From bit roles in C grade movies to the polished performance in "Black", birthday girl Rani Mukerji, who turns 29 Wednesday, can look back at the last 10 years with deep satisfaction.

When she joined the film force in 1996 with the box office dud "Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat", she was literally written off by critics. Rani was plump, short, her voice was rough and nobody was willing to work with her.

Then cousin Kajol, a big star then, put in a word for her and Karan Johar hesitatingly cast her in his directorial debut "Kuch Kuch Hota Hai". There was no looking back after that. The poor cousin metamorphosed into a rising star, considered one of the most powerful women in Bollywood today.