Kajol Devgn , better known as
Kajol, is an Indian film actress appearing in Hindi films. She is regarded as one of India's most successful and talented female actors.
Kajol made her acting debut in the film
BekhudiBekhudi is a 1992 Bollywood film starring Kajol, Kamal Sadanah, Ajay Mankotia, Tanuja, Vijayendra Ghatge and Kulbhushan Kharbanda.This was the debut film of one of India's most successful actresses Kajol. It is produced by Maharukh Jokhi, and Rita Rawail, and directed by Rahul Rawail...
(1992) and had her first commercial success with her second film
BaazigarBaazigar is a 1993 Indian Hindi film directed by Abbas-Mustan. Inspired by the novel A Kiss Before Dying, it is a contemporary thriller about a young man who stops at nothing to get what he wants. The film shocked its Indian audience with an unexpected violation of the standard Bollywood formula,...
(1993) opposite
Shahrukh KhanShahrukh Khan , often credited as Shah Rukh Khan, is an Indian film actor, as well as a film producer and television host. Often referred to as "the King of Bollywood", Khan has acted in over 70 Hindi films....
, with whom she would act in such popular movies as
Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge (1995),
Kuch Kuch Hota HaiKuch Kuch Hota Hai is a Hindi romantic comedy film, released in India and the United Kingdom on 16 October 1998. The film was written and directed by the debuting Karan Johar and stars the popular on-screen pair of Shahrukh Khan and Kajol in their fourth movie together...
(1998), and
Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... (2001). Her performances in all three of these films were praised and earned her
Filmfare AwardsThe Filmfare Awards are presented annually by The Times Group to honour both artistic and technical excellence of professionals in the Hindi language film industry of India. The Filmfare ceremony is one of the oldest and most prominent film events given for Hindi films in India. The awards were...
for Best Actress. Some of her other films of this period include
Yeh DillagiYeh Dillagi is a 1994 Bollywood film, produced by Yash Chopra and directed by Naresh Malhotra. It is an adaptation of the Audrey Hepburn movie Sabrina. It stars Akshay Kumar, Kajol and Saif Ali Khan. Karisma Kapoor has a special appearance. The film was a big success in 1994...
(1994),
Gupt: The Hidden TruthGupt: The Hidden Truth is a Bollywood suspense thriller movie released in 1997, directed by Rajiv Rai. The film starred Bobby Deol, Manisha Koirala, Kajol, Paresh Rawal, Om Puri and Raj Babbar. It was one of the biggest successes of 1997....
(1997),
Dushman and
Pyaar To Hona Hi ThaPyaar To Hona Hi Tha is a 1998 Bollywood film starring Kajol and Ajay Devgan. The film is a remake of the 1995 Hollywood film French Kiss, starring Meg Ryan and Kevin Kline.- Synopsis :...
(both 1998).
After shooting for
Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham in 2001, she took a sabbatical from full-time acting for five years in order to focus on her marriage. She made a comeback with
Kunal KohliKunal Kohli is an Indian film director, producer and writer- Biography :Born in Mumbai,Kunal Kohli is a true Indian director. He is a "family man" as he claims on a video interview....
's
FanaaFanaa is a 2006 Hindi romance film, starring Aamir Khan and Kajol in pivotal roles. It is directed by Kunal Kohli who previously directed Hum Tum, and is produced under Yash Raj Films. The film also stars Rishi Kapoor, Tabu and Sharat Saxena.Fanaa was released on 26 May 2006, in India...
(2006), for which she received another Best Actress Award at the Filmfare. She continued working infrequently through the rest of the decade, playing leading roles in such films as
U, Me aur Hum (2008),
We Are FamilyWe Are Family is a Hindi film directed by Siddharth Malhotra and produced by Karan Johar. The project features actors Kajol, Kareena Kapoor and Arjun Rampal in the lead roles, and is an official remake of the 1998 film Stepmom. It released worldwide on September 3, 2010, and a day before in India...
and
My Name is KhanMy Name Is Khan ; commonly referred to as MNIK, is a 2010 Bollywood film directed by Karan Johar, with a screenplay by Shibani Bathija, produced by Hiroo Yash Johar and Gauri Khan, and starring Shahrukh Khan and Kajol, who reunite after nine years...
(both 2010). Her performance in the latter earned her a fifth Filmfare Award.
Along with her late aunt
NutanNutan Behl , better known as Nutan , was an Indian actress. She appeared in more than 70 Hindi films in a career spanning over four decades...
, Kajol holds the record for most Best Actress wins at the Filmfare Awards, with five. In 2011, the
Government of IndiaThe Government of India, officially known as the Union Government, and also known as the Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of the union of 28 states and seven union territories, collectively called the Republic of India...
honoured her with the
Padma ShriPadma Shri is the fourth highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan...
for her contribution to Indian Cinema. She is married to fellow Indian actor Ajay Devgn, with whom she has two children.
Family and background
- Main article: Mukherjee-Samarth family
Kajol was born in
MumbaiMumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
of
BengaliThe Bengali people are an ethnic community native to the historic region of Bengal in South Asia. They speak Bengali , which is an Indo-Aryan language of the eastern Indian subcontinent, evolved from the Magadhi Prakrit and Sanskrit languages. In their native language, they are referred to as বাঙালী...
-
MarathiThe Marathi people or Maharashtrians are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group, that inhabit the Maharashtra region and state of western India. Their language Marathi is part of the southern group of Indo-Aryan languages...
descent. Her mother Tanuja is an actress, while her late father
Shomu MukherjeeShomu Mukherjee was a Bengali Indian director, writer and producer.Born in 1943, he was the fourth son of Sashadhar Mukherjee, the owner of Filmalaya studios, and Sati Rani Devi. His mother was the only sister of the Ganguly brothers....
was a film director and producer. He died after suffering from a
cardiac arrestCardiac arrest, is the cessation of normal circulation of the blood due to failure of the heart to contract effectively...
in 2008. Her maternal aunt is the late actress
NutanNutan Behl , better known as Nutan , was an Indian actress. She appeared in more than 70 Hindi films in a career spanning over four decades...
(with whom she holds the record for the most wins (five times) of the Filmfare Award for Best Actress) and her maternal grandmother
Shobhna SamarthShobhna Samarth was a Marathi actress who began her career in the early days of talkie movies in the Indian film industry, and continued in lead roles into the 1950s. She started in Marathi cinema. Her first Hindi film, Nigahen Nafrat was released in 1935...
and great grandmother
Rattan BaiRattan Bai was a courtesan and entertainer who is the ancestress of several Bollywood film stars. She was the mother of actress Shobhna Samarth and thus the grandmother of actresses Nutan and Tanuja...
had both been involved in Hindi cinema.
Her paternal uncles are film producers;
Joy Mukherjee- Family Background :Main article: Mukherjee-Samarth familyJoy Mukherjee is the son of Sashadhar Mukherjee and Sati Devi. His father was a successful producer and a co-founder of Filmalaya Studios. His paternal uncle is director Subodh Mukherjee, whilst his maternal uncles were Ashok Kumar and...
and
Deb MukherjeeDeb Mukherjee is a Bengali Indian actor. He is the father of director Ayan Mukerji.He is part of the famous Mukherjee family which spans four generations. His family has been in the Bollywood industry since the 1940s. His family includes his father Sashadhar Mukherjee, the owner of Filmalaya...
. Kajol's paternal grandfather,
Sashadhar MukherjeeSashadhar Mukherjee was a producer in Hindi films. He is part of the distinguished Mukherjee clan of Bollywood.Main article: Mukherjee-Samarth family...
, was a filmmaker. His wife Satirani Devi, Kajol's paternal grandmother, was the sister of Ashok Kumar,
Anoop KumarAnoop Kumar , born Kalyan Kumar Ganguly, was an Indian film actor who appeared in over seventy-five Bollywood films.-Personal life:Kalyan was born into a Hindu family in Khandwa, Central Provinces and Berar . His father Kunjalal Ganguly was a lawyer and his mother Gouri Devi came from a wealthy...
and
Kishore KumarKishore Kumar , born Abhas Kumar Ganguly, was an Indian film playback singer and an actor who also worked as lyricist, composer, producer, director, screenwriter and scriptwriter.Kishore Kumar was one of India's greatest performers of the late 20th century...
. Kajol's cousins
Rani MukerjiRani Mukerji is an Indian film actress who works in Hindi movies. In the course of her film career, she has received six Filmfare Awards, among twelve nominations....
,
Sharbani MukherjeeSharbani Mukherji is an Indian actress working in Bollywood.-Biography:She is the daughter of Rono Mukerji. Her paternal uncles are Joy Mukerji and Deb Mukerji. Her paternal grandfather, Sashadhar Mukerji, was a filmmaker. His wife Satirani Devi was the sister of Ashok Kumar, Anoop Kumar and...
and
Mohnish BehlMohnish Bahl Mohnish Bahl Mohnish Bahl (Hindi: मोह्निश बहल,(born 14 February 1963) is an Indian actor working in the Bollywood film industry. He is currently playing the role of Dr. Ashutosh in the show Kuch Toh Log Kahenge-Personal life:...
are also Bollywood actors; whereas her cousin
Ayan Mukerji is a director. Kajol's younger sister
Tanisha MukherjeeTanisha , also known as Tanisha, is a Hindi, Telugu and Tamil actress.-Family background:Tanisha is an Indian actress of Bengali–Marathi descent. Tanisha comes from a prominent industry family, which has been working in Bollywood since the 1940s...
is also an actress.
Kajol married Bollywood actor
Ajay DevganAjay Devgan , born Vishal Veeru Devgan on 2 April 1969, is an Indian film actor, director, and producer.He made his film debut with Phool Aur Kaante in 1991 and received a Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut for his performance in the film and for which he won a Filmfare Best Debut Award...
on February 24, 1999. The couple have 2 children, a daughter named Nysa (born on 20th April,2003) and a son named Yug (born on 13th September,2010).
Career
Kajol left her school St. Josephs convent at Panchgani and started her career at the age of seventeen. Her debut film was 1992's
BekhudiBekhudi is a 1992 Bollywood film starring Kajol, Kamal Sadanah, Ajay Mankotia, Tanuja, Vijayendra Ghatge and Kulbhushan Kharbanda.This was the debut film of one of India's most successful actresses Kajol. It is produced by Maharukh Jokhi, and Rita Rawail, and directed by Rahul Rawail...
, which was a box office failure. In 1993, she shot to fame with her second film,
Abbas-MustanAbbas and Mustan Burmawalla are a Hindi Bollywood director duo. They are known for directing films in the thriller and action genres. They have frequently cast Akshay Kumar, Bobby Deol and Akshaye Khanna in their films...
's thriller
BaazigarBaazigar is a 1993 Indian Hindi film directed by Abbas-Mustan. Inspired by the novel A Kiss Before Dying, it is a contemporary thriller about a young man who stops at nothing to get what he wants. The film shocked its Indian audience with an unexpected violation of the standard Bollywood formula,...
. The film saw her co-starring alongside
Shahrukh KhanShahrukh Khan , often credited as Shah Rukh Khan, is an Indian film actor, as well as a film producer and television host. Often referred to as "the King of Bollywood", Khan has acted in over 70 Hindi films....
, with whom she later went on to make a popular pairing in a number of films, all of which were box office successes.
Her first release in 1994,
Udhaar Ki ZindagiUdhaar Ki Zindagi is a 1994 Bollywood film about a father's rejection of a love marriage of his son, and the granddaughter's struggle to win her grandfather's heart. It is directed and written by K.V. Raju and stars Jeetendra, Moushumi Chatterjee and Kajol...
, was a box-office failure, but her performance in the film won the BFJA Best Actress Award. She next starred in her first collaboration with
Yash Raj FilmsYash Raj Films is an Indian Entertainment company set up by Yash Chopra, an Indian film director and producer who is considered an entertainment mogul in India.-Initial years:...
, the romantic drama
Yeh DillagiYeh Dillagi is a 1994 Bollywood film, produced by Yash Chopra and directed by Naresh Malhotra. It is an adaptation of the Audrey Hepburn movie Sabrina. It stars Akshay Kumar, Kajol and Saif Ali Khan. Karisma Kapoor has a special appearance. The film was a big success in 1994...
(1994). Her performance as Sapna, a strong dreamy girl who leaves her paternal home to make her own life in the big city, earned her a first nomination for
Best ActressThe Filmfare Award for Best Actress is given by Filmfare as part of its annual Filmfare Awards for Hindi films, to recognise a female actor who has delivered an outstanding performance in a leading role. The award was first given in 1954.-Superlatives:...
at the
Filmfare AwardsThe Filmfare Awards are presented annually by The Times Group to honour both artistic and technical excellence of professionals in the Hindi language film industry of India. The Filmfare ceremony is one of the oldest and most prominent film events given for Hindi films in India. The awards were...
.
In 1995 Kajol appeared in the two biggest hits of the year in India. Her first release was
Rakesh RoshanRakesh Roshan Rakesh Roshan Rakesh Roshan (Hindi: राकेश रोशन (born Rakesh Roshan Lal Nagrath on 6 September 1949 in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India) is a producer, director and former actor in Bollywood films who was born in a Punjabi Hindu Kayastha family...
's
Karan ArjunKaran Arjun is an Indian Bollywood film starring- Salman Khan, Shahrukh Khan, Kajol, Mamta Kulkarni, Raakhee, Amrish Puri, Johnny Lever and Ranjeet. The film was directed by Rakesh Roshan, and written by Ravi Kapoor and Sachin Bhowmick. Karan Arjun is a mix of an upbeat Bollywood musical,...
. The film, which dealt with
reincarnationReincarnation best describes the concept where the soul or spirit, after the death of the body, is believed to return to live in a new human body, or, in some traditions, either as a human being, animal or plant...
, became the second-highest grossing film of the year. While her next three releases that year failed commercially, her last release,
Aditya ChopraAditya Chopra is an Indian film producer, screenwriter and director. He is most known for directing his only three films Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge , Mohabbatein , and Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi...
's directorial debut, the romance
Dilwale Dulhania Le JayengeDilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge , also known as DDLJ, is a Hindi language film released on 20 October 1995. A romantic comedy, the film marked the directorial debut of Aditya Chopra, and stars Shahrukh Khan and Kajol...
, was not only the biggest hit of that year, but one of Hindi cinema's most successful films. In 2008, the film entered its twelfth year in
MumbaiMumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
theatersA movie theater, cinema, movie house, picture theater, film theater is a venue, usually a building, for viewing motion pictures ....
, grossing over 12 billion
rupeeThe rupee is the common name for the monetary unit of account in India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Pakistan, Mauritius, Seychelles, Maldives, and formerly in Burma, and Afghanistan. Historically, the first currency called "rupee" was introduced in the 16th century...
s overall, making it one of the biggest blockbusters in Bollywood.
Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge was also a major critical success; it won ten Filmfare Awards, and Kajol's performance as a young
NRIA Non-Resident Indian is an Indian citizen who has migrated to another country, a person of Indian origin who is born outside India, or a person of Indian origin who resides permanently outside India. Other terms with the same meaning are overseas Indian and expatriate Indian...
who falls for
Shahrukh KhanShahrukh Khan , often credited as Shah Rukh Khan, is an Indian film actor, as well as a film producer and television host. Often referred to as "the King of Bollywood", Khan has acted in over 70 Hindi films....
's character was praised, earning her a first Filmfare Award for Best Actress. In 2005,
Indiatimes MoviesIndiatimes is the Internet subsidiary of The Times of India Group, under which, some of the largest websites in India - The Times of India, The Economic Times, Navbharat Times and Maharashtra Times operate....
ranked the movie amongst the
25 Must See Bollywood Films, citing it as a "trendsetter of sorts". In that same year's retrospective review by Rediff, Raja Sen stated "Aditya [Chopra] ... wisely picked Kajol to play Simran, the real-as-life actress bringing warmth and credulity to the initially prudish and reluctant Simran. Not to mention the on-screen chemistry that has become the stuff of legend."
Kajol had only one release in 1996,
Bambai Ka BabuBambai Ka Babu is a 1996 Bollywood action film directed by Vikram Bhatt. It stars Saif Ali Khan, Atul Agnihotri and Kajol.-Plot summary:Born and brought up in a small village, Vikram alias Vicky comes to Bombay - the big city - to find his fortune. He wants to get rich soon, and he does get lucky...
, opposite Saif Ali Khan, which was a box office failure.
In 1997, Kajol starred in
Gupt: The Hidden TruthGupt: The Hidden Truth is a Bollywood suspense thriller movie released in 1997, directed by Rajiv Rai. The film starred Bobby Deol, Manisha Koirala, Kajol, Paresh Rawal, Om Puri and Raj Babbar. It was one of the biggest successes of 1997....
. Co-starring actors
Bobby DeolBobby Deol is a Bollywood actor. Deol is the son of the acclaimed Bollywood actor Dharmendra and the brother of Sunny Deol, also a successful actor in the Mumbai based Indian film industry....
and
Manisha KoiralaManisha B. Koirala is a Nepali-Indian actress who works in Indian films, as well as a UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador and social activist. Koirala has primarily worked in Hindi cinema, though she has appeared in several Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam films as well...
, the film was one of the highest grossing films of that year. Apart from that, her performance was a significant development for female actors in Bollywood; she was the first female actor to win the Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Negative Role. Her next film release that year was
Hameshaa. Like
Karan Arjun, the film dealt with reincarnation, but unlike the latter, it failed at the box office. She next starred in her first
TamilTamil cinema is the film industry based in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, dedicated to the production of films in the Tamil language. It is based in Chennai's Kodambakkam district, where several South Indian film production companies are headquartered...
film,
Minsaara KanavuMinsara Kanavu is a 1997 Tamil, Romance film, directed by Rajiv Menon. The film's score and soundtrack is composed by A. R. Rahman. Originally produced in Tamil, it went on to be dubbed in Telugu and in Hindi owing to its popularity....
. Her final release of that year was the romantic-comedy
Ishq' , Dari "eshq" Persian eshgh, Turkish aşk, , Azerbaijani , means "love". The word is derived from ‘ashiqah, a vine: the common belief is that when love takes its root in the heart of a lover, everything other than God is effaced. In Islam's Sufi and mystic doctrine it is a concept which refers to...
, where she was paired with her then-future husband
Ajay DevganAjay Devgan , born Vishal Veeru Devgan on 2 April 1969, is an Indian film actor, director, and producer.He made his film debut with Phool Aur Kaante in 1991 and received a Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut for his performance in the film and for which he won a Filmfare Best Debut Award...
. It performed well at the box office.
Kajol had further success in 1998, as she was the main lead starred in three of the year's biggest hits. She first starred opposite
Salman KhanSalman Khan is an Indian film actor. He has starred in more than 80 Hindi films.Khan, who made his acting debut with a minor role in the drama Biwi Ho To Aisi with Rekha in a lead role, had his first commercial success with the blockbuster Maine Pyar Kiya , for which he won a Filmfare Award for...
in the comedy
Pyaar Kiya To Darna KyaPyaar Kiya To Darna Kya may refer to:* Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya * Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya...
. The film was the fourth highest grossing film of the year. Her next release,
DushmanDushman is 1998 Indian film starring Kajol and Sanjay Dutt copied from Hollywood movie Eye for an Eye-Plot:Sonia and Naina Sehgal are twins. The two are completely different from each other, Sonia being the outgoing twin and Naina being the shy twin...
alongside
Sanjay DuttSanjay Dutt is an Indian Hindi film actor and politician. Dutt, son of Hindi film actors Sunil and Nargis Dutt, made his acting debut in 1981.-Personal life:...
, did moderately well at the box office. She had a double role in the film, and won her first Star Screen Award for Best Actress for her performance. She next starred opposite Ajay Devgan in the romance
Pyaar To Hona Hi ThaPyaar To Hona Hi Tha is a 1998 Bollywood film starring Kajol and Ajay Devgan. The film is a remake of the 1995 Hollywood film French Kiss, starring Meg Ryan and Kevin Kline.- Synopsis :...
, which was the second biggest hit of that year. However, her biggest success that year came with her final release,
Karan JoharKaran Johar is an Indian film director, producer, screenwriter and Television host. He is the son of Hiroo Johar and Yash Johar. He is one of the most successful filmmakers in Bollywood. He is most known for directing and producing some of Bollywood's highest grossing films in India and the...
's directorial debut,
Kuch Kuch Hota HaiKuch Kuch Hota Hai is a Hindi romantic comedy film, released in India and the United Kingdom on 16 October 1998. The film was written and directed by the debuting Karan Johar and stars the popular on-screen pair of Shahrukh Khan and Kajol in their fourth movie together...
, which paired her again with Shahrukh Khan and went on to become the biggest hit of the year in both India and overseas. She played the role of Anjali, a young college student who is secretly in love with her closest friend, and many years after breaking contact meets him again after the death of his wife. She won her second
Filmfare Best Actress AwardThe Filmfare Award for Best Actress is given by Filmfare as part of its annual Filmfare Awards for Hindi films, to recognise a female actor who has delivered an outstanding performance in a leading role. The award was first given in 1954.-Superlatives:...
for her performance.
Kajol's first release in 1999 was the drama film
Dil Kya Kare. She played the supporting role of Nandita Rai, which was well received. She had a hit with her second release, the family drama
Hum Aapke Dil Mein Rehte HainHum Aapke Dil Mein Rehte Hain is a 1999 Bollywood film about a multi-millionaire industrialist and a difficult marriage. It is directed by Satish Kaushik and stars Anil Kapoor, Kajol, Anupam Kher and Shakti Kapoor. Kajol was nominated for a Filmfare Best Actress Award...
. Starring alongside
Anil KapoorAnil Kapoor is an Indian actor and producer who mainly appears in Bollywood films. He won a Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award for his role in Yash Chopra's film Mashaal ....
, Kajol received another
Best Actress nomination at the Filmfare. She had an unsuccessful year in 2000, as her only release that year,
Raju ChachaRaju Chacha is an Indian Bollywood film directed by Anil Devgan, released on 20 December 2000. The film stars Ajay Devgan, Kajol, Rishi Kapoor and Sanjay Dutt in lead roles.-Plot:...
went unnoticed.
Kajol had only two films released in 2001. She first played a double role in the drama
Kuch Khatti Kuch MeethiKuch Khatti Kuch Meethi is a 2001 Indian film directed by Rahul Rawail and starring Kajol in a double role as two estranged identical twins. The storyline follows the general theme of its Hollywood counterpart The Parent Trap, but with the added melodrama and slight-changed storyline of a...
, which was a commercial failure. However, she reinvented her success in her second venture with
Karan JoharKaran Johar is an Indian film director, producer, screenwriter and Television host. He is the son of Hiroo Johar and Yash Johar. He is one of the most successful filmmakers in Bollywood. He is most known for directing and producing some of Bollywood's highest grossing films in India and the...
,
Kabhi Khushi Kabhie GhamKabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... is a Bollywood film released in India and countries with large NRI populations on 14 December 2001....
, which was a major grosser in India and the top-grossing Indian production of all-time in the overseas market until 2006. Kajol's role was that of Anjali, a young
PunjabiThe Punjabi people , ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ), also Panjabi people, are an Indo-Aryan group from South Asia. They are the second largest of the many ethnic groups in South Asia. They originate in the Punjab region, which has been been the location of some of the oldest civilizations in the world including, the...
woman from
DelhiDelhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
's market
Chandni ChowkChandni Chowk , originally meaning moonlit square or market, is one of the oldest and busiest markets in Old Delhi, now in central north Delhi, India...
, who falls for the rich Rahul, played by Shahrukh Khan. Her
comic-dramaticComedy-drama is a genre of theatre, film and television programs which combines humorous and serious content.-Theatre:Traditional western theatre, beginning with the ancient Greeks, was divided into comedy and tragedy...
performance won her several awards, including her third Filmfare Award for Best Actress and her second Star Screen Award for Best Actress. Critic
Taran AdarshTaran Adarsh is an Indian film critic, journalist, editor and film trade analyst. He is also a former producer and screenwriter. He is the son of film director and producer, B.K. Adarsh....
wrote of her performance in the film, "Kajol is first-rate in the role of a typical Chandni Chowk lass. Her Punjabi dialect will win her immense praise."
The HinduThe Hindu is an Indian English-language daily newspaper founded and continuously published in Chennai since 1878. According to the Audit Bureau of Circulations, it has a circulation of 1.46 million copies as of December 2009. The enterprise employed over 1,600 workers and gross income reached $40...
wrote, "Kajol ... steals the thunder from under very high noses indeed. With her precise timing and subtle lingering expression, she is a delight all the way." This was Kajol's last collaboration with Khan until they would be cast again by Johar as a lead pair in early 2010.
Following the success of
Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, Kajol took a sabbatical from full-time acting for five years. She gave birth to her daughter Nysa in 2003.
She made a successful comeback in 2006 with
Kunal KohliKunal Kohli is an Indian film director, producer and writer- Biography :Born in Mumbai,Kunal Kohli is a true Indian director. He is a "family man" as he claims on a video interview....
's drama
FanaaFanaa is a 2006 Hindi romance film, starring Aamir Khan and Kajol in pivotal roles. It is directed by Kunal Kohli who previously directed Hum Tum, and is produced under Yash Raj Films. The film also stars Rishi Kapoor, Tabu and Sharat Saxena.Fanaa was released on 26 May 2006, in India...
, one of the highest grossing films of the year. Portraying a blind
KashmirKashmir is the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term Kashmir geographically denoted only the valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal mountain range...
i girl who falls in love with a Kashmiri terrorist (played by
Aamir KhanAamir Hussain Khan is an Indian film actor, director and producer who has established himself as one of the leading actors of Hindi cinema....
) in the film, she won her fourth
Filmfare Best Actress AwardThe Filmfare Award for Best Actress is given by Filmfare as part of its annual Filmfare Awards for Hindi films, to recognise a female actor who has delivered an outstanding performance in a leading role. The award was first given in 1954.-Superlatives:...
.
U, Me aur Hum, which released on 11 April 2008, marked her husband
Ajay DevganAjay Devgan , born Vishal Veeru Devgan on 2 April 1969, is an Indian film actor, director, and producer.He made his film debut with Phool Aur Kaante in 1991 and received a Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut for his performance in the film and for which he won a Filmfare Best Debut Award...
's directorial debut. For her performance as an Alzheimer's patient in the film, she received her tenth
Filmfare Best Actress AwardThe Filmfare Award for Best Actress is given by Filmfare as part of its annual Filmfare Awards for Hindi films, to recognise a female actor who has delivered an outstanding performance in a leading role. The award was first given in 1954.-Superlatives:...
nomination. Raja Sen wrote in his review, "... Kajol ... can span through happy-breezy with her eyes closed, and so the first half doesn't even pose her a challenge, but when Alzheimer's strikes Piya and she begins to forget all that matters in her life, Kajol raises the bar strikingly high."
Kajol was recently seen alongside Shahrukh Khan in
Karan JoharKaran Johar is an Indian film director, producer, screenwriter and Television host. He is the son of Hiroo Johar and Yash Johar. He is one of the most successful filmmakers in Bollywood. He is most known for directing and producing some of Bollywood's highest grossing films in India and the...
's drama
My Name Is KhanMy Name Is Khan ; commonly referred to as MNIK, is a 2010 Bollywood film directed by Karan Johar, with a screenplay by Shibani Bathija, produced by Hiroo Yash Johar and Gauri Khan, and starring Shahrukh Khan and Kajol, who reunite after nine years...
, which is based on a true story, against the backdrop of perceptions on Islam post 11 September. Filming commenced in December 2008 in Los Angeles and ended in October 2009. Upon its release in February 2010, the film received mainly positive reviews from critics and became the highest-grossing Bollywood film of all time in the overseas market. Kajol's portrayal of Mandira, a divorced single mother who marries a Muslim autistic man was praised by critics, with
Rajeev MasandRajeev Masand is an Indian film critic and entertainment reporter for CNN-IBN. Masand started his career as an entertainment correspondent at the young age of 16...
writing, "Bringing emotional depth to what is essentially Rizwan's story, Kajol is immensely likeable as Mandira, using her eyes to convey volumes, topping the performance off with a powerful breakdown scene that literally puts her through the wringer." Kajol won her fifth Best Actress award at the Filmfare, a record which was previously held only by her late aunt, actress
NutanNutan Behl , better known as Nutan , was an Indian actress. She appeared in more than 70 Hindi films in a career spanning over four decades...
.
She next starred alongside
Kareena KapoorKareena Kapoor , often informally referred to as Bebo, is an Indian actress who appears in Bollywood films. During her career, Kapoor has received six Filmfare Awards, among nine nominations, and has been noted for her performances in a range of film genres; these include her work from contemporary...
and
Arjun RampalArjun Rampal , born 26 November 1972, is an award-winning Indian actor who appears in Bollywood films, as well as a fashion model.- Film career :...
in
We Are FamilyWe Are Family is a Hindi film directed by Siddharth Malhotra and produced by Karan Johar. The project features actors Kajol, Kareena Kapoor and Arjun Rampal in the lead roles, and is an official remake of the 1998 film Stepmom. It released worldwide on September 3, 2010, and a day before in India...
, an Indian adaptation of the Hollywood movie
StepmomStepmom is a 1998 comedy-drama film directed by Chris Columbus and starring Julia Roberts, Susan Sarandon, and Ed Harris.The film was a commercial success, but a moderate critical success.-Plot:...
(1998). Directed by Siddharth Malhotra,
Hindustan TimesHindustan Times is an Indian English-language daily newspaper founded in 1924 with roots in the Indian independence movement of the period ....
critic Mayank Shekhar stated, "The premise is stuff dry tissues are made for. Yet, the pathos here is produced not from moments, but from performances alone: a stunning Kajol’s in particular. She appears superior to Susan Sarandon, I suspect." Her next film,
Toonpur Ka Superhero, a live-action/animated film, was released in December 2010.
Media
Kajol's acting style has been described as natural. According to the
The HinduThe Hindu is an Indian English-language daily newspaper founded and continuously published in Chennai since 1878. According to the Audit Bureau of Circulations, it has a circulation of 1.46 million copies as of December 2009. The enterprise employed over 1,600 workers and gross income reached $40...
, "What Kajol abounds in is talent and a felicity for expression. Kajol does not act out her scenes and deliver her lines; she inhabits her characters."
In 2006, 4 miniature dolls under the name Bollywood legends were introduced. Besides
Priyanka ChopraPriyanka Chopra is an Indian actress and former Miss World. Before starting her acting career, she worked as a model and gained fame after winning the Miss World title in 2000. She is often referred to by the nickname "Piggy Chops", which was given to her by co-stars on the set of the film...
,
Hrithik RoshanHrithik Roshan is an Indian actor who appears in Bollywood films.After having appeared in films as a child actor in the 1980s, Roshan made his film debut in a leading role in Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai for which Roshan earned his Filmfare Awards for Best Actor and Best Male Debut...
and
Shahrukh KhanShahrukh Khan , often credited as Shah Rukh Khan, is an Indian film actor, as well as a film producer and television host. Often referred to as "the King of Bollywood", Khan has acted in over 70 Hindi films....
, she is one of the dolls.
In 2008, her husband
Ajay DevganAjay Devgan , born Vishal Veeru Devgan on 2 April 1969, is an Indian film actor, director, and producer.He made his film debut with Phool Aur Kaante in 1991 and received a Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut for his performance in the film and for which he won a Filmfare Best Debut Award...
and her mother Tanuja were jury members in the TV show Rock'n'Roll Family.
Social work
Apart from being goodwill ambassador and patron of the Britain-based Loomba Trust - a charity devoted to educating widows' children, particularly in India, Kajol also works with an NGO called Shiksha.
She is a recipient of the Karamveer Puraskar award (26 November 2008), which recognises individuals who have been pivotal in leading change beyond their business by being committed to social issues.
Filmography
| Year |
Film |
Role |
Notes |
| 1992 |
Bekhudi Bekhudi is a 1992 Bollywood film starring Kajol, Kamal Sadanah, Ajay Mankotia, Tanuja, Vijayendra Ghatge and Kulbhushan Kharbanda.This was the debut film of one of India's most successful actresses Kajol. It is produced by Maharukh Jokhi, and Rita Rawail, and directed by Rahul Rawail...
|
Radhika |
|
| 1993 |
BaazigarBaazigar is a 1993 Indian Hindi film directed by Abbas-Mustan. Inspired by the novel A Kiss Before Dying, it is a contemporary thriller about a young man who stops at nothing to get what he wants. The film shocked its Indian audience with an unexpected violation of the standard Bollywood formula,...
|
Priya Chopra |
|
| 1994 |
Udhaar Ki Zindagi Udhaar Ki Zindagi is a 1994 Bollywood film about a father's rejection of a love marriage of his son, and the granddaughter's struggle to win her grandfather's heart. It is directed and written by K.V. Raju and stars Jeetendra, Moushumi Chatterjee and Kajol...
|
Sita |
|
| 1994 |
Yeh DillagiYeh Dillagi is a 1994 Bollywood film, produced by Yash Chopra and directed by Naresh Malhotra. It is an adaptation of the Audrey Hepburn movie Sabrina. It stars Akshay Kumar, Kajol and Saif Ali Khan. Karisma Kapoor has a special appearance. The film was a big success in 1994...
|
Sapna |
Nominated—Filmfare Award for Best Actress |
| 1995 |
Karan ArjunKaran Arjun is an Indian Bollywood film starring- Salman Khan, Shahrukh Khan, Kajol, Mamta Kulkarni, Raakhee, Amrish Puri, Johnny Lever and Ranjeet. The film was directed by Rakesh Roshan, and written by Ravi Kapoor and Sachin Bhowmick. Karan Arjun is a mix of an upbeat Bollywood musical,...
|
Sonia Saxena |
|
| 1995 |
Taaqat Taaqat is a 1995 Bollywood romantic crime film about two influential gangsters working for opposite political parties. It is directed and written by Talat Jani and stars Dharmendra, Shatrughan Sinha and Kajol...
|
Kavita |
|
| 1995 |
Hulchul Hulchul is a 1995 Bollywood action film directed and written by Anees Bazmee. It stars Vinod Khanna, Ajay Devgn and Kajol. The film premiered on August 4 1995 in Mumbai.The role of Sharmili was originally offered to Divya Bharati but her sudden death called for Kajol to replace her.-Cast:*Vinod...
|
Sharmili |
|
| 1995 |
Gundaraj Gundaraj is a 1995 Bollywood action film directed by Guddu Dhanoa. It stars Ajay Devgan, Kajol and Amrish Puri. The film premiered on 7 September 1995 in Mumbai.-Cast:*Ajay Devgan as Ajay Chauhan*Kajol as Ritu*Amrish Puri as Police Inspector*G...
|
Ritu |
|
| 1995 |
Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge , also known as DDLJ, is a Hindi language film released on 20 October 1995. A romantic comedy, the film marked the directorial debut of Aditya Chopra, and stars Shahrukh Khan and Kajol...
|
Simran Singh |
Filmfare Award for Best Actress |
| 1996 |
Bambai Ka Babu Bambai Ka Babu is a 1996 Bollywood action film directed by Vikram Bhatt. It stars Saif Ali Khan, Atul Agnihotri and Kajol.-Plot summary:Born and brought up in a small village, Vikram alias Vicky comes to Bombay - the big city - to find his fortune. He wants to get rich soon, and he does get lucky...
|
Neha |
|
| 1997 |
Gupt: The Hidden TruthGupt: The Hidden Truth is a Bollywood suspense thriller movie released in 1997, directed by Rajiv Rai. The film starred Bobby Deol, Manisha Koirala, Kajol, Paresh Rawal, Om Puri and Raj Babbar. It was one of the biggest successes of 1997....
|
Isha Diwan |
Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Negative Role |
| 1997 |
Hamesha Hamesha English: Forever) is a Hindi romance movie written and directed by Sanjay Gupta. The film stars Kajol, Saif Ali Khan and Aditya Pancholi in the lead roles. Aruna Irani and Kader Khan have supporting roles in the film. The film explores reincarnation.- Synopsis :Raja and Yash Vardhan are...
|
Rani Sharma/Reshma |
|
| 1997 |
Minsaara Kanavu Minsara Kanavu is a 1997 Tamil, Romance film, directed by Rajiv Menon. The film's score and soundtrack is composed by A. R. Rahman. Originally produced in Tamil, it went on to be dubbed in Telugu and in Hindi owing to its popularity....
|
Priya Amalraj |
TamilTamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
film |
| 1997 |
Ishq |
Kajal |
|
| 1998 |
Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya is a 1998 Indian Bollywood romantic comedy film. Written and directed by Sohail Khan, the film stars his real-life brothers Salman Khan and Arbaaz Khan alongside Kajol and Dharmendra in pivotal roles.-Synopsis:...
|
Muskaan Thakur |
|
| 1998 |
Duplicate |
|
Special appearance |
| 1998 |
Dushman Dushman is 1998 Indian film starring Kajol and Sanjay Dutt copied from Hollywood movie Eye for an Eye-Plot:Sonia and Naina Sehgal are twins. The two are completely different from each other, Sonia being the outgoing twin and Naina being the shy twin...
|
Sonia/Naina Saigal |
Nominated—Filmfare Award for Best Actress |
| 1998 |
Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha is a 1998 Bollywood film starring Kajol and Ajay Devgan. The film is a remake of the 1995 Hollywood film French Kiss, starring Meg Ryan and Kevin Kline.- Synopsis :...
|
Sanjana |
Nominated—Filmfare Award for Best Actress |
| 1998 |
Kuch Kuch Hota Hai Kuch Kuch Hota Hai is a Hindi romantic comedy film, released in India and the United Kingdom on 16 October 1998. The film was written and directed by the debuting Karan Johar and stars the popular on-screen pair of Shahrukh Khan and Kajol in their fourth movie together...
|
Anjali Sharma |
Filmfare Award for Best Actress |
| 1999 |
Dil Kya Kare |
Nandita Rai |
|
| 1999 |
Hum Aapke Dil Mein Rehte Hain Hum Aapke Dil Mein Rehte Hain is a 1999 Bollywood film about a multi-millionaire industrialist and a difficult marriage. It is directed by Satish Kaushik and stars Anil Kapoor, Kajol, Anupam Kher and Shakti Kapoor. Kajol was nominated for a Filmfare Best Actress Award...
|
Megha |
Nominated—Filmfare Award for Best Actress |
| 1999 |
Hote Hote Pyar Ho Gaya Hote Hote Pyar Ho Gaya is an Indian Bollywood film directed by Firoz Irani, released on 2 July 1999. The film stars Jackie Shroff, Kajol and Atul Agnihotri in lead roles.-Plot:...
|
Pinky |
|
| 2000 |
Raju ChachaRaju Chacha is an Indian Bollywood film directed by Anil Devgan, released on 20 December 2000. The film stars Ajay Devgan, Kajol, Rishi Kapoor and Sanjay Dutt in lead roles.-Plot:...
|
Anna |
|
| 2001 |
Kuch Khatti Kuch Meethi Kuch Khatti Kuch Meethi is a 2001 Indian film directed by Rahul Rawail and starring Kajol in a double role as two estranged identical twins. The storyline follows the general theme of its Hollywood counterpart The Parent Trap, but with the added melodrama and slight-changed storyline of a...
|
Tina/Sweety Khanna |
Double role |
| 2001 |
Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... |
Anjali Sharma Raichand |
Filmfare Award for Best Actress |
| 2003 |
Kal Ho Naa HoKal Ho Naa Ho is a 2003 Hindi film set in New York City. It stars Shahrukh Khan, Preity Zinta, Saif Ali Khan and Jaya Bachchan. The film was directed by first-timer Nikhil Advani, it was produced by Yash Johar and co-written by Karan Johar, better known as the director of the hit films Kuch Kuch...
|
|
Special appearance in song "Maahi Ve" |
| 2006 |
FanaaFanaa is a 2006 Hindi romance film, starring Aamir Khan and Kajol in pivotal roles. It is directed by Kunal Kohli who previously directed Hum Tum, and is produced under Yash Raj Films. The film also stars Rishi Kapoor, Tabu and Sharat Saxena.Fanaa was released on 26 May 2006, in India...
|
Zooni Ali Baig |
Filmfare Award for Best Actress |
| 2006 |
Kabhi Alvida Naa KehnaKabhi Alvida Naa Kehna commonly known as KANK is a 2006 Bollywood film directed by Karan Johar and produced under the Dharma Productions banner...
|
|
Special appearance in song "Rock N Roll Soniye" |
| 2007 |
Om Shanti Om |
Herself |
Special appearance in song "Deewangi Deewangi" |
| 2008 |
U, Me aur Hum |
Piya |
Nominated—Filmfare Award for Best Actress |
| 2008 |
Haal-e-dil Haal – E – dil, shortened as HED, , directed by Anil Devgan, is a 2008 romance film starring Adhyayan Suman and Amita Patak. Story wise, it was the debut of actor, Adhyayan Suman, who is the son of retro-actor Shekhar Suman. The film deals with issues of the “love within” the human psyche and how...
|
|
Special appearance in song "Oye Hoye" |
| 2008 |
Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi |
Herself |
Special appearance in song "Phir Milenge Chalte Chalte "Phir Milenge Chalte Chalte" is a song from the 2008 Indian film Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi rendered by Sonu Nigam. In the movie itself, it appears as a dream item number during another movie. The song is pictured on Shah Rukh Khan and in chronological order, Kajol, Bipasha Basu, Lara Dutta, Priety Zinta,...
" |
| 2009 |
Vighnaharta Shree Siddhivinayak |
Herself |
Special appearance |
| 2010 |
My Name Is Khan My Name Is Khan ; commonly referred to as MNIK, is a 2010 Bollywood film directed by Karan Johar, with a screenplay by Shibani Bathija, produced by Hiroo Yash Johar and Gauri Khan, and starring Shahrukh Khan and Kajol, who reunite after nine years...
|
Mandira Khan |
Filmfare Award for Best Actress |
| 2010 |
We Are Family We Are Family is a Hindi film directed by Siddharth Malhotra and produced by Karan Johar. The project features actors Kajol, Kareena Kapoor and Arjun Rampal in the lead roles, and is an official remake of the 1998 film Stepmom. It released worldwide on September 3, 2010, and a day before in India...
|
Maya |
|
| 2010 |
Toonpur Ka Super Hero |
Priya |
|
| 2012 |
Koochie Koochie Hota Hai Koochie Koochie Hota Hai is an upcoming Computer-animated Bollywood film directed by Tarun Mansukhani and Vishal Sonawane. The voice-over for the lead anthropomorphic characters has been given by Shahrukh Khan, Kajol, Rani Mukerji, Sanjay Dutt, Riteish Deshmukh, Anupam Kher, Uday Chopra and Simi...
|
Angie |
Post-production |
External links