4 minutes of readingNew DelhiFebruary 9, 2026 22:08 IST
The year 2025 marked a milestone for Hindi cinema, when Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan and Salman Khan, the three pillars of Bollywood stardom, turned 60 years old. Often described as the latest generation of stars with towering personalities and equally massive followings, the Khans have ruled the industry for over three decades. While many have worked with one or two of them, very few can claim to have shared screen space with all three. One of those actors is Rani Mukerji.
The Mardaani 3 star recently reflected on his experiences working with the Khans and offered rare insights into their contrasting approaches to filmmaking. Speaking to Galatta Plus, Rani described how Shah Rukh and Aamir take their craft very seriously, while Salman Khan brings a much more casual, but no less committed, energy to the set.
Recalling her experience of sharing screen space with Aamir Khan in the 1998 film Ghulam, Rani Mukerji said, “When I met Aamir and saw him work in Ghulam, it was amazing. I had seen him in Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak as a child and had a huge crush on him. He was so cute in QSQT. I think I fell in love with Juhi too.”
She added that working with Aamir as a teenager left a lasting impression on her. “When I was cast in Ghulam, I remember thinking, ‘Oh my God, I’m going to work with such a big star.’ But what stood out to me the most was the dedication he put into every shot: the sensitivity, the gravitas and how much of himself he gave to the performance. These were my first days in the industry and I absorbed all that.”
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Rani then spoke about Shah Rukh Khan, her co-star in films like Kuch Kuch Hota Hai and Chalte Chalte. “After that, I worked with Shah Rukh. I had seen him in DDLJ as a child. It released in 1995, the same year I was shooting for my first film, Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat. Working with these two mega stars seemed surreal to me.”
What caught his attention the most was Shah Rukh’s warmth. “Shah Rukh comes with this gentle, sensitive energy. He treated me like a baby (I was barely 18 when I worked with him) and still calls me ‘baby’ to this day. Like Aamir, Shah Rukh is extremely focused on doing his best. They were like my teachers on the set.”
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Summing up her experience with the two, Rani said, “I was lucky to work with stars who were equally serious about their work.”
Her experience with Salman Khan, however, was completely contrasting. “When I met Salman, it was a 360 degree turn,” she said. “His dedication to his craft is very different. He comes with that bindas style and attitude. You may feel like he’s not really ‘there,’ but he’s absolutely present.”
Rani explained that Salman’s casual demeanor often hides the effort he puts in. “He’s so handsome that when he walks on set, everyone just looks at him. He’s very casual about his work, but he works incredibly hard. People don’t recognize him because he doesn’t let them in that zone. He’s constantly contributing: talking about the scene, doing something different.”
Reflecting on the three, Rani concluded: “They are three stalwarts in their own right and they approach their work very differently. But deep down, all three are equally committed, passionate and lovable. I love all three of them equally; each of them holds a special place in my heart.”