Kajol Recalls Parents' Tanuja And Shomu Mukherjee's Divorce: 'I Questioned It...'
Last Updated:
Kajol opens up about her parents' separation, praising Tanuja and Shomu Mukherjee's maturity and shared parenting despite their split.
Kajol has always been known for her candour and grounded perspective, and in a recent conversation, she offered a rare glimpse into her childhood and the emotional maturity with which her parents—veteran actor Tanuja and filmmaker Shomu Mukherjee—navigated their separation.
Speaking to Nayandeep Rakshit in a heartfelt interview, Kajol reflected on how her parents' unwavering focus on her and her sister Tanisha's well-being shaped their sense of security and stability, even in the face of personal upheaval.
'I have to give kudos to them," Kajol said, remembering how her parents maintained a united front in parenting, despite parting ways as a couple. 'My parents were very clear on one point—that it does not matter if we are separated or not, but we will always be there together for you. The decisions we take for you will always be made together. We could not play them against one another. They were adults who behaved like mature people who would do the right things for their children."
When asked if she understood what was happening at the time, Kajol responded with remarkable self-awareness. 'I did. I questioned it at that time, but I understood it. As an adult today, I can take that call and understand how brave it was as well to take that decision on both their parts," she said.
This glimpse into Kajol's personal life adds yet another layer of depth to the actress, who has often spoken about family being her anchor. Currently, she's promoting Maa, a mythological horror film directed by Vishal Furia, set to release in theatres on June 27.
Her professional slate is packed with powerful projects. Kajol will soon be seen in Maharagni—Queen of Queens, an action-thriller helmed by Charan Tej Uppalapati, alongside a stellar cast featuring Naseeruddin Shah, Prabhu Deva, Jisshu Sengupta, Aditya Seal, and Pramod Pathak. She also stars in Sarzameen, Karan Johar's upcoming production featuring Ibrahim Ali Khan and Prithviraj Sukumaran, and will return to the courtroom in the second season of her acclaimed legal drama The Trial.
Whether navigating emotional truths off-screen or diving into layered roles on-screen, Kajol continues to be a force defined by courage, vulnerability, and grace.
First Published:
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
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'
Kajol acknowledges the evolving landscape of Bollywood and praises the new generation of actors for forging their own paths. She appreciates their self-awareness and independent choices, highlighting Alia Bhatt as the most promising talent. Kajol admires Alia's versatility and consistent performances in films like Gangubai Kathiawadi, recognizing her significant impact on the industry. As Bollywood continues to evolve with a wave of fresh talent, veteran actress Kajol is taking notice. In a recent interview, the DDLJ star shared her thoughts on the generational shift in the industry, praising today's young actors for forging their own paths instead of following in the footsteps of their predecessors. Among them, she singled out Alia Bhatt as the most promising talent of the new generation—highlighting her versatility, maturity, and consistent performances over the years. In an interview with India Today, Kajol was asked if any of today's young actors remind her of herself from the 1990s. She responded candidly, saying she's glad none of them do. Clarifying that it wasn't out of arrogance, Kajol explained that each emerging actor is carving their own identity and not walking in anyone else's footsteps — which, she believes, is exactly how it should be in today's changing industry. The actress further reflected on how much the film industry has evolved over the years. She pointed out that today's generation of actors is significantly more self-aware and driven by their own choices, unlike earlier times when guidance often came from others. When asked to name a standout performer from the younger generation, she acknowledged several rising stars but reserved special praise for Alia. She noted that Alia has consistently proven her talent, setting herself apart. While she also mentioned names like Ananya Panday , Janhvi Kapoor , and Sara Ali Khan , Kajol made it clear that Alia remains the most impressive among them in her eyes. Alia has won several accolades throughout her career for Udta Punjab, Raazi, Gully Boy, and Gangubai Kathiawadi. In 2024, she was also honoured with the National Film Award for Best Actress for her powerful performance in Gangubai Kathiawadi. Expanding her global footprint, Alia made her Hollywood debut in 2023 with the action thriller Heart of Stone.
Pink Villa
2 hours ago
- Pink Villa
Box Office Battle: Warner Brothers clubs F1 with Jurassic World & Superman; Fights with PVRInox to win showcasing against Sitaare Zameen Par and Maa
It is going to be another eventful weekend at the Indian box office, with a mix of strong holdover as well as new releases. While Sitaare Zameen Par is already doing quite well in theatres for the size of film that it is, there are anticipated films like F1 and Maa also up for release tomorrow, the 27th of June, 2025. Warner Bros. is not happy with PVRInox. The Hollywood studio has accused the multiplex chain of giving too many screens and shows to Bollywood films Sitaare Zameen Par and Maa, while its own movie, F1: The Movie is struggling to get showtimes. Let's analyse this in further detail. Despite F1 getting very favourable reports from fans and critics alike, it is not getting enough screens in PVRInox to prove its worth F1: The Movie, starring Brad Pitt, hits theatres in just hours from now. The high-speed racing drama has got the approval of the critics with an over 90 percent critic-score at the time of this article. Even the few lucky fans that got to watch the movie earlier, loved its IMAX screenings during paid previews on June 25th. Despite the frenzy, PVRInox has given most prime slots to Sitaare Zameen Par. Warner Bros. has reportedly sent a warning to PVRInox, demanding fair screen allocations for F1 and its upcoming releases. The studio has even threatened to pull its film out from the chain if things don't change. Warner Bros. Is Trying To Get More Screens For F1 By Clubbing It With The Studios' Upcoming Releases Jurassic World Rebirth And Superman The issue goes beyond F1. Warner Bros. is trying to get most screens for F1 by using Jurassic World Rebirth and Superman as a bait. The studio wants a level playing field and has hinted at skipping PVRInox entirely if the chain continues to favour other films. This is a bold stance, as PVRInox controls a huge chunk of India's multiplex market. The negotiations are ongoing, but no resolution has been announced so far. PVRInox Is Too Big To Ignore For Warner Bros; The Multiplex Chain Shall Allocate More Screens Based On Demand PVRInox is too big to ignore. It's the top multiplex chain in India, and Warner Bros. can't afford to skip it entirely. If F1: The Movie starts pulling in big crowds, PVRInox will likely add more shows. Box office numbers always speak louder than studio threats. Warner Bros. will probably have to compromise and work with PVRInox to ensure its films get seen. This isn't the first time screen allocation has caused a stir. Bollywood's star-driven films often dominate, leaving Hollywood releases in the dust. With Sitaare Zameen Par doing pretty well at the box office, PVRInox is cashing in. But if F1 gains traction, expect more screens to open up for the racing drama. Stay tuned to Pinkvilla for more such updates.
Pink Villa
3 hours ago
- Pink Villa
Umrao Jaan re-release: Rekha kisses AR Rahman and dances with Anil Kapoor at special screening– PICS
Rekha's timeless classic Umrao Jaan is all set to return to the cinemas in a digitally restored 4K version. Ahead of its re-release, Rekha is hosting a grand screening for the film fraternity, where several celebrities are attending and making the event a memorable affair. Some of the first celebrities to walk on the red carpet were Mira Rajput, Anil Kapoor, AR Rahman, Hema Malini, Aamir Khan, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Vijay Varma, Jitendra, Rakesh Roshan, Talat Aziz, Muzaffar Ali, Ila Arun, Raj Babbar, Mahima Chaudhry, Tanisha Mukerji, Tanuja, Tanvi Azmi, Ketan Mehta, Johny Lever, Jackie Shroff, Khushi Kapoor, Vedang Raina, Sunny Kaushal, and many others. The evening has just started! Several other celebrities are expected to mark their attendance anytime soon. Rekha posed for the camera, waved with Namaste and Salam. The veteran beauty wore a beautiful gold and white outfit resembling her character in Umrao Jaan. She kissed AR Rahman while the music maestro was taking a selfie with her. She also danced with Anil Kapoor during his welcome. Hema Malini posed with Umrao Jaan director Muzaffar Ali, while Aamir Khan flaunted his stylish all-black outfit. Umrao Jaan re-release date and box office clash Preserved by the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) and the National Film Archive of India (NFAI), Umrao Jaan is all set to hit the big screens tomorrow, on June 27, 2025. The cinematic gem is known for Rekha's iconic performance and a hard-hitting story of a young girl sold to Lucknow Kotha, who ends up becoming a legendary courtesan and a poetess. Directed by Muzaffar Ali, the cult-classic will be available in PVR Inox cinemas across the nation. Though the movie will re-release on limited screens, it has the potential to add more screens as per the audience demand and reception at the box office. The Rekha starrer will clash with Kajol's MAA, Brad Pitt's F1, and Akshay Kumar and Vishnu Manchu starrer Kannappa. It will be interesting to see how the classic performs at the box office. Stay tuned to Pinkvilla for more updates.
