Introduction

Kajol (Mukherjee) is an Indian actress who is well known for her acting skill in the Bollywood film Industry. She has received numerous awards from the film industry and also Padma Shri from the Indian government in the year 2011. She made her Bollywood debut in the year 1992 with the film Bekhudi. Dilwale Dhulhania Le Jayenge was her most successful and highest engrossing film. Apart from films, she is also engaged in social activities and working for widows and children. 

Early Life

Kajol is the daughter of well know actress Tanuja. Her father Shomu Mukherjee was a film director and producer. Her sister Tanishaa is also an actress. From birth itself, she is familiar with the film industry. She has grown up in two separate cultures one is Maharashtrian which she got from her mother and the other is Bengali from her father. Since her parent got separated at her young age, she learned to be independent. She did her early education at St. Joseph's Convent School, Panchgani.

Acting career

Kajol entered the Bollywood film industry at just seventeen. Her first film was Bekhudi. The film did not work but her performance was appreciated. In 1993, Baazigar came and this turned her life. The movie was a big hit. Yash Raj film’s Yeh Dillagi was a successful one and she got public recognition with this film. During the year 1995 to 1998, she was at the peak of her acting career. Karan Arjun and Dilwale Dhulhania Le Jayenge were two major successful movies. In both, films Kajol was paired with Shah Rukh Khan. 

She bagged the best actress award at Filmfare for the movie Dilwale Dhulhania Le Jayenge. Bambai Ka Babu and Gupt: The Hidden Truth was her next release. Among both Gupt received a positive response and was a successful one. Hameshaa and Ishq were her other releases. In the year 1998, Kajol gave three big hits of the year, Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya, Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. She gave her iconic performance in these films. She got the best actress award for the film Kuch Kuch Hota Hai at the Filmfare awards. 

Kajol's film career has up downs from the year 1999-2001.  Dil Kya Kare, Hum Aapke Dil Mein Rehte Hain, and Raju Chacha were some of the films in which she was seen.  It was Karan Johar Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham who once again lifted her career. She returned to films with the film Fanaa where she was opposite Aamir Khan. The film received a positive response from the audience. She played a role in Ajay Devgan's directorial debut, U Me Aur Hum. The film underperformed at the box office. My name is khan was the other collaboration of actress Shah Rukh Khan which was an International success film.  She was also part of We are Family. The other actors in the film were Kareena Kapoor and Arjun Rampal. 

Thereafter she was away from the film industry due to the birth of her son. She makes her come back with co-star Shah Rukh Khan in Rohit Shetty’s action film Dilwale. Apart from Hindi Films, she was also signed to Tamil film, Velaiilla Pattadhari 2 with co-actor Dhanush. The year 2020 was yet another big year for Kajol. Period drama film Tanhaji with her husband Ajay, and was a financial success. Her short film Devi received Best Film (Popular Choice) at the Filmfare Short Film Awards. Her film Tribhanga was her first film with Netflix.

Kajol is one of the top actresses in the Indian film industry. Kajol's work was recognized by the Mumbai Pradesh Youth Congress and was awarded the Rajiv Gandhi Award. She also received Padma Shri for her contribution to the film industry.