Indian actor Rani Mukerji has received an Honorary Doctor of Letters from Australia’s La Trobe University and a special citation for acting excellence from the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne. The awards recognise her three-decade film career and her advocacy beyond acting, highlighting the continuing cultural links between Indian cinema and Australian audiences.

La Trobe said Mukerji was honoured for her work in Indian cinema and off-screen contributions; she is the second Indian film figure to receive the distinction after Shah Rukh Khan in 2019. The IFFM citation similarly recognised her memorable roles and international impact, while the festival runs in Melbourne from 13 to 23 August; Mukerji’s films include “Black”, “Hum Tum”, “Mardaani” and “Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway”.