Actress Rani Mukherjee, who was honoured by the National Institute of Gender Justice for creating awareness about child trafficking through her movie Mardaani, says she’s glad her work has gone beyond just entertainment.
Mukherjee, who plays a tough police officer who tracks down a child trafficking racket, was honoured in the capital on Tuesday.
The actress she said: “It is really heartening to see that not only has the film been loved by audiences worldwide but it has transcended the realm of filmmaking and become something that inspires the people who have been tirelessly working for years for the cause of child trafficking and are the real heroes.
“I feel humbled to meet these people and I’m glad that I’m able to contribute in a small way. This award is special as it recognises my contribution to cinema in a different manner,” added Mukherjee after receiving the award.
Lauding Mukherjee for her role in the movie, Sreerupa Mitra Chaudhury, chairperson of the National Institute for Gender Justice, said: “The powerful and fearless performance of Rani Mukherjee in Mardaani idealises the role of the police in the prevention of crime against women, especially trafficking of the girl child for commercial sexual exploitation.
“I feel she symbolises the pride of uniform and inspires change. That’s the reason we decided to felicitate her for excellence in an artistic performance.”
Mukherjee has played strong roles off and on during her film career. These have included Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat, Mehendi and No One Killed Jessica.
