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Khaleej Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
'I have telepathy, my kids know it': Kajol talks 'Maa,' motherhood, and playing fierce
In a career spanning three decades, Kajol has played everything from fiery romantics to fierce matriarchs. But in Maa, her latest theatrical release, out June 27 in the UAE, she steps into an entirely new realm — that of a mother entangled in the supernatural. Equal parts emotional drama and mythological horror, the film is a powerful study of motherhood and what it takes to protect the ones you love. Speaking over Zoom ahead of the release, Kajol was her usual mix of honesty and humour — candid, thoughtful, and refreshingly unscripted. 'I'm super proud, super excited,' she said with a smile. 'We've worked very hard on this film. And Maa — that word — it's universal. Across every language, every culture, the feeling is the same: a mother's instinct to protect her child, no matter what.' Directed by Vishal Furia (Chhorii) and produced by the team behind Shaitaan, the film follows Kajol as Devika — a mother pushed to the brink, who finds herself confronting dark forces in a fight to protect her child. The film exists within the extended universe of Shaitaan (led by Kajol's husband Ajay Devgn) but tells a standalone story. Understanding motherhood To unpack the emotional terrain of Maa, I threw a few loaded words her way — words like 'sacrifice,' 'guilt,' and 'unconditional love' — and asked her to respond instinctively. 'Guilt? Always there,' she said instantly, before adding with a chuckle, 'Letting go? I have paragraphs on that!' But it was 'sacrifice' that resonated most deeply with both Kajol and her character. 'That's the basis of the film. You have to sacrifice so much to protect your child," she said. "Your insecurities, your fear — you let all of that go because for your child, you are a goddess. She looks at you for everything.' And while Kajol has always worn the badge of motherhood with grace, she's honest about the fact that even now, these ideas — sacrifice, guilt, fear — still challenge her. 'It's not just about being a mother, but a parent,' she said. 'Most parents want to be better people for their children. And I find that amazing.' Kajol credits her own mother, the legendary Tanuja, for instilling discipline — something she's carried into her parenting style. But she's also acutely aware of how times have changed. 'My mother could just send me downstairs to play and not worry. Today, I can't do that with my kids,' she said. 'It's a different world — and when you're in the public eye, that adds another layer. Everyone knows what your kids look like. There's no anonymity, and there's definitely no going to the stream and coming back in two hours like we did in Lonavala!' Still, when asked what she hopes her children take away from Maa, her answer is playfully fierce: 'I've played the mother goddess in their life for a long time — nothing in the film would surprise them. Not my protectiveness, not my supernatural powers. I have telepathy. They know it. I've proved it to them time and again.' A new genre, a familiar instinct Maa also marks Kajol's first horror film — a genre she's steered clear of both on-screen and off. 'I don't watch horror, I am not a big fan,' she admitted. 'But I didn't realise how physically demanding it would be. There's no chilling on set when everything is pitched at a certain emotional level.' One sequence that particularly stayed with her was the intense song Kali Shakti, which was released recently. 'It's not just about dancing — it's about desperation. You're crying, there's a storm fan blowing, there are cables, action sequences… it all comes together emotionally and physically.' When I asked if she ever draws from real-life trauma to reach such emotional peaks, she was clear: 'I just surrender to the character. Most of these experiences, thankfully, I've never had — and God forbid I ever do.' Even so, she confessed that there are places where she's felt an inexplicable discomfort — that eerie 'bad vibe' we've all felt at some point. 'I've stayed in hundreds of hotels, and never looked under the bed,' she laughed. 'But some places? You just know something bad happened there. Everyone's uneasy, and you want to leave.' After intense shoot days, Kajol resets by cutting off from 'the entire species.' She's only half-joking. 'I need solo time. Just me, my kids, and food that doesn't require me to speak. We communicate in sign language,' she said with a grin. But what truly impressed her was discovering what she was capable of. 'Let me boast a bit — I was proud of myself! I stood up to the challenge," she said, visibly impressed by herself. "Whether it was the action, the emotion, or the song — I did it all. And I enjoyed it.' Comebacks and competition Maa also marks Kajol's return to a full-fledged theatrical release after years of OTT exclusives. And it comes just a week after Aamir Khan's own comeback film — a coincidence she finds amusing. 'Aamir and I have had the same number of comebacks,' she laughed. 'I need to ask him if I've had more or he has!' But box office battles aren't something that stress her anymore. 'His film is completely different. And he's a brilliant man," she said. "I truly believe there are more than enough people to go around. I hope both films do well.' With Maa, Kajol returns to the big screen with a role that feels both rooted and reinvigorated. It's a performance shaped by lived experience, emotional instinct, and a willingness to explore new territory — not just as an actor stepping into horror for the first time, but as a storyteller willing to confront the complexities of modern motherhood. In a film that blurs the line between myth and reality, she stays firmly, unmistakably human. 'That we know all the answers,' she said with little introspection. 'We really don't.'
Khaleej Times
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
Kajol praises husband Ajay Devgn for being a 'hands-on' producer
Bollywood actor-couple Kajol and Ajay Devgn have worked together in multiple projects such as Ishq Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha, Dil Kya Kare Kare, and Tanhaji. And now with the upcoming film Maa, the husband and wife are again all set to entertain the audience. This time, the couple don't share screen space but were deeply involved in making the film. In an interview with ANI, Kajol opened up about collaborating with Devgn on Maa, describing him as "a hands-on producer". "... From script to music and VFX, he has given a lot of attention to every part of this film. I think VFX is a huge part of the film. And, as they say, shooting VFX is a different game... so he has given a lot of detail...," Kajol said. Directed by Vishal Furia, Maa marks Kajol's return to the big screen after a three-year hiatus with Salaam Venky. "...Every actor has to reinvent himself/herself with time. I had never thought I would do a horror film, but here we are. I am extremely proud of this film," she said. "I love our Indian mythology. We have so many stories. So, I think it was one of my favourite stories." Presented by Jio Studios and Devgn Films, Maa will hit the theatres on June 27.
Time of India
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Kajol confirms! No cameos by Ajay Devgn or R Madhavan in ‘Maa'; Hints at possible sequel
is currently promoting her upcoming horror thriller 'Maa', which releases in theatres on 27 June. Directed by Vishal Furia, the film has been creating buzz ever since it was revealed to be part of the 'Shaitaan' universe. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Ahead of its release, there were rumours that Ajay Devgn or R Madhavan might make cameo appearances. Now, in a recent interview, Kajol has finally addressed these speculations. 'Kaash aapne ye chiz pehle suggest ki hoti…' In an interview with Pinkvilla, Kajol dismissed the rumours and said, 'No, no. Kaash aapne ye chiz pehle suggest ki hoti. Humari shooting se pehle bata diya hota toh hum shayad shooting kar bhi lete." Kajol said that since the film is about to release, it's too late to add anything new. She hopes people enjoy 'Maa' and there might be a 'Maa 2' if all goes well. Music and plot details 'Maa''s music is composed by Harsh Upadhyay, Rocky Khanna, and Shiv Malhotra. The story of 'Maa' follows a mother who battles dark supernatural forces to save her daughter from a deadly curse linked to a haunted village. Blending mythology and horror, the film highlights a mother's fierce determination and the powerful presence of Goddess Kali. Star cast and language release Along with Kajol, 'Maa' features a strong ensemble cast including Ronit Roy, , Gopal Singh, Jitin Gulati, Kherin Sharma, Surjyasikha Das, Yaaneea Bharadwaj, and Roopkatha Chakraborty. The film will release in multiple languages – Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Bengali. Box office clash 'Maa' is set to clash at the box office with 's mystery thriller 'Nikita Roy', which also stars and Arjun Rampal. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Kajol's upcoming projects Apart from 'Maa', Kajol has two more exciting projects lined up – the action thriller 'Maharagni: Queen of Queens' with Prabhudeva, Naseeruddin Shah, and Jisshu Sengupta, and 'Sarzameen', co-starring Ibrahim Ali Khan and Prithviraj Sukumaran. The release dates for both films are yet to be announced. Maa: Kajol's Sunshine Saree Moment Steals The Spotlight
Time of India
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Kajol says she rejected Aamir Khan-Rajkumar Hirani's 3 Idiots without blinking: ‘I've done very well for myself without them'
, one of Indian cinema's most celebrated actresses, is gearing up for the release of her upcoming film Maa, a mythological horror drama produced by and Kumar Mangat Pathak. While promoting the Vishal Furia directorial, Kajol made a candid confession about turning down several films — including one that went on to become a landmark hit in Bollywood history. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now In a recent interview with Pinkvilla, the Kuch Kuch Hota Hai star was asked if she finds it difficult to say no to film offers and whether she has ever passed on projects that later turned into blockbusters. Kajol responded with her trademark honesty. 'It doesn't even take a blink for me,' she said. 'I don't bother much before saying no to anything I don't like.' 3 Idiots was among the movies Kajol passed on When asked for a specific example, Kajol revealed that one of the most successful Indian films of all time — 3 Idiots — was among the movies she passed on. 'Lots of times. Prime example is 3 Idiots (laughs),' she shared. However, she insists there's no regret in missing out on such opportunities. In fact, she believes each film finds its rightful performer. 'I feel that those films were theirs, you know, jaise bolte hain na jiska likha hua hai usko hi milta hai... toh I think that I have done very well for myself without them,' Kajol added. Maa: Kajol's Sunshine Saree Moment Steals The Spotlight For the unversed, 3 Idiots featured , R Madhavan, Sharman Joshi, and Khan — who eventually played the role Kajol had been offered. The Rajkumar Hirani film was the first Indian movie to cross the Rs 300 crore mark at the domestic box office and remains a fan favorite to this day. Kajol's next film Maa is slated to hit theatres on June 27. Marketed as part of the Shaitaan universe, the film is expected to share thematic or narrative links with the earlier Ajay Devgn-R Madhavan film. Directed by Chhorii fame Vishal Furia, the movie promises to showcase Kajol in a never-seen-before avatar.
Time of India
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Kajol Unveils Fierce Avatar at 'Maa' Trailer Launch
At the trailer launch of her upcoming film 'Maa', Kajol introduced audiences to her intense new role as a fierce mother-warrior battling dark forces. The supernatural thriller, directed by Vishal Furia and produced by Ajay Devgn, showcases Kajol in a dual avatar of protector and destroyer, marking her debut in the horror genre. The trailer reveals a gripping narrative steeped in mythology, with Kajol's character confronting demonic entities to safeguard her child. 'Maa' is slated for a theatrical release in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Bengali, promising a blend of emotional depth and supernatural suspense.
