Kajol Unfiltered: Burnout at 18, Bold Beauty Takes & Her Non-Negotiable Rule on Screen
Kajol isn’t one to sugarcoat things—and her latest appearance on In The Ring with Filmfare proves just that. In a deep, no-nonsense conversation with Filmfare’s Editor-in-Chief Jitesh Pillaai, the Bollywood icon dives into her personal and professional life with brutal honesty.
From the ’90s blockbuster queen of Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Baazigar, and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai to her recent performance in Sarzameen, Kajol has always done things her way. And that includes saying no. While revisiting her emotionally demanding role in Dushman, she shared a hard line she drew early in her career:
“There are two things I don’t do on screen. I won’t portray them, and I won’t perform them. It’s just not something I feel comfortable with—and I don’t need to prove my acting with that.”
She also opened up about facing burnout at just 18.
“There’s only so much of a heart that you have. I told my mom I was done. Burnt out. Nervous breakdown-level done.”
Kajol’s take on beauty standards? Straightforward and refreshing.
“It’s tiring. And it should be your personal choice—surgery or not. It’s not gender-specific either. Plenty of men do it too.”
Her view on aging? “It’s a privilege. And it’s all in the mind.”
Touching on her recent work in Sarzameen, she praised co-star Ibrahim Ali Khan but noticed a quiet intensity in him, comparing it to Saif Ali Khan’s louder persona.
“Ibrahim is quieter, more subdued—maybe just in character. Saif is larger-than-life by default.”
Kajol also reflected on a warning her father, Shomu Mukherjee, once gave her before she entered films at 16:
“He said, ‘Once the makeup goes on, it doesn’t come off.’ I didn’t get it then. But he was right.”
As for feminism, her definition cuts through the noise.
“It’s just being whole in yourself. Doing what you want without needing to lean on anyone. Man or woman, partner or not—you’re still enough.”
Kajol even gave a rare peek into her working relationship with husband Ajay Devgn, praising his calm and methodical style as a director.
“He was organized, confident—he surprised me. I always knew he’d be good. I didn’t know he’d be that good.”
In the Ring with Filmfare is streaming now on Filmfare’s YouTube channel. If you want honesty, insight, and classic Kajol charm—this one’s worth a watch.
