Actor, Uninterrupted

Kajol talks about legacy, laziness, and the beauty of not being obsessed with ambition

- Anupama Chopra

How do you like your Kajol? As a fiery mother figure? You can watch either of her two releases this year — Maa or Sarzameen. Or as a tough, whip-smart lawyer? There's the second season of her streaming series The Trial: Love, Kaanoon, Dhokha. Or as co-host of a celebrity talk show in which she banters, prods and plays games with other actors? Then Two Much is for you. It's been a prolific year for the actor who, after 33 years of making movies, seems to be only just getting started.

In an exclusive chat with The Hollywood Reporter India she talks about how she chooses scripts, her “eight-hour morning routine” and what feminism means to her.

Edited excerpt from the conversation.

THR India: You've had two films: Maa in theatres, Sarzameen on streaming. You have the second season of The Trial, and a celebrity chat show called Too Much. And you’ve already done this for 33 years.

KAJOL: I don’t think this year was planned, and neither were the last 33. I’m grateful that I have this wonderful band of people who love me because I’ve been fat, I’ve been thin, and I’ve been pregnant. Every criteria that a woman can think of that could make her not loved.

THR India: What enabled you to do so much for so long?

KAJOL: The fact that I’ve not worked too much. My whole repertoire of films is much, much less than anybody else from my time. I’m the laziest actor, probably.

THR India: Would you look at your performances and study them?