A Conversation with Kajol: On Well Being, Feminism and Work Environments!

Image Source: RAD TIMES

“Feminism doesn’t start with anybody else-it starts with yourself. If I believe I’m worth it, nobody else can tell me I’m not, “

says Kajol in an interview with the Hollywood Reporter India.

Kajol lit up the session at The Hollywood Reporter India with her candour and wit.

Conversations were about feminism, health, work environments, nepotism, and the debate over quantity versus quality in films. Kajol shared her viewpoints and shed some light on her experience in the film industry.

Talking about her new chat show, TWO MUCH, co-hosted with Twinkle Khanna. She questioned the vocabulary used when older men romance younger women, which is called “ cinematic magic.” However, when older women romance younger men, it is often referred to as “bold.”

Film critic Anupama Chopra asked her about creating an honest and authentic performance.

"That comes with experience, that comes with being in front of a camera, you pick it up through doing it time and again. When you don't know how to do something. You keep doing it till you look good doing it. You keep doing it, slowly, slowly, slowly, you mould yourself into a better actor.”

About her morning rituals. Kajol says she has never fixed morning routines. Her coffee, reading and music sessions can go on from 1 to 2 to 3 to 8 hours.”

Another personality-building technique to stay ahead of all commentators and critics in the industry. Kajol said she analyses her work so much and in so much detail that reviews and criticisms have no effect on her.

On being asked by Anupama Chopra if it is common to bash nepo kids, Kajol expressed her viewpoint.

She remembers when she started, there were many from the Bollywood family lineage, and they failed badly. They failed just after their first film and disappeared. You may be from a film background or not…if you have no talent, you may not survive. So, why are we not talking about this?

The rest of the session was filled with discussions around work environments. She preferred to work with people who make her happy in a positive, fulfilling way on film sets than just picking a role because it has been offered to you.

Also, she was pretty clear that she had not done as many movies as her counterparts, like Govinda and Aamir. And yet, she believed the quality of those films made her stand out.

RAD TIMES interaction with Kajol

Kajol also added that it is the people and not the projects that have stayed with her.

“Whether it’s Baazigar, till today Abbas Mastan both message me. For every one of my birthdays, my husband’s birthday, my kids’ birthdays, they’re still in touch with me. it was this amazing experience that we had together.”

The session ended with a lot of interaction with the audience. Kajol is starring in The Trial Season 2 and co-hosting Two Much with Kajol and Twinkle. Also, she would be reprising a role in Mahrani: Queen of Queens, an action thriller alongside Prabhu Deva.

For RAD TIMES, it has been beautiful to visit Balgandharva Rangmandir while reporting. The venue has grown its special charm. The coffee stall was closed after the conversation, but it has been one of the most enjoyable talks to have reported on.

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