As she celebrates her milestone birthday, Bollywood icon Kajol shows no signs of slowing down. With four diverse projects in various stages of production, the actress reflects on her enduring career and the evolving landscape of Indian cinema.
“I don’t do much work, that’s my motivation,” says Kajol. diverse With characteristic honesty. “I want to work with good people. I want to work with people I can tolerate for the duration of the shoot with them.” This eclectic approach has served her well over the decades, allowing her to stay relevant.
Kajol’s career has been marked by a string of memorable performances that have been both critical and commercial successes. Her collaborations with Shah Rukh Khan in films like “Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge,” “Kuch Kuch Hota Hai” and “My Name is Khan” have become cultural touchstones. She has also won acclaim for her more dramatic roles in “Fanaa” and “Gupt,” while her recent forays into streaming on Netflix “Tribhanga,” “Lust Stories 2,” and Disney+ Hotstar’s “The Good Wife” adaptation “The Trial” have demonstrated her ability to adapt to changing audience preferences. Her ventures into Tamil cinema, including “Minsara Kanavu” and the more recent “Velaiilla Pattadhari 2,” have also demonstrated her cross-cultural appeal.
Kajol’s upcoming slate showcases her diversity, spanning horror, action, drama and mystery. With Maa, Kajol is venturing into the horror genre for the first time. “It scares me a lot and I hope it scares you too,” she jokes. However, she is quick to point out the film’s complexity: “It’s more than just horror. It’s a psychological drama with elements of thriller and suspense. You can’t really limit yourself to one genre.” Working with director Vishal Vuoriya, who is known for his work in the genre, has been a positive experience. “He’s a great director and I’m having a great time working with him,” she says.
“Sarzameen” directed by Kayoze Irani is a mystery thriller that deals with relationships and aspects of love. “I have worked with Prithviraj [Sukumaran] For the first time, it was great to work with him and Ibrahim was great too. [Ali Khan]“So I think it will be very interesting to see both of them on screen,” says Kajol.
Charan Tej Uppalapati’s action-packed “Maharagni – Queen of Queens” reunites her with Prabhu Deva 27 years after Rajiv Menon’s “Minsaara Kanavu.” While details are still under wraps, Kajol describes it as a “completely commercial film” with strong female characters competing with each other.
Kajol plays a cop in Netflix's “Do Patti.” “It's a completely different character for me,” she says.
Speaking about the current state of Indian cinema, Kajol pointed to the unpredictable nature of box office success. “Right now, there is a big question mark. There is no formula. We cannot predict the audience. If we could, we would be the gods of the film industry,” she said.
Kajol acknowledges the impact of global content on audience tastes. “When you see content in all different languages across the world, you will inevitably compare your own content to it. Today, not only are you being compared to people in your circle, but the field is much bigger, and the scope is much bigger for you to stand out in. So, you have to perform at that level as well,” she says.
Kajol remains focused on her craft. “My hero is my script. I have to really love what I’m doing, the character I’m playing. I have to be able to find that much material to work with. It’s not easy to find a good script, it’s something you have to love, look at, look at, look at,” she says.
As for the possibility of working in Western productions, Kajol says she is open but selective. She explains: “I would love to, but again, I feel that is something completely different. I want to be able to do something that is really worthwhile.”
Kajol continues to navigate the ever-changing Indian film landscape with her signature blend of practicality and emotion. Fans of her recent hit film The Trial may have reason to be optimistic, as Kajol hints at a possible second season, saying, “Fingers crossed and praying.”
