Mumbai, Oct. 1 -- Every Bollywood star has a beginning, and for Rani Mukerji, it all started with 'Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat' in 1997.

The film may not have been a box-office success, but it gave Rani the stepping stone she needed, eventually leading her to cult hits like 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai' and 'Ghulam.' However, not many know that behind this debut is a funny little story, one where her mother almost convinced the producer not to take a chance on her at all.

In a candid conversation with ANI, Rani revealed that after her very first screen test, her mother, Krishna Mukherjee, bluntly told producer Salim Akhtar that her daughter's performance was "so bad" it might ruin the film.

Rani laughed while recalling the moment. "For my mother, it ...