Kajol picks this actor as the most promising star of the new generation; it is not Ananya Panday, Janhvi Kapoor
Kajol recently shared her thoughts on the evolving landscape of Bollywood and the emergence of fresh talent in the industry. Speaking about the ongoing comparisons between actors from her generation and today's Gen-Z stars, the 50-year-old star expressed admiration for the way younger actors are shaping their own paths. (Also read: Kajol reflects on her parents Tanuja and Shomu Mukherjee's separation: 'I questioned it at that time but…') Kajol picked the most promising star of the new generation.
In an interview with India Today, Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jaenge actor was asked if any young star reminds her of her own early days in the '90s. 'I'm very happy to say that there is none. It's not an arrogant statement or anything like that. But each one of the actors that we have has very clearly made their own world. They are not following anyone's footprints - and they shouldn't. It's a different world today," Kajol said.
Kajol went on to note the stark difference between the film industry then and now. According to her, today's actors are far more self-aware and guided by their own choices.
When asked to name a standout performer from the new generation, Kajol praised several rising stars but singled out Alia Bhatt for particular recognition. 'Alia, I think she has proven herself quite a bit. So, I mean, yeah... Then you have Ananya, Janhvi, Sara - the regular - all of them," Kajol said. Kajol's upcoming projects
Kajol is currently promoting her latest film, Maa, a mythological horror drama directed by Vishal Furia, which will be released in theatres on 27 June. Following Maa, she will be seen in the action-thriller Maharagni—Queen of Queens, helmed by Charan Tej Uppalapati. The film features an impressive ensemble cast, including Naseeruddin Shah, Prabhu Deva, Jisshu Sengupta, Aditya Seal, and Pramod Pathak.
Kajol also stars in Sarzameen, an upcoming project from Karan Johar's production house, alongside Ibrahim Ali Khan and Prithviraj Sukumaran. Adding to her diverse lineup, she is preparing to return to the small screen with Season 2 of her legal drama series The Trial.
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Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Not Janhvi Kapoor or Ananya Panday, Kajol feels Alia Bhatt is the most promising star of the new generation: 'She has proven herself quite a bit'
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The book puts everything into sharp focus—the whole ethos of the film, the time, the film has so many shades and aspects that we don't realise until one compiles it into a book. We need to look at the film in a very layered way. The book celebrates the film. It goes into the back-story, the different, subtle things which couldn't have come with the first release. It is a 44-year-old wine coming audiences' The photographs show you have maintained a good archive. What else have you preserved?A. I have got 40-50 trunks of clothing of that time, which need a proper museum. There's no space for these things in cities. Maybe, I will set up a museum of film costumes in my village. It can be an interesting experience. I hate throwing away these things. There's a lot of memory to each little Jaan is full of lovely things that people lent me, in terms of shawls, carpets, jewellery and textiles. You have to have a heart to lend it to somebody, so I was fortunate in that way.Q. The re-release strategy has really done wonders for some films. Are you excited to see the film be discovered by a whole new generation?A. I think it's a big, big experiment. I shouldn't be so scared; I am very expectant as to how people will react. It's a film that's survived many generations, and people have held it close to their hearts. It will take its own journey from here on.Q. The legendary Kathak artist Kumudini Lakhia, who choreographed the songs, passed away recently. Tell us a bit about the collaboration. She truly did make those songs more memorable with the abhinaya she made Rekha If it wasn't for her, Rekha wouldn't have had this kind of grace on screen. By the time Kathak entered Bollywood, it got jhatkas, which isn't true to the essence of the classical Kumudini behn did nobody could have done for me. She was really wonderful in the way she choreographed every single word and musical note. She gave the bhaav and movements. It is poetry in motion. In the book, I have given a tribute to Kumudini.Q. Are the locations where you shot Umrao Jaan intact or they have faded with time?A. Let's talk of the positives first. Yes, some places are intact while some have seen the surroundings degrade. Buildings have come up. Some places are just gone. Places outside of Lucknow, which were very photogenic and more spacious and easy to work in, such as Amethi, Kakori and Malihabad, are still holding on to those don't know how to take care of places. Lots of things are lost to neglect. No conservation architects as such are given these assignments. While shooting the film, we spent a lot of time in restoring places, to bring them back to their original condition. For instance, Mughal Saheba's Imambada in Lucknow. It took two to three months to restore it just so that I could shoot for a five-to-six-minute sequence. These kinds of things are no longer You are seen as a custodian and documentarian of Awadhi culture. Is it alive in Lucknow?A. 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Anjolie Ela Menon designed the poster; Kumudini Lakhia was the choreographer; poet Shahryar was the lyricist; and illustrator Manjula Padmanabhan did the titles. Such cross-collaboration seems to be missing from filmmaking these days.A. What happens in Bollywood is that people don't get artistes. Shahryar pulled his hair; he felt one had to be degraded to stay and work in it (Bollywood). I don't think artistes of that kind of calibre found it easy to be a part of ecosystem. Unless there's an artistic ecosystem, the concept of collective art or integrated art forms cannot is made without inspiration and respect. Cinema has become a business, and I am not a businessman. What I hate about it is that it's a business art when, in fact, it is an art of the to India Today Magazine- Ends
