Kajol: 'Never thought my career would be short-lived' | Exclusive

Kajol, known for her fierce individuality and fearless choices both on and off screen, is once again stepping into uncharted territory with her upcoming film Maa, which marks her debut in the horror genre. In a group media interaction ahead of the film’s release, the actor spoke candidly with OTTplay about the changing conversations around work-life balance, the pressures of marriage and motherhood in the film industry, and how she’s always charted her course.

Kajol on her choices

When asked whether she looks back and feels she was ahead of her time by defying the norms in films like Gupt, Dushman, and in her personal decisions to embrace marriage and motherhood without pausing her career, Kajol responded with characteristic clarity.

“Super proud of myself. What can I say? I don't really look back on it. At that time, I didn’t think so much about feminism while doing it,” she said, adding, “Yes, I just decided whether I wanted to do it or not, and I feel that is a personal decision. In everyone’s life, if you feel something is right, then you do it. If you feel it's not right, then you don't do it.”

ALSO READ: Kajol on maintaining work-life balance in Bollywood: 'Didn't work 20-30 hours' 

Kajol on going against advice

Kajol also acknowledged the many voices that tried to deter her from settling down at the peak of her career—but staying rooted in self-belief helped her rise above it. The actor stated, “A lot of people at that point in time told me not to get married and... not to have kids. At that point in time, lots of people had lots of opinions. But I think if you remain true to yourself... you will not regret your decisions. It was your decision; it was your life. The credit is yours; the mistake is also yours.”

Kajol has made significant strides in recent years, including her digital courtroom drama The Trial, her cop thriller Do Patti, and her upcoming release of Maa, a full-fledged horror film. When asked whether this marks a reinvention or simply an evolution, Kajol made it clear that she’s never believed in limitations.

Kajol on career longevity

“I never thought of my career as a short-lived thing,” she said. She also said, “So lots of people told me that I would not have a career after I got married, but I still continued working. God willing, I will continue working till however long I want to work.”

The actor emphasised the importance of agency and initiative in a profession that often sidelines women after a certain age or phase of life. Kajol concluded by saying, “If you feel that you're not getting such roles anywhere, then you can always make them for yourself. There's never a dearth of work. It's just that you have to choose the right things for yourself.”

With Maa set to hit cinemas soon, Kajol once again proves that she isn’t here to fit into expectations—she’s here to break them.