Yup, Kajol's back where she belongs. It's her world. Clearly, marriage and domesticity haven't doused the fire within.
Right now, Kajol is generating heat for Rahul Rawail's Kuch Khatti Kuch Meethi at a synagogue in town. She mesmerises one and all. Director Rahul Rawail isn't untouced either. "Perfrect" he beams. The last shot of the day has been canned.
And she yelps in happines, Wow! I can't believe I'm being let off so soon. This is great!. Then looking at me, she whoops, Let's get out of here and have fun. She suggests that we go to a quiet place for our interview.
Snap, pop, crackle over then to Franjipani at the Oberoi Hotel. For starters, she makes small talk with me on assorted topics. Right from her weight problem and her hair style to religion, the Art Of Living and finally to her role as a producer. her Kajolesque laughter resounds through the cafe.
Raju Chacha, is being tidied up for release. And understandably Kajol is agog with excitement. Raju Chacha, she says is a story about kids and mosters. "It's for viewers of all ages," she smiles childlike. "How many times as a kid have you wished there was someone to slay your demons? Raju Chacha is that hero. He's surreal. He comes when you need him most. In a way, Raju Chacha is a fairy tale. It's about kids and the adults who surround them."
But what's she doing in afilm about obviously doesn't have a masaledaar role for her? Would she have accepted the film if it weren't a home production? Earnestly she responds, "When I heard the script, I loved two-three scenes in the film very much. I told Ajay categorically that I had to do the film. So if you're insinuating that I'm doing the film just for my husband, it's not true. I'd have done it regardless of who was makring it."
Sipping water she continues, "Okay, so I don't have a central role. But I was sure that the director (Anil Devgan) would make a better film than what he had narrated. Besides, I love my character in the movie. She isn't completely me. But she's someone I'd respect if I met her in real-life."
She denies the rumours that Ajay Devgan is ghost-directing the film. She snaps, "Please don't take the credit away from Anil. He's done a terrific job. Since it's a home production, Ajay did take a lot of interest. But apart from that he left Anil to do his own thing."
The next minute whe talks explicitely about their portal cinexplore which is currently on-line. She toesses detials as if she were tossing an exotic salad. He face is a map of expressions.
But I want to know what brought her back to the movies. There was a time after marriage when she refused to sign any project. "I never left the movies," she corrects me. "I signed Kuch Khatti Kuch Meethi before my marriage. Yes, I did take a much needed eight month break. I was feeling lost in the trappings of stardom. It was necessary to get in tocuh with my real self. A year before my marriage, I'd literally lived out of suitcases. There were so many drycleaning labels on my clothes that it wasn't funny.
"I remember, I got greedy and signed five films simultaneously - Pyaar tho hona hi tha, kuch kuch hota hai, dushman, ishq, and Ham Apke Dil Mein Rehete Hein. That was the giddy limit. I had to get out of it."
Kajol has often mentioned that she isn't particularly enamoured by her profession. She has often spoke of quitting films. Does she still feel the same way? She replies, "I've always loved acting. I'm attached to my work. If I give a shot, it has to be the best. It's the frills associated with the profession that I absolutely detest. I hate politicking and manipulations. If I were a producer I'd sign an artiste only if he's good and not because he or she sent me Diwali gifts or a bottle of champagne. And no, I'm not quitting films. But I'll definitely take things easy. Today I can pick and choose."
Mention Karan Johar's Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham and she lights up, "The minute we gave our first shot, Karan, Shah Rukh and I rushed forward to embrace one another. If felt as if we were continuing with Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. Nothing had changed. It feels great to be back with friends."
She remembers that Hrithik Roshan was just an assistant to his father on Karan Arjun and now he's become such a huge star, "Are you impling that I've become old? But it's great to work with Hrithik and Kareena. They're professionals and extremely talented."
She isn't bothered by the influx of new actors. She maintains, "There's enough work for everyone around. I've never compared myself with anyone else. I've never been bothered about what other actresses are upto. It's good to see young blood comein. They're really confident of themselves. Kareena has a very interesting face. Really, she's the best of the lot. She reminds me of my debut days. There wasn't much hype about me though. I was supremelt confident to the point of being arrogant. I wasn't intimidated by anyone. Even at 17, I knew where I was going."
Bring her back to Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham. I'm curious about the vibes between Shah Rukh Khan and Hrithik Roshan on the sets. She answers, "There was nothing wrong with them. They were very comfortable with each other. There were no cold vibes, no sulking. If I hadn't known about what had happened before, I wouldn't even have taken notice. Shah Rukh as is his nature went out of his way to make Hrithik feel comfortable."
Can anyone ever forget the intense chemistry between Kajol and Shah Rukh on screen? Is it the same in Karan's film? She tosses my query as if it were a candy wrapper, "Frankly, this chemistry thing between Shah Rukh and me has been blown out of proportion. We were just lucky to do some good films together. Besides we're so comfortable with each other thst it shows on screen. Shah Rukh is a wonderful co-star. I can talk to him about anything under the sun without worrying that I'll be misunderstood."
Okay. What does it feel like being rated as one of the best actresses of the country? Giving me a stely stare she says, "I known I'm good. I wouldn't be here otherwsise. But I don't agree with the hype. I feel there's a tendency to exaggerate my abilities. My advantage is that I've played characters close to my heart. I've never played anything alien to my nature. People come up to me and say that I'm the best actress in the last 20 years. Of course, I like hearing that. But how can you compare a Nargis with a Nutan? Or even my mom? Every actress has her own identity."
It's believed that Kajol can be tough... she can be firebrand. Apparently most film-makers shiver at the thought of even approaching the brandy-eyed actress. Rajiv Rai for one wasn't particularly comfortable with her. "What nonsense!" she snorts. "If that was the case he wouldn't have approached me for his next film. It's another matter that I refused it for whatever reasons."
Then thinking seriously about the firebrand tag she states, "See, I've always been a confident person. Out here the word "firebrand" is often wrongly used. An intelligent person is often labelled a firebrand. I'm well-read, intelligent. So why should I try to hide it? If that makes some people uncomfortable, it's their problem. At the same time, if someone gives me wrong vibes, I won't ignore them. If I dislike someone, I don't hide it. I'd rather be open about it than bitch behing his back."
Matters of the heart being a soft glow to her eyes. "I would recommend marriage to everyone," she exults. "It's the best thing that has happened to me. My life was directionless for a while. Marriage has given me a purpose. It's amazing how time has flown. It's going to be two years. But I still feel like a newly-wed.
Continues she, "But it's so important to get the right man. With the right man, you don't mind the violation of your privacy. You love sharing your bedroom, bathroom with him. Otherwise things can turn disastrous. I've seen too many marriages break up just because the two individuals weren't compatible with each other."
Firmly, she states, "You can't opt for marriage thinking that you have option of a divorce. You have to constantly work at it. Believe me, my marriage is for keeps. I'll give my 200 per cent to make my marriage work. Which is another reason why I've cut down on my assignments. I spend more time at home with my husband and his family."
Insiders say that she gets along very well with her mother-in-law... there's no tu tu mein mein in her life. Gently, she affirms, "Ajay's mother is a genuinely nice person. It's not difficult to get along with her. She's so caring. She never treats me like a bahu. I'm genuinely fond of her."
Kajol reveals that marriage has mellowed her. "Maybe because I've slayed my demons at last. I'm certainly at peace with myself. At 16, I was reckless. Looking back, I don't know why I was so confident. I guess it had to do with the way I was brought up. Probably in her womb itself, mom started telling me that it was okay to be myself. That she'd love me regardless everything. Previously, I was cocky. Today, I feel settled. Marriage has had a great tole to play in this."
So far so good. But every silves cloud has a dark lining. In this case it's Mahima Chaudhary. How does she handle rumours about Ajay Devgan and Mahima being an item? Without a flicker of emotion she says, "I haven't heard anything. Frankly I don't believe in those rumours because I know the way this industry functions. There has to be something really rotten about our relationship for Ajay to do something like that. I know my husband. He'll never do anything to hurt his family. His every action and word suggests that he cares a lot about me. I trust Ajay completely. You can't continue a marriage without trust. Frankly, I don't care for such talk."
Another rumour that has dogged Kajol ever since she got married is the talk about her pregnancy. "Oh God!" she exclaims. "The media has already made me pregnant four times. I'm sure they've decided my children's genders and names as well. Everytime, I put on some weight, the pregnancy rumours start. An Indian lady in London really took the cake. I saw shopping for some clothes for my four-year old godchild. And this lady comes up to me and says, "For your child." I just gave her a cold smile. I'd have liked to know where I've hidden this four-year-old child."
Then with a soft smile she continues, "I've been wanting a child since I was 12. At 12, I was told that you have to be at least 16 to be a mother. At 16, I was told to wait till 18. I wanted to adopt. But the law weren't conducive for a single woman. Really, when I get pregnant I won't deny it. I'll probably holler about it from the rooftops. But I object to people questioning me about this. It's a highly personal matter."
As the cafe empties out, there's just one last question. Does she regret giving up her career for marriage just when she was right at the top? She shakes her head, "No never. I'd be disappointed if I was competing with someone. I'm not standing with or against anyone. Acting is not a race or contest to me. I know a lot of people were shocked by my decision. But it was the right thing for me to do at that time. I've never been ruled by box office ratings."
Amen to that.
Anuradha Chaudhary.