On the eve of Republic Day 2026, actress Rani Mukerji and cricketer Deepti Sharma have joined forces to champion pride and "Nari Shakti," symbolizing women as leaders and custodians of India's values. This collaboration comes as Republic Day celebrations foreground the strength of women, who are redefining leadership across various sectors, including defense, sports, and culture.
Rani Mukerji, known for portraying strong female characters, emphasized the responsibility that comes with holding the Indian flag. She stated that women are not just participants but also leaders in the nation's journey. Mukerji highlighted the importance of women making informed choices, raising their voices, and shaping the country's moral compass across various fields. She believes a nation thrives when its girls are happy, empowered, and treated as equals, adding, "every girl is a Mardaani". Mukerji, who recently won her first National Film Award for Best Actress for her performance in "Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway", has spent her career portraying women who refuse to be silenced. She believes that when women lead with empathy and courage, nations move forward with balance.
Deepti Sharma echoed these sentiments, expressing her gratitude every time she wears the India jersey. As an athlete, she aims to inspire young girls to believe in themselves and dream big, conveying the message that Indian girls can achieve anything with discipline and hard work. Sharma, a member of the World Cup-winning women's cricket team, previously shared an inspiring message for young girls to dream big and receive family support to make the nation proud.
Both Mukerji and Sharma are trying to connect with every girl in the country, encouraging them to follow their dreams. They believe that every girl is a warrior and can contribute to change and empower others through honest efforts and commitment.
Yash Raj Films released a video featuring Mukerji and Sharma, challenging gender labels on success with the message "Achievements ka koi gender nahi hota". The video questions the need to specify "woman chef" or "lady pilot," advocating for recognition based on merit. The video also showcased an all-women crew behind the camera.
The Republic Day celebrations will feature 30 tableaux at Kartavya Path under the themes 'Swatantrata ka Mantra: Vande Mataram' and 'Samriddhi ka Mantra: Aatmanirbhar Bharat'. These will present India's freedom movement, cultural diversity, and progress towards self-reliance, also marking 150 years of the national song 'Vande Mataram'. President Murmu will address the nation on January 25, and the celebrations will conclude with the Prime Minister's NCC Rally on January 28.
