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fter a long break for marriage and motherhood, actress immense talent, she surprised everyone with her acting in the film, for Kajol is all set to re-enter Bollywood with a new film, which she became the first woman to win the ‘Filmfare Best Villain Kunal Kohli’s ‘Fanaa’, co-starring Aamir Khan, which is Award’, in 1997. scheduled for a May release. But this time its only fun But the same year, the trilingual ‘Sapnay’, with Arvind Swamy and that she is acting for. She does not want to become a Prabhu Deva, failed. However, that was all forgotten in 1998. First full-timeAA actress with a tight schedule. there was the runaway hit ‘Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya’ with Salman Khan. Born to star actress Tanuja and Shomu Mukherjee, acting was in Then came Tanuja Chandra’s ‘Dushman’, her first attempt at a double Kajol’s blood as her great grandmother Ratanbai, her grandmother role which wowed audiences and critics alike, and the country had a Shobhana Samarth, her mother and aunt Nutan were all renowned new uncrowned number one actress. actresses of their time. Then came ‘Pyar To Hona Hi Tha’ with Ajay Devgan , which opened Kajol schooled at St. Joseph’s Convent in Panchgani, Maharashtra. a new chapter in her career. But probably even she was not prepared Later, she enrolled in Sophia College, Mumbai, but gave up studies for what was coming with Karan Johar’s ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’ with to join the movies at the age of 16. She started her career with films Shahrukh Khan –– the nation fell in love with the tomboy she played. like ‘Bekhudi’ and ‘Udhaar Ki Zindagi’, but she truly arrived with Kajol played tomboyish Anjali of the first half with as much ease as ‘Baazigar’, which proved to be a big turning point in her career. she slipped into sarees and a demure look in the second. Kajol’s real moment of glory, however, came in 1995 when she took Right after the success of ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’, Kajol married Ajay the nation by storm along with Devgan on February 24, 1999. Shah Rukh Khan in Aditya After her marriage, Kajol Chopra’s maiden venture, became very selective with her ‘Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge’. movies, and was seen in films As the simple and lovable like ‘Raju Chacha’ and Karan Simran, who meets her true Johar’s ‘Kabhi Khushi Kabhie love Raj on a trip through Gham’. Europe, Kajol brought to Other than winning a screen a quality of freshness Filmfare award for the film and charm that seemed long ‘Gupt’, she has won the forgotten. Filmfare Best Actress Award She was then paired with for ‘Dilwale Dulhania Le Ajay Devgan in the action Jayenge’ in 1996 and also for thrillers ‘Gundaraj’ and ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’. She ‘Hulchul’ (1995) and in Indra won one more Filmfare award Kumar’s romantic comedy, for ‘Kabhi Khushi Kabhie ‘Ishq’ (1997). Later, the actress Gham’ in 2002. changed tracks to take the dar- Little wonder that Kajol is ing decision of playing a villain rated as the pick of the leading in Rajiv Rai’s murder mystery ladies of her generation. Her ‘Gupt’ (1997). A girl of Kajol in a still from ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’ and, top, from ‘Fanaa’ return is keenly awaited. ■
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