Classic, beautiful, elegant. These
are just some of the words you would use to describe Kajol – returning
Queen of Bollywood.
Kajol
is arguably the greatest Bollywood actress for the last two decades.
This is the woman who we felt empathy for in Dilwale Dulhaniya Le
Jayenge, who we cried with in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai and who we laughed with
in Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham. Throughout her almost twenty years reign
in Bollywood Kajol has managed to capture the hearts of avid movie-goers
across the world, as well as becoming one of the most sought after and
loved actresses.
Her Cheshire cat smile exposes a full set of pearly white teeth. Her huge curious eyes have a childlike innocence to them and her smile exudes warmth the kind that could put anyone at ease. There’s something unassuming and likeable about Kajol. She has a confidence not arrogance about her.
Hailing from a family of who’s who of Bollywood (her mother is the famous actress Tanuja and she is also Rani Mukherjee’s cousin), acting was a natural progression for Kajol. She made her debut in 1992 with the film Bekhudi, but it was three years later, in Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge, that audiences sat up and really took notice of her partially for her charismatic yet relatable portrayal of the film’s dreamy heroine Simran, and partially for the instant, can’t-take-your-eyes-off-them chemistry she shared with her co-star Shahrukh Khan. The world became captivated by the pair’s on-screen presence and they went on to appear in a string of films together, each one a bigger success than the other. So what is it about the two that drives fans crazy and puts the media into frenzy? “I honestly don’t know,” Kajol replies. “When we work together it’s a great fun, we’re on the same page, we think alike and we’re just comfortable with each other.”
Now, eight years since their last appearance together, the two had reunited for My Name is Khan (released earlier this year).
Kajol, who once famously stated that acting was only something she did for leisure (“it takes a lot to get me on the TV screen”) is now back in the acting scene. “It was an easy choice,” she says. “Karan Johar approached me and said he was doing a film, and that Shahrukh Khan would be in it, and that’s all it took for me to agree.” The actress is full of praise for her co-star. “I’ve missed working with him. He takes such good care of me. He cares about people.” Eight years seem like a long time I muse, had he changed in any way? “He’s more detailed with his work and he’s more willing to take chances,” she explains. “He has definitely grown up for the better. He is a true gentleman,” she says. “But it can get annoying – he’s too perfect!”
In My Name Is Khan, Kajol plays the part of Mandira a vivacious Hindu girl. The character, in many ways, seems to have been made for her. “I do identify with Mandira in some ways,” she muses. “She’s a strong woman, a mother, she can be a little cynical and jaded and mad – I think I identify with that part the most!”
It’s her ability to empathise and bring a part of herself into the characters she plays make Kajol so relatable. Whether it’s the innocence of a blind girl in Fanaa, or a ‘mad’ streak in My Name Is Khan, Kajol manages to bring all her roles to life. “I have grown up a lot,” she states. “I don’t think I’d have been able to do My Name Is Khan ten years ago so that shows how much I’ve grown as an actress. I think I’ve become a better person too, although I’m still working on it.” So what’s the recipe for a successful career? “Hard work is the most important thing,” she claims. “Talent and luck are important too, but they play a small part in success. To be a good actress you need soul, heart and observation.”
Family plays an important part in Kajol’s life. Since the birth of her daughter, Nysa, in 2003, she almost disappeared from our screens, opting to be a stay-at-home mum. Her expressive and animated face visibly softens as she talks about her. “Motherhood has definitely changed me,” she says. “For one thing my stomach will never look the same again.” The actress swells with pride as she continues talking about her daughter. “As a mother I have to lead an exemplary life. I can’t be bad even if I want to! I’d like to think I’m the villain. I’m the one who feeds her medicine, tells her off and makes her go to bed. I hope and pray that I’m a good mum. No one is perfect and I’m learning every day.” So are there any plans on expanding her little family? “I definitely want more children,” she says. “I’d love to adopt.” There seems to be a growing trend for celebrities to adopt orphans, I wonder whether Kajol is just jumping on the bandwagon. “No!” she exclaims. “I thought of it much before Madonna it’s something I’ve wanted to do since I was eight years old.”
The actress has also been happily married to fellow actor, Ajay Devgan, for 11 years (that’s a long time in Bollywood land). The couple have enjoyed a happy, scandal-free marriage. So what’s her secret? “Partial deafness,” she replies matter-of-factly. “Anyone who is married will understand what I mean by this.” Kajol smiles warmly as she goes on to describe her recipe for a happy marriage. “It means compromis-ing with each other, choosing your battles wisely and making the effort every day. A car needs effort to work and that’s just a machine so can you imagine how much effort you have to give to a relationship?” Kajol’s non-nonsense attitude to relationships seemed to work. After marrying Ajay in 1999 she took a break from acting to enjoy married life. Then after an extensive break she secured a comeback in 2006 with Fanaa, a romantic drama with Aamir Khan. Then in 2008 Kajol returned to our screens for her husband’s directional debut. “Working with Ajay was great,” she muses cheerfully. “During U, Me Aur Hum he would call and check on Nysa in the morning and evening so that saved me from some worry!” I mention that people usually say working with a partner can cause problems. “I don’t understand why people would say that because I seriously had a good time working with Ajay,” she says. “He’s such a good director and he gave me the space to be an actress.”
Kajol is next set to appear in the Bollywood remake of Stepmom (the Julia Roberts and Susan Sarandon blockbuster), which she stars in alongside Kareena Kapoor and Arjun Rampal. Two of Bollywood’s hottest actresses working together there must have been some kind of tension right? “I had a blast with Kareena,” Kajol exclaims. “Before we started shooting I expected to like her but I never thought I’d miss her. She’s such good fun on set and when she wasn’t there I’d really miss her.” It’s hardly the kind of gossip fodder tabloids would kill for but then again Kajol has never been the type to attract scandal or controversy. Her down-to-earth, lovable persona means that there is never a bad word said about her. So, no Page three scandal, public spats or mean words for anyone, is there anything that irks Kajol?! “I get really annoyed with bad traffic,” she says. “There are lots of things when my coffee isn’t made properly in the morning, when people talk to me in the morning and I haven’t had my coffee.”
Kajol
is arguably the greatest Bollywood actress for the last two decades.
This is the woman who we felt empathy for in Dilwale Dulhaniya Le
Jayenge, who we cried with in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai and who we laughed with
in Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham. Throughout her almost twenty years reign
in Bollywood Kajol has managed to capture the hearts of avid movie-goers
across the world, as well as becoming one of the most sought after and
loved actresses. Her Cheshire cat smile exposes a full set of pearly white teeth. Her huge curious eyes have a childlike innocence to them and her smile exudes warmth the kind that could put anyone at ease. There’s something unassuming and likeable about Kajol. She has a confidence not arrogance about her.
Hailing from a family of who’s who of Bollywood (her mother is the famous actress Tanuja and she is also Rani Mukherjee’s cousin), acting was a natural progression for Kajol. She made her debut in 1992 with the film Bekhudi, but it was three years later, in Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge, that audiences sat up and really took notice of her partially for her charismatic yet relatable portrayal of the film’s dreamy heroine Simran, and partially for the instant, can’t-take-your-eyes-off-them chemistry she shared with her co-star Shahrukh Khan. The world became captivated by the pair’s on-screen presence and they went on to appear in a string of films together, each one a bigger success than the other. So what is it about the two that drives fans crazy and puts the media into frenzy? “I honestly don’t know,” Kajol replies. “When we work together it’s a great fun, we’re on the same page, we think alike and we’re just comfortable with each other.”
Now, eight years since their last appearance together, the two had reunited for My Name is Khan (released earlier this year).
Kajol, who once famously stated that acting was only something she did for leisure (“it takes a lot to get me on the TV screen”) is now back in the acting scene. “It was an easy choice,” she says. “Karan Johar approached me and said he was doing a film, and that Shahrukh Khan would be in it, and that’s all it took for me to agree.” The actress is full of praise for her co-star. “I’ve missed working with him. He takes such good care of me. He cares about people.” Eight years seem like a long time I muse, had he changed in any way? “He’s more detailed with his work and he’s more willing to take chances,” she explains. “He has definitely grown up for the better. He is a true gentleman,” she says. “But it can get annoying – he’s too perfect!”
In My Name Is Khan, Kajol plays the part of Mandira a vivacious Hindu girl. The character, in many ways, seems to have been made for her. “I do identify with Mandira in some ways,” she muses. “She’s a strong woman, a mother, she can be a little cynical and jaded and mad – I think I identify with that part the most!”
It’s her ability to empathise and bring a part of herself into the characters she plays make Kajol so relatable. Whether it’s the innocence of a blind girl in Fanaa, or a ‘mad’ streak in My Name Is Khan, Kajol manages to bring all her roles to life. “I have grown up a lot,” she states. “I don’t think I’d have been able to do My Name Is Khan ten years ago so that shows how much I’ve grown as an actress. I think I’ve become a better person too, although I’m still working on it.” So what’s the recipe for a successful career? “Hard work is the most important thing,” she claims. “Talent and luck are important too, but they play a small part in success. To be a good actress you need soul, heart and observation.”
Family plays an important part in Kajol’s life. Since the birth of her daughter, Nysa, in 2003, she almost disappeared from our screens, opting to be a stay-at-home mum. Her expressive and animated face visibly softens as she talks about her. “Motherhood has definitely changed me,” she says. “For one thing my stomach will never look the same again.” The actress swells with pride as she continues talking about her daughter. “As a mother I have to lead an exemplary life. I can’t be bad even if I want to! I’d like to think I’m the villain. I’m the one who feeds her medicine, tells her off and makes her go to bed. I hope and pray that I’m a good mum. No one is perfect and I’m learning every day.” So are there any plans on expanding her little family? “I definitely want more children,” she says. “I’d love to adopt.” There seems to be a growing trend for celebrities to adopt orphans, I wonder whether Kajol is just jumping on the bandwagon. “No!” she exclaims. “I thought of it much before Madonna it’s something I’ve wanted to do since I was eight years old.”
The actress has also been happily married to fellow actor, Ajay Devgan, for 11 years (that’s a long time in Bollywood land). The couple have enjoyed a happy, scandal-free marriage. So what’s her secret? “Partial deafness,” she replies matter-of-factly. “Anyone who is married will understand what I mean by this.” Kajol smiles warmly as she goes on to describe her recipe for a happy marriage. “It means compromis-ing with each other, choosing your battles wisely and making the effort every day. A car needs effort to work and that’s just a machine so can you imagine how much effort you have to give to a relationship?” Kajol’s non-nonsense attitude to relationships seemed to work. After marrying Ajay in 1999 she took a break from acting to enjoy married life. Then after an extensive break she secured a comeback in 2006 with Fanaa, a romantic drama with Aamir Khan. Then in 2008 Kajol returned to our screens for her husband’s directional debut. “Working with Ajay was great,” she muses cheerfully. “During U, Me Aur Hum he would call and check on Nysa in the morning and evening so that saved me from some worry!” I mention that people usually say working with a partner can cause problems. “I don’t understand why people would say that because I seriously had a good time working with Ajay,” she says. “He’s such a good director and he gave me the space to be an actress.”
Kajol is next set to appear in the Bollywood remake of Stepmom (the Julia Roberts and Susan Sarandon blockbuster), which she stars in alongside Kareena Kapoor and Arjun Rampal. Two of Bollywood’s hottest actresses working together there must have been some kind of tension right? “I had a blast with Kareena,” Kajol exclaims. “Before we started shooting I expected to like her but I never thought I’d miss her. She’s such good fun on set and when she wasn’t there I’d really miss her.” It’s hardly the kind of gossip fodder tabloids would kill for but then again Kajol has never been the type to attract scandal or controversy. Her down-to-earth, lovable persona means that there is never a bad word said about her. So, no Page three scandal, public spats or mean words for anyone, is there anything that irks Kajol?! “I get really annoyed with bad traffic,” she says. “There are lots of things when my coffee isn’t made properly in the morning, when people talk to me in the morning and I haven’t had my coffee.”
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