A girl whose mischief drove her mother to snap in anger, “I hope you have a daughter just like you one day.” Her father wanted to name her Mercedes; her mother firmly refused.
Her friendships are legendary. At 15 she teased Karan Johar so relentlessly that he walked out of a party. A friend helped her land her first film—and on the very first day of shooting she fell on set. Falling became her signature. Shah Rukh Khan and Karan Johar were convinced that any film on which she took a tumble would become a hit. During *Kuch Kuch Hota Hai* she fell off a bicycle so hard she lost her memory; her friends seized the chance for payback and convinced her she was only a background dancer, not the heroine.
Mischief, boldness, quick wit and powerful acting—few actresses embody all four like Kajol. For three decades this bubbly Bollywood star has won hearts with her laughter, her style and her films.
On her 52nd birthday, here are a few stories that capture the essence of who she is.
Today, on her 52nd birthday, let’s learn about some interesting anecdotes from her life that capture the essence of her personality-
Anecdote- 1
Father wanted to name her Mercedes, ran away from boarding school at age 11, was caught on the way
Kajol was born on August 5, 1974, into a prosperous Bengali family in Mumbai. Her mother Tanuja was a well-known actress and her father Shomu Mukherjee was a filmmaker.
Her father was fond of Mercedes cars. He found out that the daughter of the person who made these cars was actually named Mercedes. Later, he made the Mercedes car named after his daughter. Shomu wanted his daughter’s name to also be Mercedes. He insisted, but Tanuja clearly said – I will not let this happen. They named their daughter Kajal, but in the Bengali family, it gradually became Kajol.
Kajol was so mischievous in childhood that her mother would often beat her. Sometimes she would hit her with a badminton racket and sometimes with whatever came to hand.
Kajol was young when her parents got divorced. Her mother Tanuja was busy in films, so Kajol lived with her grandmother Shobhana Samarth for many years. Shobhana was also a famous actress of her time. After some time, she was admitted to St. Joseph’s Boarding School in Panchgani.
One day at boarding school, she found out that her grandmother’s mother was very ill. Kajol insisted that she would go to meet her. Her mother refused, saying to come directly during Christmas holidays. Kajol made a plan to escape from boarding school with one of her friends. They avoided people’s eyes and went out through the gate and reached their local guardian’s house. She said – Uncle, mother has called me home, please put me on the bus. Uncle couldn’t understand anything and put her on the bus. Kajol was waiting for the bus to leave when the school nun caught her. After scolding, Kajol was sent back to boarding school again.
See selected pictures from Kajol’s childhood-
Story-2
Made fun of Karan Johar at age 15, left the party
Kajol was just 15 years old when she went to a film party with her mother, actress Tanuja. Many other celebrities from the film industry had also come to the disco-themed party. Kajol was having fun when filmmaker Yash Johar arrived at the party with his 17-year-old son Karan Johar. This was the first meeting between Karan and Kajol. As soon as the parents introduced them, Kajol looked at teenage Karan, who was wearing a three-piece suit and tie, from top to bottom and burst out laughing.
Seeing Karan being made fun of, he became sad, then Kajol’s mother said again – why don’t you both children go and dance together. When both went to the dance floor, Karan started dancing hesitantly, but Kajol couldn’t control her laughter and kept laughing for about half an hour. Karan was heartbroken and left the party. But with time, their friendship grew such that when Karan made Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge at the age of 21, he cast Kajol. Later she appeared with Karan in films like Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, Kal Ho Naa Ho (cameo), My Name Is Khan.
Story – 3
Had a crush on Akshay Kumar, troubled friend Karan to see him
Kajol had a crush on Akshay Kumar before entering films. Akshay Kumar had entered films in 1987 and was delivering many hit films. At that time, Kajol was just 16-17 years old. Once Kajol went to the premiere of the film Henna with her mother. By then, she had become friends with Karan Johar. As soon as Kajol found out at the premiere that Akshay Kumar was also there, she held Karan’s hand and kept searching for Akshay throughout the premiere. This story was narrated by Karan Johar on Kapil Sharma’s show.
Kajol worked with Akshay Kumar in the 1994 film Yeh Dillagi.
Story- 4
Went to get friend’s photoshoot done, got first film, agreed for holiday timepass
Three generations of Kajol’s family have worked in films. In this context, Tanuja wanted her to also enter films, but Kajol was against it. She felt that becoming a heroine would require a lot of hard work. Tanuja even started making a film for her against her wishes, but for some reason it got shelved.
A close friend of Kajol’s wanted to become a heroine. One day she went to Gautam Rajadhyaksha to get a portfolio made. She took Kajol along for company. Her friend’s photoshoot was underway when shortly after, Tanuja also arrived there. At Tanuja’s insistence, the makeup artist did Kajol’s makeup as well and her pictures were also clicked.
Her photoshoot was done by Gautam Rajadhyaksha, who was working on the screenplay of the film Bekhudi at that time. He liked Kajol’s face so much that he took her pictures to the director of the film Bekhudi, Rahul Rawail. He also liked Kajol and went straight to Tanuja’s house for her.
As soon as Kajol learned about the film offer, she got angry and refused, but later agreed to overcome the boredom of school holidays. She gave a screen test at Saif Ali Khan’s house. Initially Saif was the hero of the film, although later he was removed and Kamal Sadanah was cast.
Kajol with Bekhudi co-star Kamal Sadanah.
Kajol had told on The Anupam Kher Show that her first day on the film set was not easy. That day there was a muhurat shot, in which many big film personalities of the 90s were present.
As soon as Kajol climbed on stage, she started feeling strange in her stomach. During the muhurat shot, she fell in the first take itself. She felt embarrassed, but the director laughingly said that falling on the first day is auspicious.
Story – 5
Shah Rukh said at first meeting – You never stop talking
Kajol started her career with the film Bekhudi and later got the opportunity to work with newcomer Shah Rukh in the film Baazigar. The film’s shooting took place on January 1st in the new year. Everyone had celebrated New Year’s Eve the day before and everyone was tired.
When Kajol saw Shah Rukh for the first time, he was sitting in a corner wearing big dark sunglasses and not talking to anyone. Then Kajol said to Shah Rukh’s makeup artist in Marathi – What kind of hero is this, he looks grumpy. He doesn’t talk, where did you bring him from, how strange he is.
On the other side, tired from the party the previous day, Shah Rukh was trying to block Kajol’s voice by putting his hand on his ear. He said to a boy standing nearby, This heroine talks so much, someone make her quiet.
Picture taken on the set of Baazigar.
Kajol kept criticizing Shah Rukh for quite a while and then after some time went up to him and said- Hi, my name is Kajol.
Shah Rukh’s first words were- Can’t you ever be quiet?
Kajol then said- No, I can’t be quiet, that will never happen.
A scene from the film Baazigar.
This friendship that started with bitterness continued and today their friendship is an example. Apart from Baazigar, both gave many blockbuster films like Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, My Name Is Khan.
Story- 6
Kept laughing during Shilpa’s death scene in Baazigar, director reprimanded her
One day on the set of Baazigar, Shilpa Shetty’s death scene was to be filmed. According to the scene, Kajol had to cry profusely after her sister Shilpa’s death. But as soon as the scene was prepared, Kajol started laughing loudly upon seeing the nail polish on Shilpa’s feet. She kept saying repeatedly, “Who applies so much nail polish while dying?” Kajol’s continuous laughter started affecting the shooting. Director Abbas-Mustan came to her and said this is a very serious shot, if you laugh like this you won’t be able to stay in character. But Kajol just wouldn’t stop.
The director got irritated by her laughter and shouted – If your real sister had died, would you have laughed like this then too?
Hearing this, Kajol became completely silent. Shortly after, she delivered that shot, which upon watching, no one could guess that she had been laughing just moments before.
Story- 7
Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, My Name Is Khan, fell on every set, know the stories of falling-
Lost memory after falling on the set of Kuch Kuch Hota Hai
Kajol was shooting for the film Kuch Kuch Hota Hai with Shah Rukh Khan. According to the scene, she had to clap while riding a bicycle with Shah Rukh. As soon as action was called, Kajol’s bicycle lost balance and she fell straight down face-first.
After some time when she regained consciousness, her memory was gone. At that time, best friends Shah Rukh and Karan were busy trying to convince her that she was not the heroine but a background dancer in the film.
Even after losing her memory, Kajol remembered her boyfriend Ajay Devgn at that time. She was repeatedly saying please someone call Ajay. On her insistence, Ajay Devgn was called. Ajay had a long conversation with her on the call and explained everything to her properly. After some time, she remembered everything.
Shah Rukh dropped Kajol on the set of Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge
In a scene from the film Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Shah Rukh Khan had to lift Kajol in his arms and drop her. Farah Khan wanted the expressions to look natural, so she didn’t tell Kajol about this. Shah Rukh lifted Kajol and suddenly dropped her without warning, causing Kajol to actually fall. The expressions shown in the scene were natural, after which she gave Shah Rukh a piece of her mind.
The second half of the same film was shot in Ooty. According to one scene, Kajol had to run in the rain, but while running she fell hard. The crew members immediately wrapped her in a blanket because it was very cold. The team noticed that Kajol was sobbing inside the blanket. Everyone was whispering that Kajol had fallen very hard, how would the shooting continue now. However, Kajol was actually laughing at her fall inside the blanket.
Fell while shooting Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham
Kajol also fell on the set during the shooting of the song Suraj Hua Maddham from the film Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham. This song was shot in Egypt. Kajol had to dance on large rocks while draping her saree, but she fell in one shot due to losing her balance. Kajol was pregnant during the shooting of the film, however, she had a miscarriage after the release. She stayed in the hospital for several days and took a break from work due to the trauma.
Story- 8
When she didn’t fall on the set of My Name Is Khan, Shah Rukh and Karan got worried
Whichever film Kajol fell in with Karan Johar and Shah Rukh, it became a hit. When she was shooting for My Name Is Khan, she didn’t fall for many days. Seeing this, Shah Rukh and Karan became worried. They would wait every day for Kajol to fall. However, by the time the shooting was completed, Kajol did fall and as a result, the film also became a hit.
Story- 9
Thought Ajay Devgn’s call was a prank, hung up the phone angrily
Kajol started her career with Ajay Devgn in the 1995 film Hulchul. When Kajol first saw Ajay Devgn, she found him extremely arrogant. Actually, on the first day, Ajay was sitting quietly in a corner on the set. As soon as Kajol arrived on set, she asked who the hero was. The answer came – the one sitting in the corner is the hero. To this, Kajol said, couldn’t they find any other hero? For a few days, both shot together but friendship didn’t happen.
One day, Kajol received a call on her telephone. The person on the other end said – Hello, I am Ajay Devgn speaking.
Kajol rudely responded to the call saying – And I am Sridevi.
The person said again – I am really Ajay Devgn speaking.
Kajol said again – Yes, so I am also Sridevi.
As soon as she said this, Kajol cut the call. After some time, Ajay called Kajol’s mother Tanuja’s number and said – Aunty, I am Ajay Devgn speaking. I called Kajol, but she is not believing that I am Ajay. She keeps hanging up the phone. I had called to invite all of you to my sister’s wedding.
A few days later, while working together, Kajol and Ajay became friends. In a scene from the film Hulchul, Kajol had to slap Ajay and Ajay had to catch and stop her hand. As soon as Ajay held Kajol’s hand during the shoot, Kajol realized that this was the person with whom she had to spend her life. In 1994, during the shooting of the film Gundaraj, both came close and after 3 years of dating, they got married on 24th February 1999.
See pictures of Ajay-Kajol’s wedding-
This wedding took place at Ajay Devgn’s house. Both didn’t want media presence at the wedding, so they spread false information about the wrong location of the wedding. Before the wedding, Kajol had put a condition that they would go on a honeymoon for 2 months and do a world tour. But when they reached Greece on the 40th day via Australia and LA, Ajay’s health deteriorated so much that they had to return. The couple has two children from this marriage – Nysa and Yug.
Story – 10
Mani Ratnam called to offer Dil Se, she scolded and hung up the call
Kajol always wanted to work with Mani Ratnam. Shah Rukh Khan often used to prank call Kajol. Kajol was shooting for the film Dushman when one day on set, she received a call from Mani Ratnam on her number.
Picture from the set of Dushman, when Kajol was talking to Mani Ratnam.
The call said – Hello, I am Mani Ratnam speaking.
Kajol thought Shah Rukh was having fun with her. Kajol replied- And I’m saying I’m Tom Cruise. Shah Rukh, I know it’s you, I won’t be fooled this time.
Mani Ratnam said again- No, I am Mani Ratnam speaking.
Kajol said again- No, I know you’re Shah Rukh. I’m shooting, can’t talk right now, bye.
Kajol cut the call. After this, Mani Ratnam directly called Shah Rukh and told him everything, because Shah Rukh had already been cast in Dil Se.
Shah Rukh immediately called Kajol and scolded her saying- Fool, that was actually Mani Ratnam.
Notably, later Kajol clarified by talking on call. She was offered the film, but due to being busy with the shooting of Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, she rejected the film. She had already given dates to Karan. Karan knew that Kajol always wanted to do a Mani Ratnam film. When he came to know about the offer, he told Kajol that if she wanted, she could do Dil Se first and he would extend the dates for Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. But being firm on her commitment, Kajol rejected the film.
