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N8NW\Y <[R \S aUR Z\`a R[Qb_V[T NPa_R``R` \S P\[aRZ]\_N_f 6[QVN[ PV[RZN 8NW\Y \]R[` b] NO\ba UR_ [Rd TYNZ\_\b` NcNaN_ UR_ aVZR NdNf S_\Z aUR `P_RR[ N[Q ORV[T N[ \O`R``VcR Z\aUR_ \ In focus. THIS PAGE: Gown, Just Cavalli. Earrings, Gehna Jewellers. Ring, Farah Khan SURESH NATARAJAN Fine Jewellery. Bracelets (from =U\a\T_N]U` Of top to bottom), Jaipur Gems, Rose, and Gehna Jewellers. ARea Of ZAHRA KHAN Fashion editor: Ami Patel. X170 WY ±6 aUV[X ]R\]YR N_R `U\PXRQ Of Zf N]]RN_N[PR a\QNf ORPNb`R aURf´cR [RcR_ `RR[ ZR RcR[ a_f V[ aUR ]N`a² cinematic soulmate to Shah Rukh Khan, a vibrant muse to Karan Johar, and a five-time Best Actress Award winner, Kajol is perhaps the ultimate movie star. However, when she’s not lighting up the screen with her arresting presence, she prefers to completely immerse herself in the humdrum of daily life. Where other Bollywood actresses are concerned with being dressed up by the right designers, trying out the latest in hair and makeup, and starting their own fashion lines, Kajol is far too serious by comparison. She’s more concerned about what her kids are up to today. “Till you have a child of your own, you just won’t realise the extent to which you have to work hard. Shooting a film is a holiday in comparison! Even with all the help in the world, the responsibility of another /life in your care is not something I take lightly,” she explains, about being a full-time mom to Nysa (10) and Yug (3). She rolls her eyes when I ask if she’s a fairly hands-on mother. “Fairly? Words like anal, obsessive, compulsive come to mind, actually!” she laughs. We’re chatting in her well-appointed home on a hot Mumbai afternoon, and Kajol is relaxed, down-to- earth, and strikingly attractive. Even in her casual clothes, glasses, and sans any trace of makeup, the age-defying actress looks far younger than her 39 years. There’s just no escaping the exuberance of good health radiating from her. She’s at her completely unadulterated, absolutely unembellished, thoroughly unvarnished best. I ask her about her recent transformation from a slightly overweight, track pants-wearing non-conformist, to an incredibly fit red carpet diva in the past year. And she’s modest about it. “It’s just that I have a lot more time today. I didn’t have the energy to invest in myself earlier between work, raising kids, and running my home. But being fit does make a difference to one’s confidence, as does dressing well. I think people are shocked by my appearance today because they’ve probably never seen me even try in the past!” she laughs. There’s no denying that she’s in the best shape of her life currently, and she says it’s all thanks to weight training, which she took to like a fish to water. “I started weight training about two years ago, and I absolutely loved it. Today, I’m a beast in the gym!” she exclaims happily. “I can lift seriously heavy weights, and that’s such a confidence booster. Anybody who trains in the gym will attest to the fact that it’s a real high; you feel like you can move mountains. I’m completely obsessed with it!” she grins. You have to wonder whether she’s succumbed to the pressure that actresses today have to deal with—always being well turned-out, no matter the occasion. She dismisses that instantly. “I haven’t given in to pressure in 20 years, and I’m not about to now. I just felt the need to take care of myself a little more, and dress up once in a while. But yes, there are still days when I just couldn’t be bothered and put on my track pants to step out,” she chuckles. Picture perfect. Gown, Just Cavalli. Earrings, Gehna. Ring (Kajol’s left hand), Farah Khan Fine Jewellery and Sonal’s Bijoux. Ring (Kajol’s right hand), Farah Khan Fine Jewellery. 000 Golden times. Gown, `25,500, Nikhil Thampi. Watch, `50,25,000, Bulgari. Earrings, Farah Khan Fine Jewellery. Soft elegance. Dress, `88,000 (approx), Victoria Beckham. Necklace and ring, Farah Khan Fine Jewellery. Cu!, Gehna Jewellers. Kajol readily admits her lack of knowledge when it comes to the latest fashion trends. “I know I need help, so I’ve been working with a stylist called Triparna Majumder for the last one year. But even she knows that there’s only so much she can push me to experiment!” she says. “My biggest rule while dressing up is that I should be comfortable. I’m not a frills and flounces kind of woman; I prefer simple, clean lines. Also, the one thing I just won’t wear is an uncomfortable pair of shoes!” As far as designers go, she’s a Manish Malhotra loyalist. “I love his Indian clothes; he makes the most outstanding saris. I’m honestly not too familiar with other designers’ works because I don’t pick up magazines to look for the latest in clothes, handbags, or shoes. I love Zara for everyday wear, but that’s about it. I sound terribly unfashionable, I know, but it’s the truth.” However, she does have a penchant for jewellery. “A lot of it has been passed down to me by my mum (Tanuja) and grandmum (Shobhna Samarth). In fact, my mum has a great collection of jewellery passed down from my great grandmother Rattan Bai. People still do a double-take when I wear those pieces. The workmanship is stunning. Contemporary craftsmen just cannot match that quality. They have a patina of age and elegance that just isn’t available today,” she says wistfully. Another thing Kajol loves is jadau jewellery. “I think jadau is so versatile. You can wear it just as well on a sari as you can on a pair of jeans. However, one of my most precious pieces is an ‘Om’ ring given to me by my great grandmother. More than the intrinsic value of that ring, there’s a huge emotional attachment to it. If my house was on fire and there was only one thing I could take, that would be it.” On the work front, she denies having signed any new projects with either of her closest friends, director Karan Johar or favourite co-star Shah Rukh Khan. “I’m still reading scripts, but I have a full life with my kids, my husband, our production house, my workouts! For me to then take time away from all this—my kids especially—I need to have a damn good reason. The script needs to be outstanding, along with the right director and producer. I would rather not do a film otherwise.” At the moment, she’s busy with endorsements for brands like Olay, Alpenliebe, and Bournvita, among others. “It’s partly strategy, partly what comes my way. I’ve refused quite a few endorsements too,” she says about her decision. “I don’t want to do something I don’t believe in. I take my responsibility as an influencer seriously. If I’m telling people to go out and buy something I’m endorsing, I don’t want them to be disappointed by it.” ±6 UNcR N SbYY YVSR dVaU Zf XVQ` Zf Summing up her less than ordinary life so far is a hard thing to do, but she likes the newfound Ub`ON[Q \b_ ]_\QbPaV\[ U\b`R pace at which she’s living it. “It’s a pretty relaxed life and I like it like that. I have the time to read Zf d\_X\ba` 3\_ ZR a\ aUR[ aNXR books, workout, do some work here or there, and spend time with my kids as they grow older. aUR aVZR a\ Q\ Z\cVR` 6 [RRQ a\ I’m not hurried or stressed out, and I honestly couldn’t ask for more,” she says gratefully.< UNcR N QNZ[ T\\Q _RN`\[² 000 Bringing sexy back. Gown, Azzaro. Earrings, Sonal’s Bijoux. Cu!, Gehna Jewellers. Bangle, Jaipur Gems. OPPOSITE PAGE: Dress, Victoria Beckham. Pearls, Jaipur Gems.See Where to Buy for details. Hair: Daniel Bauer. Makeup: Mallika Bhat. Fashion stylists: Krishna Mukhi and Avani Purohit; fashion interns: Varnika Singh, Tanya Kasat, and Ramalingam Periyaswamy..

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