‘Yellow journalism is important’

Rani Mukerji, who is otherwise infamous for media bashing, is suddenly all praise for scribes as the actor plays a crime reporter in the forthcoming film, No One Killed Jessica.

Rani Mukerji, who is otherwise infamous for media bashing, is suddenly all praise for scribes. Reason: the actor plays a crime reporter in the forthcoming film, No One Killed Jessica. “I really respect journalism. In a world where people are so diplomatic, journalists speak their minds based on facts, which is fantastic,” says Mukerji.

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The actor had criticised tabloid journalism when reports of her engagement with filmmaker Aditya Chopra surfaced. But, predictably, she now seems to have buried the hatchet. "Yellow journalism is important as people wish to read sensational stories about their favourite actors," she says.

However, she feels it is crime reporting that is serious stuff. "Bollywood reporting is easy, as you know that the stars are not going to get nasty with you, since they just want their egos inflated. Crime reporting is a tough job, as you risk your life with every incident you cover."

Though she doesn’t have any suggestions for journalists, she says, “I have tried to portray them as nobly as they really are. Journalists are the heroes of the film.”

Publicity ke liye kuch bhi karega?
It was a publicity video with a cause — actors Rani Mukerji and Vidya Balan conducted a ‘sting operation’ on a producer asking a female actor for sexual favours. Now, detractors wonder if they may have gone too far for publicity. “All the marketing done by UTV is in tune with what the film is trying to say — especially the importance of fighting for women’s rights,” Rajkumar Gupta, director, No One Killed Jessica.

With inputs from Aaron George