As the daughter of veteran actor Tanuja and filmmaker Shomu Mukherjee, and the younger sister of actor Kajol, Tanishaa Mukerji began her career with the expectations that came with belonging to one of Hindi cinema’s most recognised families. More than two decades after her debut, however, it is the people she has met and the lessons she has learnt that she values most.
“Over the years, the most rewarding part of my journey has been the people I’ve interacted with,” she says. “The experiences, the lessons from meeting both good and difficult people, and the growth that came from those interactions have stayed with me.”
A debut marked by disconnect
Tanishaa made her acting debut in Sssshhh… in 2003 and later appeared in films such as Neal ‘n’ Nikki, Sarkar, Sarkar Raj, Tango Charlie and the Tamil hit Unnale Unnale. While some projects succeeded, others struggled commercially.
Mukerji believes her years abroad influenced her early choice of roles.
“I would say that Tanishaa today is very different from the young actress who made her debut in Bollywood,” she says. “When I came into Bollywood, I had actually gone abroad to study for four years. And so, when I came back, I was definitely a little disconnected from my roots.”
“I chose those kinds of subjects that were a little too westernised,” she says. “And I was also very westernised in the way that I was approaching my roles. I think that’s where Indian audiences couldn’t connect with me.”
Her approach changed with experience.
“Experience is your greatest teacher,” she says. “Over the years, I have become much more connected with my roots. Today, I really dig deep, and I really enjoy going deep into my characters.”
She also admits that nervousness overshadowed her enjoyment of acting during the early years of her career.
“The girl who came into Bollywood those first few years, I was more nervous than actually enjoying myself,” she says.
Beyond commercial success
Mukerji says she has focused on the experience of performing rather than judging her work by its commercial outcome.
“Whether it succeeded or it didn’t, it was never my measure,” she explains. “My measure was never about success. It was about how I enjoyed doing what I did.”
That outlook encouraged her to work across industries and formats, including Tamil and Telugu films, television and reality shows.
“It was great fun doing regional cinema and playing characters that were very different from me,” she says. “I relished those opportunities.”
Lessons from reality television
In 2013, Mukerji participated in Bigg Boss 7 and finished as the first runner-up. She later appeared in Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi 7 and Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 11.
“Bigg Boss was a very real-world experience,” she says. “It was like being thrown into the rat race, into the dogfight, into everything.”
She found Khatron Ke Khiladi challenging in a different way.
“Khatron Ke Khiladi was a more exciting experience because that was more about facing your fears,” she says. “It was about challenging your physical and mental strength.”
The programmes also changed the way she saw herself.
“A lot of self-awareness has come in through these reality shows,” she says. “When you’re surrounded by so many different personalities, you learn a lot about who you are. It gives you a lot of self-awareness.”
Life beyond the camera
Although audiences primarily know her as an actor, Mukerji believes reality television and social media have allowed them to see the person behind her screen image.
“I’ve always been quite open with my audience,” she says. “People know my passions and what I enjoy.”
“I love dogs. I love all animals,” she says. “I love my family. I love spending family time together. I love music, I love dancing, and my greatest passion is movies.”
Redefining success
Success now means something very different to Mukerji from what it did when she was younger.
“Earlier, living life on my own terms meant going out and partying, buying whatever I wanted, doing whatever I wanted,” she says. “Today, living my life on my own terms means being able to manage my time so that I can be there for the people that I love.”
She credits spirituality with changing her understanding of success and helping her become more confident.
“If the definition of success doesn’t change over the years, then you’re not growing,” she says. “For me, growth over the last few years has been very spiritual. Spirituality has allowed me to live my life on my own terms.”
“It gives you a lot of faith and confidence in who you are,” she says. “And it teaches you how to let go of ego.”
Her mother’s advice has also stayed with her.
“She always told me, ‘I’ve given you the tools. Now you have to decide how to live your life and make your own choices.’”
Exploring new forms of storytelling
Mukerji believes streaming platforms have given writers and stories in languages other than Hindi greater visibility.
“What excites me the most about this new era of storytelling, especially with OTT platforms, is that a lot of other languages are shining and their writers are coming up,” she says.
She also points to science fiction and unconventional narratives as areas in which regional creators are experimenting.
“I feel our mindset is restricted where Hindi is concerned,” she says. “I’m loving the amalgamation of colours and cultures on these OTT platforms. I think it’s phenomenal. It’s blowing my mind.”
Asked what kind of role she would like to play, she mentions Erin Brockovich, as well as Daenerys Targaryen and Cersei Lannister from Game of Thrones.
“My dream role on OTT would be playing something like an Erin Brockovich,” she says. “I would also love to play Daenerys Targaryen or Cersei from Game of Thrones.”
With a laugh, she adds, “Mother of Dragons, for sure.”
Looking ahead
While acting remains central to her life, Mukerji has begun exploring writing and hopes to create stories of her own.
“Professionally, one of my biggest aspirations would be maybe writing something amazing that might live on in the space of Bollywood,” she says.
Beyond work, her priorities are happiness and the people close to her.
“Personally, my aspiration would just be to be happy,” she says. “I want the people in my life who are close to me and who love me to remember me for just being kind, loving and caring.”
“I want them to remember me as the person who loved them and took care of them,” she adds. “That’s what I want to be remembered for.”
As for how audiences remember her, she leaves that to them.
“I can’t decide what people will remember me for,” she says. “But I do want to become the person I want to be remembered as.”
One ambition remains deeply personal. “My greatest aspiration would be to be a mother,” she says.
