Kajol recalls running away from boarding school at age 11 due to her great-grandmother: 'The nuns pulled me..'

Kajol consistently expresses her love and admiration for her mother, the renowned actress Tanuja. In a recent discussion, she revealed a lesser-known, intimate story that highlights her deep connection with her mother and the generations of women who raised her.

Kajol reflected on her early years in an interview with The Lallantop, recalling a home filled with four generations of women: her great-grandmother, grandmother, mother, and herself. This matriarchal environment profoundly influenced her. When her great-grandmother's health declined, 11-year-old Kajol was determined to be present, overcoming both distance and school restrictions.

“I got to know that my maternal grandmother’s mother was very sick. I called my mom, but she didn’t allow me to come back home because I had exams. My holidays were in December, so she asked me to come in December only. I was 11 at that time," she said.

Driven by emotion and a strong desire for change, a young Kajol devised a plan to escape her boarding school in Panchgani, located almost five hours from Mumbai. Her determination was shared by others. “Another one of my friends was also unhappy, and we both decided to run away from the boarding school. We both decided to go to Bombay," she recalled.

“I went to my local guardian, my mama in Panchgani, and I told him that mom has called me home. I asked him to take me to the bus stand," she recounted. “While I was waiting in the bus, the nuns came, and they pulled me by my ear and took me back to the school."

Kajol fondly remembers her boarding school years, even with a rebellious phase. She believes this time taught her resilience, independence, and social navigation skills. "There, kids learn the value of their parents. It makes you better at adapting to society," she shared, highlighting the crucial lessons learned during that period.

Her conviction in the impact of a boarding school education is so strong that she enrolled her daughter Nysa, and plans to do the same for her 14-year-old son, Yug. "I like boarding schools, and I sent Nysa also to one. Now, I want to send my son Yug as well to the boarding school," she confirmed.