mukerji died at the age of 75 on Tuesday, September 22, 2026. The family confirmed that she passed away in the afternoon and requested privacy as they mourn her loss.
A statement released on behalf of the family said they were sharing the news with “heavy hearts” and expressed gratitude for the prayers, love and support extended to them. The family has also asked people to respect their privacy during this difficult period. Details about the cause of death and funeral arrangements have not been publicly disclosed.
For Rani Mukerji, Krishna was much more than a parent. She remained an important influence on the actor’s personal life and professional journey. Rani has spoken on several occasions about her close relationship with her mother and the role Krishna played in shaping her understanding of family, motherhood and Bengali culture.
One of the clearest examples came during the making of Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway. Rani played Debika Chatterjee, a mother fighting to regain custody of her children after they were taken away by Norwegian authorities. While preparing for the role, Rani said she drew heavily from her own mother. She described Krishna as a deeply Bengali mother whose everyday expressions of affection and care helped her understand the emotional side of the character.
In a more recent interview, Rani recalled her mother’s “proactive” approach to parenting and said Krishna was the first person who came to her mind when she read the character of Debika. She also described her mother as a “true-blue Bengali mom”, underlining how strongly Krishna’s personality influenced her interpretation of the role.
Krishna Mukerji also had her own association with the film industry. She was a former playback singer and is credited with songs in Hindi and Bengali cinema. Among her recognised work was the song Idd Ke Din Gale Mil Le Raja from the 1982 Hindi film Teesri Aankh. Music records also credit Krishna Mukherjee among the singers on the track.
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Her connection with Rani’s acting career went back to the beginning. Rani has previously recalled that it was her mother who encouraged her to consider acting. Interestingly, Krishna was also among the first people to notice that Rani needed more work before becoming an actress. After watching an early screen test, she reportedly felt her daughter was not ready and even warned the producer that casting her could hurt the film.
That early honesty eventually became part of Rani’s journey into Hindi cinema. Over the following decades, she established herself as one of the prominent actresses of her generation, appearing in films including Ghulam, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Saathiya, Hum Tum, Black and Mardaani.
Krishna was married to filmmaker Ram Mukerjee, who was one of the founders of Filmalaya Studios. He died in October 2017. Krishna therefore remained closely connected to the Hindi film industry through both her own musical work and her family’s long association with cinema.
Her influence was also visible during a significant milestone in Rani’s career. Rani received the National Film Award for Best Actress for Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway in 2025, and Krishna had publicly expressed pride in the achievement while also saying she felt her daughter deserved such recognition earlier in her career.
Krishna Mukerji’s death marks a deeply personal loss for Rani Mukerji and her family. As the family takes time to grieve, they have asked for privacy and thanked those offering their support. Further details regarding the last rites are expected to emerge through official family or representative statements.
