In an industry that often demands conformity, Kajol has always been the glorious exception. As she marks 34 years in the film industry, the veteran actress recently opened up in a candid conversation about her unconventional journey, the risks that defined her career, and why she wouldn’t change a single “eccentric” decision she made along the way.
The Power of Being “Stubborn”
Looking back at her three-decade-long legacy, Kajol admitted that many of her career moves seemed illogical to others at the time. Whether it was playing a cold-blooded killer in Gupt (1997) when leading ladies were expected to be damsels, or walking away from the spotlight at the very peak of her fame to focus on her family, she followed her own compass.
“I feel I was very stubborn and foolish, and fortunately, I was proved right,” Kajol shared. She noted that while she is celebrated for these choices today, she sees countless women making similar sacrifices and bold decisions every day without the luxury of an award or public applause. “I have made my own decisions, and I stand by them. I am grateful that all my eccentricities have been loved.”
Redefining Success Beyond the Box Office
While the “100-crore club” dominates modern Bollywood headlines, Kajol remains remarkably unfazed by numbers. Having “lived her life in front of the camera”—from a teenager to a mother—she views her filmography as a personal diary rather than a balance sheet.
“I own every film, hits or failures, completely and totally. I take full responsibility for each one of them. Credit or discredit, it belongs to me.”
Interestingly, despite her veteran status, Kajol revealed that she has worked more in her 33rd and 34th years than she did in the previous decade. With recent projects like The Trial, Do Patti, and her upcoming horror-thriller Maa, she is busier than ever, proving that relevance in Bollywood isn’t just for the twenty-somethings.
Boundaries and Balance
One of the most refreshing takeaways from her recent reflections was her stance on the “hustle culture” of filmmaking. Long before “work-life balance” became a corporate buzzword, Kajol was practicing it. She recalled never working 20-hour days and often choosing to do only one film at a time to ensure she didn’t burn out.
“I was one of the few people who didn’t do four films simultaneously,” she explained, crediting her mother, veteran actor Tanuja, for teaching her that work is a part of life, not the whole of it.
What’s Next?
As for the future, the actress is currently in a “selective” phase. While she has several scripts on her desk, she is in no rush to sign just anything. For Kajol, the “vibe” of the people she works with is now just as important as the script itself. “You spend 50 days with people on set; if you don’t like them, those 50 days can feel like 500!”
With an action thriller titled Maharagni (directed by Prabhudheva) in the pipeline and a second season of The Trial on the horizon, Kajol continues to prove that being “stubborn” might just be the best career strategy of all.
Kajol’s candid interview on her 34-year journey
This video provides an intimate look at Kajol’s reflections on her long-standing career, her views on nepotism, and her unconventional approach to success. To know such latest updates tuned tellyboosters.com Thank you!
