Sabiha Shaikh (born 3 November 1989), known professionally as Rani Chatterjee, is an Indian actress who primarily works in Bhojpuri films. Considered as one of the highest paid Bhojpuri actress, 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.
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). She made her web debut with Mastram (2020) and television debut with Mast Mauli (2023).
Early life Chatterjee was born as Sabiha Shaikh in a Muslim family on 3 November 1989. She was born and brought up in Mumbai. Chatterjee did her schooling from Tungareshwar Academy High school, Vasai. 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".
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".
Career Chatterjee made her film debut in the 2003 Bhojpuri family drama Sasura Bada Paisawala featuring Manoj Tiwari. 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).
The sixth Bhojpuri Awards in 2013 declared Chatterjee as the Best Actress of the year for her performance in Nagin. Rani has acted in a Punjabi film Aasra. In 2020, Chatterjee acted in MX player web series Mastram. She later acted in Kooku App web series Rani Ka Raja.
Media image Chatterjee is considered in the media as one of the most popular and highest paid Bhojpuri actress. She is also one of the most followed Bhojpuri actress on Instagram with over 2 million followers.
Filmography Films
Note: The list does not include all the films featuring Rani Chatterjee.
Year Title RoleNotesRef. 2004 Sasura Bada Paisawala Rani 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 Saat SaheliyanSatyamev Jayate 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 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 2017 Rangbaaj Icchadhaari Gundey Rani Dilwar Jani 2018 Yeh Ishq Bada Bedardi Hai Sakhi Ke Biyah Saloni 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 Goa Trip Rani Hindi film 2023 Aangan ka Lakshmi 2024 Badki Bahu Chotki Bahu Sapna2025AmmaPriya Beauty Parlour TBA Filming Filming Filming Post-production Completed Filming CompletedChugalkhor BahuriyaTrailer released
Television Year Title RoleNotesRef. 2013 Comedy Nights with Kapil Herself Guest 2020 Khatron Ke Khiladi 10 Contestant 10th place 2021 Crime Alert Episodic role Season 22022 Sindoor Ki Keemat Herself GuestThe Kapil Sharma Show 2023 Mast Mauli Rajkumari Mahendra Singh2023–2024Beti Hamari AnmolTatawali
Web series Year Title RoleNotesRef.2020 Mastram Raani Virgin Bhasskar 2 Naika Patel 2022 Gaachi Gulab Jaan Woh Pehla Pyar Reema
Award and nominations Year Award Category Film Result Ref. 2010Bhojpuri Film AwardsBest Actress Umariya Kaili Tohre Naam 2011 Devra Bada Satawela 2013 Nagin 2014 Prem Deewani 2015 Dariya Dil Best Popular Actress 2016 Best Actress Real Indian Mother 2019 Sakhi 2015International Bhojpuri Film AwardsBest Popular Actress 2017 2023 Social Media Queen
See also List of Bhojpuri actresses
References
External links