Kajal Aggarwal is now the mother of a four-year-old son, Neil. She will soon be seen in the film The India Story, which addresses the serious issue of food adulteration. Although South Indian superstar Kajal Aggarwal has done relatively few films in Bollywood, she has fans across the entire country. Whether it was the acclaimed S.S. Rajamouli-directed film Magadheera or Singham alongside Ajay Devgn, she has won the hearts of audiences with every character she has portrayed.
However, she has also made significant sacrifices along the way. Kajal who is soon bringing the film The India Story to the screen used to do seven or eight films a year at one point. She says, “Back then, I didn’t have a life of my own. I was constantly immersed in work; I didn’t know how to enjoy life.” Reflecting on her successful career, Kajal says, “It is God’s grace and the blessings of my elders that I got the opportunity to do such amazing work and collaborate with incredible people.
I love acting deeply, and considering the roles I’ve received and the love I’ve been shown, I feel very fortunate. However, there were ups and downs in this career, as well as challenges. Initially, just understanding the language was difficult; I couldn’t grasp what people were saying. I had to understand the culture what was right and what was wrong and learn to live and adjust there. Back then, I hardly ever came to Mumbai. I might spend just two days a year in the city celebrating Diwali and my birthday, or Diwali and New Year’s while the other 363 days were spent solely traveling and shooting.
I used to do seven to eight films a year. I had no personal life. While my friends were enjoying life, I was just working. I didn’t even know what it meant to enjoy life.” Kajal is playing the role of Mandodari in Nitesh Tiwari’s ambitious film Ramayana; she mentions that while playing, her son often pretends to be Ravana while she plays Mandodari. Speaking about that experience, she says, “It has been a truly unique and amazing experience.
When we are shooting or filming scenes, we realize the magnitude of the project; the scale makes it evident that it is crafted for world cinema. It is a matter of great pride for me that Indian talent is executing this so beautifully.” Sharing a fun anecdote about her son’s connection to the Ramayana, she adds, “Neel likes the Ramayana. He knows who Mandodari is, so I told him that Mama is playing the role of Mandodari in this. In play, he says, ‘I am Ravana, and you are Mandodari,’ and I respond, ‘Okay, very good, let’s play.'”
As A Mother, Food Adulteration Is A Frightening Prospect
Kajal, who is addressing the issue of adulteration in food, milk, and fruits in her film The India Story, feels a deep personal connection to the subject as a mother. She says, “As a mother, the thought of these things is terrifying. We simply don’t know if what our children are consuming is safe for their health or not. Whether it is food, fruit, or milk, you cannot trust even the biggest stores. You never really know what you are feeding your child. We need to be much more vigilant. In this context, the film was an eye-opener; the research presented by our director, DK Chetan, was quite alarming.
” Kajal now appears to be focusing more on films with strong themes or social relevance. Has her perspective on choosing films changed? She responds, “Absolutely. Your mindset and choices evolve with time, just as life offers opportunities at different stages. You start experimenting only after you are settled in your career. Initially, I was so busy trying to establish myself that I didn’t have the time to think about anything else; I used to say yes to every film.” “I used to do eight films a year.” But has becoming a mother influenced these choices? She says, “There isn’t a specific list I follow. When I read a script, I know whether I’ll do it or not if something doesn’t feel right, I won’t but having my son in mind means there is an internal filter at work.”
