Heroine, Villain, and Now a ‘Maa’ — Actress Kajol Effortlessly Embraces Every Role; Says – A Journey of 34 Years...

For the first time, Kajol ventures into the horror and action genre, challenging herself once again as an actor. In this exclusive conversation, Kajol opens up about her experience in ‘Maa’, her 34-year-long journey in cinema, the evolving nature of storytelling, social media’s impact, star kids and trolling, and life lessons from her mother, veteran actress Tanuja. Here's what Kajol shared:

• Audiences have mostly seen you in emotional roles, but with ‘Maa’ you’ve stepped into the horror genre. Did this give you a chance to explore something new as an actor?

It was a lot of fun. Although in terms of acting it wasn’t drastically different, the genre, the atmosphere, and the way the story was written — especially the monster that the mother has to fight — were very unique. The biggest challenge for me was the action. The film has a lot of action sequences, and I did something like this for the first time, so it was physically very demanding. Also, shooting with VFX is a different ballgame. It’s tricky and confusing at times because the shooting technique is very different.

• As a mother yourself, did playing this character help you tap deeper into your own inner strength?

Absolutely. I believe that becoming a mother brings with it an innate strength that helps you manage any challenge. When women become mothers, they go through so much stress, often losing sleep, yet still manage to juggle countless things. And there’s no specific rulebook for motherhood. Your own mother may give you a couple of tips, but still, you figure everything out for your child. So yes, motherhood brings a profound inner power. When it comes to protecting your child, you’re ready to go to any length.

• You took a bold turn in your career by playing a villain in the film ‘Gupt’. Do you think taking such risky yet impactful roles is still possible today?

That was a unique choice. Back then, people thought if a heroine played a villain, it wouldn’t work. But I’ve always been comfortable doing all kinds of roles. My opinion has always mattered most to me. The first thing my mother taught me was that if you can laugh at yourself, no one else’s laughter can hurt you. And if you can see yourself clearly, no one else can distort your image. Even at that time, I was sure I would do a good job.

• You’ve been active in the industry for more than three decades. After such a long journey, how do you still maintain the same passion for the camera and sets? And how has your approach to choosing roles evolved over time?

It’s been 34 years in my career, and yet my love for the set and the camera is just as deep. I remember during the muhurat (launch) of my first film, my father (Shomu Mukherjee) said, “Think carefully — once you put on makeup, it never comes off.” At that time, I confidently said, “If I don’t feel like it, I’ll quit tomorrow.” And now, 34 years later, the same “makeup” is still on my face, and I’m still standing in front of the camera.

I think the most important thing in this long journey has been that an actor must constantly reinvent themselves. If you can’t surprise yourself, how will you surprise the audience? That’s why I chose different kinds of roles and genres — ones that creatively challenged and refined me.

• From your perspective, what are the advantages of being an actress in today’s era that weren’t available earlier?

Today, even if you fail, it doesn’t mean the end of your career. You can do a hundred other things besides acting. That wasn’t the case earlier. Once you became an actor, you couldn’t do anything else. If you weren’t successful, the failure stayed with you for life. Today, even if one film doesn’t work, there are still ten more opportunities you can pursue.

Your recent films have had strong female leads. Do you think the traditional presence of a “hero” is no longer essential in stories today?
No, I don’t think so. If the story isn’t good, no matter which character you play, it won’t work. No film can run solely on a single character.

• Your mother Tanuja has been a powerful personality in many ways. Is there any quality of hers that you always wanted in yourself but couldn’t quite imbibe?

My mother can speak nine or ten languages. I wish I had that quality. If I did, I might have been an even better artist today. Her sense of humor is also exceptional — in that way, I’m a bit like her. She doesn’t care what anyone says about her, and I’m also walking that same path now.

• Your daughter Nysa has been clear about not wanting a film career — were you also that clear about your dreams at her age?

Yes, I was very confident. There was no internet or social media back then to showcase my personality, but I knew who I was. I was a smart girl. I read a lot — still do. These things matter. When you don’t try to hide your intelligence, it shows. No one could mess with me, especially in conversations. I hope I’ve given that same confidence to Nysa as well.

• Today, paparazzi constantly follow celebrities' private lives. Does this new environment make you uncomfortable?

Well, it’s their job to follow us. They’ll tail our car, check where we’re going — but yes, it does bother me, and it probably shows on my face. Still, I don’t give it much attention. There are far more important things in my life.

• In today’s social media age, star kids often face scrutiny, judgment, and trolling because of their famous parents. As a mother, how do you help your kids handle it?

We can’t fully protect them. All we can do is explain — “Son, this isn’t your fault. Don’t pay attention to what people are saying.” What else can you do? Today’s kids see everything — they’re on their phones, on the internet. All you can do is help them understand, “This is not your whole life — it’s just a part of it, and it will pass.” You can’t let such things change your life decisions or your personality.

Kajol’s film ‘Maa’ will hit theatres on June 27, 2025. It is directed by Vishal Furia and produced by Ajay Devgn and Jyoti Deshpande. The film also stars Ronit Roy, Indraneil Sengupta, and Khairunnisa Sharma alongside Kajol.

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