Bollywood actress Rani Mukerji has been awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters (D.Litt.) by La Trobe University in Australia. The actress became emotional while accepting the honour on stage at a ceremony held on August 14 during the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) 2026 at Federation Square in Melbourne.
The university recognised Rani for her three-decade-long career and her contribution to films that have highlighted important social issues. With this, she has become the second Indian artist after Shah Rukh Khan to receive the honour from La Trobe University.
Shah Rukh was the first indian artist to receive it
La Trobe University had earlier conferred an honorary doctorate on Shah Rukh Khan in 2019 for his contribution to cinema and social work. The university also announced a PhD scholarship in his name.
University Chancellor John Brumby AO praised Rani’s work, saying her contribution goes beyond entertainment. According to the university, her films have encouraged conversations around social justice, equality and inclusion. Her continued efforts to highlight issues concerning women, children and underprivileged communities were also recognised.
‘I chose roles that challenged me’
While accepting the honour, Rani described the moment as one of the most humbling and emotional experiences of her life. She recalled that as a child, she wanted to make her parents and her country proud, and cinema became the medium through which she pursued that dream.
Rani also said that she had taken risks with her choice of roles right from the beginning of her career. Rather than simply choosing films based on commercial success, she said she was drawn to stories that touched her personally and had the potential to make an impact on audiences.
Also honoured for her acting at IFFM 2026
Rani received another special recognition at IFFM 2026 for her acting and international contribution to cinema. Festival Director Mitu Bhowmick Lange said the recognition celebrates Rani’s artistic journey and the ability of cinema to connect India and Australia.
The Indian Film Festival of Melbourne is being held from August 13 to 23 and features Indian films and stories from across the country.
Three decades of memorable performances
Rani Mukerji began her acting career in the 1990s and went on to become one of Bollywood’s most recognised actresses. She has been part of films including ‘Ghulam’, ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’, ‘Saathiya’, ‘Hum Tum’, ‘Bunty Aur Babli’ and ‘Yuva’.
Over the years, she also took on roles that addressed social issues. Films such as ‘Black’, the ‘Mardaani’ franchise, ‘No One Killed Jessica’, ‘Hichki’ and ‘Mrs. Chatterjee Vs Norway’ explored themes including gender justice, women’s rights, disability inclusion and social change.
Through these performances, Rani has built a career that combines mainstream cinema with stories that raise important social questions.
