Rani Chatterjee

Sabiha Shaikh (born 3 November 1989), known professionally as Rani Chatterjee, is an Indian actress who primarily works in Bhojpuri films.^[2] Considered as one of the highest paid Bhojpuri actress,^[3] Chatterjee made her acting debut with Sasura Bada Paisawala (2004), which is still ranked as the highest-grossing Bhojpuri film. She has won several awards including five Bhojpuri Film Awards and three International Bhojpuri Film Awards.^[4]

Rani Chatterjee
Chatterjee in 2020
Born	Sabiha Shaikh[1] (1989-11-03) 3 November 1989 (age 35) Bombay, Maharashtra, India
Occupations	Actress television presenter dancer
Years active	2003 (2003)–present

Chatterjee went onto establish herself as a leading actress with successful films such as Sita (2007), Devra Bada Satawela (2010), Ganga Yamuna Saraswati (2012), Nagin (2013), Rani No. 786 (2013), Dariya Dil (2014), Rani Banal Jwala (2015), Gharwali Baharwali (2016), Real Indian Mother (2016), Rani Weds Raja (2019) and Lady Singham (2022).^[5] She made her web debut with Mastram (2020) and television debut with Mast Mauli (2023).^[6]

Early life

Chatterjee was born as Sabiha Shaikh in a Muslim family on 3 November 1989.^[1][7] She was born and brought up in Mumbai.^[8] Chatterjee did her schooling from Tungareshwar Academy High school, Vasai.^[8] Rani, who is originally Sabiha Shaikh on her documents, shares an interesting reason behind it. Talking to a section of media recently Rani said, "In 2004 I was shooting for a Bhojpuri film titled Sasura Bada Paisawala and one day we were shooting a sequence in a temple where I have to bang my head on the floor. And while the shoot was on a few media people had come to interview me also there was a lot of crowd was also watching the shoot. So my director thought revealing my original name might create a scene as I am a Muslim. So when someone people asked my name he said Rani and when they asked about my surname so he couldn't think of anything and said Chatterjee as Rani Mukerji was very famous at that point of time. And she also became famous with this name".^[9]

Rani also adds, "My family was definitely angry on me for keeping that name as my identity but she convinced them as she really found that name lucky. Manoj Tiwari was opposite me in the film and it became a huge hit on box office. In fact, made many records. Due to which I was offered a lot of work and I became the highest-paid actress in Bhojpuri cinema".^[9]

Career

Chatterjee made her film debut in the 2003 Bhojpuri family drama Sasura Bada Paisawala featuring Manoj Tiwari.^[10] The film released in 2004 and was a success and won several awards. She followed it up with major hits like Bandhan Tute Na (2005), Damaad Ji (2006) and Munna Pandey Berozgar (2007). She earned a lot of critical acclaim for her titular role in Munnibai Nautanki Wali (2009). She won her first Best Actress Award for Devra Bada Satawela (2010).^[11][12]

The sixth Bhojpuri Awards in 2013 declared Chatterjee as the Best Actress of the year for her performance in Nagin.^[13] Rani has acted in a Punjabi film Aasra.^[14][15] In 2020, Chatterjee acted in MX player web series Mastram.^[16] She later acted in Kooku App web series Rani Ka Raja.^[17]

Media image

Chatterjee is considered in the media as one of the most popular and highest paid Bhojpuri actress.^[18][19] She is also one of the most followed Bhojpuri actress on Instagram with over 2 million followers.^[20][21]

Filmography

Films

Key

†	Denotes film or TV productions that have not yet been released

• Note: The list does not include all the films featuring Rani Chatterjee.

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Ref.
2004	Sasura Bada Paisawala	Rani		[22]
2005	Bandhan Tute Na
2006	Damaad Ji
2007	Sita	Sita
	Munna Pandey Berozgaar	Suman
	London Wali Se Neha Lagavli	Preeti
2009	Tohar Naikhe Kavno Jod Tu Bejod Badu Ho
2010	Devra Bada Satawela	Rani		[23]
	Saat Saheliyan
2011	Diljale
	Chaila Babu
	Phool Banal Angar
2012	Ganga Yamuna Saraswati
	Dhadkela Tohre Name Karejwa
	Satyamev Jayate
2013	Nagin
	Rani No. 786	Rani
2014	Inspector Chandni	Chandni
	Bitiya Sada Suhaghan Rah
	Rani Chali Sasural
	Rowdy Rani	Rani
	Sherni
	Prem Deewani
	Chandni
	Ek Laila Teen Chaila
	Dariya Dil
	Bhagjogani
2015	Dil Deewan Maane Na
	Chhotki Dulhin
	Dil Aur Deewar
	Maai Ke Karz
	Dulaara	Rani		[24]
	Jaanam
	Paayal	Paayal
	Durga	Durga
	Rani Banal Jwala	Jyoti
	Don	Rani
2016	Karz
	Shiv Rakshak
	Waqalat
	Gharwali Baharwali
	Main Rani Himmat Wali	Rani
	Jodi No 1
	Parshasan
	Real Indian Mother
	Devra Ishaqbaaz
	Love aur Rajniti 2
	Hum Hai Jodi No 1			[25]
2017	Rangbaaj
	Icchadhaari
	Gundey
	Rani Dilwar Jani
2018	Yeh Ishq Bada Bedardi Hai
	Sakhi Ke Biyah	Saloni		[26]
2019	Aasra	Channi	Punjabi film
	Kasam Durga Ki
	Rani Weds Raja	Rani	Also playback singer
2020	Chotki Thakurain
2022	Babul Ki Galiyan
	Lady Singham	Inspector		[27]
	Goa Trip	Rani	Hindi film
2023	Aangan ka Lakshmi
2024	Badki Bahu Chotki Bahu	Sapna		[28]
TBA	A Bad Man Babu †	TBA	Filming
	Pariwar Ke Babu †	TBA	Filming
	Bhabhi Maa †	TBA	Filming	[29]
	Naache Dulha Gali Gali †	TBA	Post-production
	Mera Pati Mera Devta Hai †	TBA	Completed	[30]
	Didi No. 1 †	TBA	Filming	[31]
	Saas Bahu Chali Swarg Lok †	TBA	Completed	[32]

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Ref.
2013	Comedy Nights with Kapil	Herself	Guest
2020	Khatron Ke Khiladi 10	Contestant	10th place	[33]
2021	Crime Alert	Episodic role	Season 2	[34]
2022	Sindoor Ki Keemat	Herself	Guest
	The Kapil Sharma Show
2023	Mast Mauli	Rajkumari Mahendra Singh		[35]
2023–2024	Beti Hamari Anmol	Tatawali		[36]

Web series

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Ref.
2020	Mastram	Raani		[37]
	Virgin Bhasskar 2	Naika Patel		[38]
2022	Gaachi	Gulab Jaan
	Woh Pehla Pyar	Reema		[39]

Award and nominations

Year	Award	Category	Film	Result	Ref.
2010	Bhojpuri Film Awards	Best Actress	Umariya Kaili Tohre Naam	Nominated	[40]
2011			Devra Bada Satawela	Won	[41]
2013			Nagin	Won	[42]
2014			Prem Deewani	Won	[43]
2015			Dariya Dil	Nominated	[44]
		Best Popular Actress	—	Won
2016			—	Won	[45]
		Best Actress	Real Indian Mother	Nominated
2019			Sakhi	Nominated	[46]
2015	International Bhojpuri Film Awards	Best Popular Actress	—	Won	[47]
2017			—	Won
2023		Social Media Queen	—	Won	[48]

See also

• List of Bhojpuri actresses