Kajol Turns 50: Hindi Cinema Icon's Enduring Legacy and Timeless Charm!

Kajol as an actress needs no introduction. She made her foray into Bollywood with director Rahul Rawail’s 1992 film Bekhudi. However, she attained commercial success with Baazigar, starring Shah Rukh Khan in the lead. Over the years, she has carved a niche for herself in the Hindi film industry. Her impactful performances and versatility have helped the diva to establish a special place in the hearts of the audience.

Apart from that, Kajol’s quirks and hilarious antics, highlight her fun-loving personality which often leaves her fans in splits. As the actress turns 50 today, August 5, let’s take a walk down memory lane, revisiting her journey in the world of glitz and glam as well as her top movies, web series, best songs, and family life:

Kajol’s Journey

Kajol was born on August 5, 1974. She is the daughter of veteran actress Tanuja while her father Shomu Mukherjee was a prominent filmmaker. Following her mother’s footsteps, Kajol made her acting debut at the age of 17 with Bekhudi in which her performance garnered appreciation from fans and critics alike. Despite the positive reviews, the action romance failed to perform at the box office.

The following year, Kajol was roped in for Abbas Mastan’s crime thriller Baazigar, which took her career to new heights. Co-starring Shah Rukh Khan and Shilpa Shetty, the film was a blockbuster and Kajol’s performance received much praise. There was no looking back after that, as Kajol appeared in several big-budgeted films like Yeh Dillagi, Karan Arjun, and Gundaraj among others.

In 1995 Kajol received the Filmfare Award for Best Actress for Yash Chopra’s romance-drama Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (DDLJ).

In 2011, Kajol was honoured with the fourth-highest civilian award — the prestigious Padma Shri Award, for her immense contribution to Indian cinema. Her on-screen chemistry with Shah Rukh Khan was a hit with the audience.

The duo appeared in films like Baazigar, DDLJ, Karan Arjun, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, My Name is Khan and Dilwale. The actress has also showcased her acting prowess in the digital world. She has appeared in noteworthy web series too.

Kajol’s Top Movies

1. Dilwale Dulhania Le JayengeIt’s no surprise that the list of Kajol’s best performances will begin with the iconic romance drama Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge. Directed by Aditya Chopra and produced by Yash Chopra, DDLJ is one of the most successful commercial Bollywood films. Kajol plays Simran who falls in love with Raj (Shah Rukh Khan) during a vacation. The film also starred Anupam Kher, Amrish Puri, Parmeet Sethi, and Mandira Bedi.
2. Kabhi Khushi Kabhie GhamIn the Karan Johar directorial, Kajol portrays Anjali, a middle-class girl from Delhi’s Chandni Chowk, who marries Rahul (SRK), the son of one of the wealthiest men in India (Amitabh Bachchan). Kajol’s performance got widespread appreciation from fans and critics. The film also starred Jaya Bachchan, Kareena Kapoor Khan, and Hrithik Roshan in the lead roles.
3. GuptKajol showcased her acting prowess through her negative portrayal in this crime thriller film. Her performance earned her a Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Negative Role. Directed by Rajiv Rai the film also starred Bobby Deol, Manisha Koirala, and Om Puri.
4. FanaaIn this romantic drama, Kajol essayed the role of Zooni, a blind Kashmiri woman who falls in love with a terrorist Rehan (Aamir Khan). Kajol was honoured with the Filmfare Best Actress award for her impeccable performance in the tragic romance by Yash Chopra production. Helmed by Kunal Kohli, the film also featured Rishi Kapoor, Tabu, and Kirron Kher.
5. My Name is KhanDirected by Karan Johar, the film reunited SRK and Kajol after a long gap of eight years. They portrayed an Indian-American couple Rizwan and Mandira respectively, who faced hardship and discrimination in the aftermath of the US 9/11 attacks. Kajol received her career’s sixth Best Actress Filmfare award for her performance.

Kajol’s Best Songs

1. Sooraj Hua MaddhamSung by Sonu Nigam and Alka Yagnik, the song from Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham featured Kajol and Shah Rukh Khan. On YouTube, the song has garnered around 168 million views.
2. Mere Khwabon MeinSung by the legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar and written by Anand Bakshi, this feel-good song was Kajol’s introductory track in Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge.
3. Tujhe Dekha To Ye Jana SanamTalking about Kajol’s best songs how can we forget to add this iconic track from DDLJ? Kajol and Shah Rukh Khan’s on-chemistry was the key highlight of this earworm. Music maestro Kumar Sanu and Lata Mangeshkar lent their melodious vocals to this Jatin-Lalit composition.
4. Ladki Badi Anjaani HaiWith vocals by Kumar Sanu and Alka Yagnik, this song from Kuch Kuch Hota Hai once again featured the hit pair of Kajol and Shah Rukh Khan. On YouTube, it has been viewed more than 507 million times.
5. GeruaThe romantic track from Rohit Shetty’s Dilwale became a fan favourite soon after its release. Amid the breathtaking scenery of Iceland, Kajol and Shah Rukh Khan presented a whirlwind romance that left fans swooning. Gerua was sung by Arijit Singh and Antara Mitra.

Kajol’s Web Series

1. The Trial: Pyaar Kaanoon DhokhaKajol made her web-series debut with the courtroom drama The Trial: Pyaar Kaanoon Dhokha where she played the role of lawyer Noyonika Sengupta. Directed by Suparn Verma, the show was an official adaptation of Robert King and Michelle King’s television series The Good Wife. The Trial can be streamed on Disney+ Hotstar.
2. TribhangaHelmed by Renuka Shahane, Tribhanga centres around the lives of three women of three generations, who understand the value of family life over time. This Netflix series also featured Tanvi Azmi, Mithila Palkar, and Kunaal Roy Kapur in crucial roles.
3. Lust Stories 2This four-segment anthology on Netflix by four eminent directors explores the themes of intimacy, love, and desire with a subtle touch on women’s empowerment. Kajol’s segment was helmed by Amit Ravindernath Sharma. She made heads turn with her complex performance in the show which ultimately led to a tragic ending.

Kajol’s Family Life

Kajol met Ajay Devgn for the first time on the sets of Anees Bazmee’s Hulchul in 1995. Initially, Ajay found Kajol very “loud, arrogant, and a very talkative person”. The actor revealed the fact in an old interaction with Pioneer. “We were very different from each other in terms of personality. But, I guess what is meant to happen, happens,” he said.

Kajol, in an interview with the Humans of Bombay, revealed that when she first met her now-husband, both were dating two different people. “I was going out with somebody, I think he was going out with somebody at that point in time. We just started talking, became friends, then eventually I broke up, he broke up and then we became a little more than friends,” she disclosed.

Eventually, the two became good friends and began dating while shooting for the 1995 film Gundaraj. After dating for 4 years, the couple tied the knot on February 24, 1999, in a lavish Maharashtrian-style wedding. Kajol and Ajay Devgn welcomed their first child, daughter Nysa in 2003 and became proud parents to son Yug in September 2010.