Kajol on husband, kids, Nysa and Yug, what makes her stressed and what makes the #MeToo revelations important
Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 8, 2018) 

After all the monosyllabic “hmmms”, the oft-repeated clichés and evasive denials which remind you of a fizzy drink gone flat, Kajol is like a glass of champagne which leaves you bubbling with laughter. She’s fun, frank and believes that if you have to have a conversation, the trusted landline is better than a skittish cell phone connection. It’s good to have her back on screen, though the appearances have been few and far between since she took a break from showtime to be wife and mommy when at the peak of her career. “Hey, hang on, I’ve yet to reach the peak,” she interrupts, pointing out that unlike Eela, the protagonist of her upcoming film, Helicopter Eela, she hasn’t missed out on anything in the years between. “I was chilling with friends, I had my knitting and my books, life has been a roller-coaster rather than a bumpy helicopter ride. I hate helicopters anyway, for that matter any mode of air transport, and only get on a plane if absolutely necessary.”

Woah, a star who doesn’t have her head up in the clouds but has her feet firmly planted on the ground! So, what’s been her biggest high so far? “My kids, they bring me so much joy. One of my biggest highs was when my daughter (Nysa) started walking, rather late actually at 14 months. Even now, when she does well in her exams, I am screaming from the rooftop. And when my son (Yug) uses a really long and awesome word, I know he’s a genius!” she announces with undisguised maternal pride.

Years ago, Sharmila Tagore had admitted that her on-screen sons, John Abraham and Akshay Kumar, were far politer than her real-life son. The revelation is greeted by a hoot of laughter with Kajol informing that her children have no choice but to be polite with her. “Even Riddhi (Sen) who plays my son in the film is really cool and it was like working with a friend without the guilt that I carried to the sets when my own kids were younger. My recurring nightmare is having to rescue my kids and running away with them, I wake up gasping for air. Nysa and Yug are my world and that’s why I think all parents will connect with Eela because while we may all show our love in different ways, this is the only love that is pure and unconditional,” she points out.

The actress goes, remembering how Dada (director Pradeep Sarkar) had announced over the mike one day at the shoot that Riddhi had won the National Award for Best Actor. “We all clapped and cheered, and I pointed out that mera beta bante hi he’d bagged the coveted honour. After that we made sure it never went to his head,” she jokes.

Besides Riddhi, it’s evident that she shares a great bond with her director whom she’s known for a decade and done a few ads with before. “Dada’s sense of humour is legendary. He will tell the funniest jokes with a deadpan expression and is the first one to laugh at them. He works araam se, yet manages to take out something you hadn’t realised you had in you. With so many Bengalis around on the set, I felt closer to my roots,” she beams, admitting that like every year, she’s looking forward to the Mukherjees’ Durga Puja. “Only, earlier it was right opposite my house, this year, the venue has changed, but nothing will keep me away,” she asserts.

The conversation veers to Ajay Devgn and whether it’s easier having a husband for a producer. “It is,” she acknowledges. “Ajay gave me a lot of creative leeway and it was comforting having him as the producer. He’s a very solid and dependable human being. If he’s behind you, you know he will never let you down. He’s also very dildaar, a far better person than me for sure.” That’s high praise for her better half.

And what does she like about Ajay as an actor? Her reply is prompt, “His honesty. You believe he can actually uproot a lamp post, race a jeep and beat 20 baddies to pulp even though I have never seen him pull out a lamp post in real life. His honesty shines through films like Raid and also in comedies which are somewhat unfamiliar territory for him. My kids prefer to watch Ajay’s films over mine because I cry too much and that upsets them. They tell me I should do films like papa’s Golmaal.”

You wonder if either of her children are showing signs of following in the footsteps of their parents? “Nysa’s focus right now is her board exams. She’s stressed about them right now and that makes me stressed and when I’m stressed Ajay gets stressed too, so right now we’re a stressed family,” she shares, sounding anything but stressed. And what about Yug, going by the video she posted a while ago of him in the gym, he’s a natural born talent? “He’s only eight, too young to decide what he wants from life. He loves watching YouTube and talks of having his own channel. He also loves music and shares great music with me while Nysa has got me on the social media, telling me it’s really important to take my brand forward for which I’m eternally grateful,” she says earnestly.

Kajol was known to be a firebrand in her teenage years but she admits she’s changed a lot since, has grownup and is more refined. “I’m like a stone in the river. The water has smoothed out some of the rough edges but not all. Some remain, I haven’t reached nirvana yet and not likely to in this life,” she laughs.

The laughter dies out when you bring up the subject of #MeToo revelations that are shaking up our world on a daily basis. “It’s good that women are finally talking and publicly pulling up some people. It’s not going to take away the pain and shame they faced in the past. but by speaking up, they can try and ensure that this doesn’t happen to others in the future. Younger people, and I’m not being gender specific here, will know where to draw the line. They will know when to stand up and say, ‘So far but no further,’” she points out.

Talking about the future, is a collaboration with Karan Johar on the cards given that it will soon be two decades of Kuch Kuch Hota Hai? Or will it be Tanaji with Ajay next? “I have no clue. I’m talking to peole, reading lots of scripts, but haven’t signed anything yet. Right now, I’m like Krishna’s Meera, I am only jappoing Eela, 24x7. I’m like a 7-Eleven shop that’s selling only product,” she hangs up with a laugh.