Of late, there has been buzz about Kajol returning to the big screen. There are two films that she has reportedly signed. One is being produced by hubby Ajay Devgn, while the other one is rumoured to be with Shah Rukh Khan to be directed by Rohit Shetty. I caught up with the actress and we spoke about motherhood, parenting and her sixth comeback' to films!
Being a mom is more of a priority for you than anything else. True?
I wanted to become a mom when I was eight (Laughs). I thought I could become a mom when I was 13. Of course, my mother disapproved of the notion. So I said, Okay fine, I will wait till I am 18'. When I was 18, I thought I will wait till 21. So that kept happening and I became a mom when I was 28. But yes, it was always something that I have wanted to be. People aspire to be doctors, engineers and actors. As a child, all I wanted to be, was a good mom. I hope I'm good at it!
How has motherhood changed you?
In a lot of ways, really! I am, in a lot of ways, more intolerant. I am totally intolerant of bad parenting or injustice to children. It really affects me when I see a child somewhere being done wrong to. More than that, I am more tolerant now towards children screaming and shouting on a flight. (Laughs) I am more tolerant towards their tantrums and the supermarket stuff. It definitely has changed my perspective and you can't help but change it when you are a parent.
How different a mom were you with Nysa as opposed to Yug?
Parenting is easier with my second child. There's less anxiety, less question marks. There's a lot more knowledge behind it, so it's a lot easier in many ways. You know if it's a cough or a cold, it would get better and you know which medicines to give. You know that everything is not a life-threatening situation. So that has become easier but my parenting style, per se, is the same. There's a firm line that I draw as a parent and I think it's more necessary for my kids to know that this is the boundary line and they can't go out from here. That's where their roots and that's where they get the strength to grow up strong and tall. I feel as a parent, it's your responsibility to give a providing member back to the society. It's a scary thought that you have a child that you don't want to raise, somebody who's going to become a mass murderer or a psychopath (Laughs). That is something that is our responsibility to bring up kids who will be happy and will go positively in every aspect of society.
Is that why you took a sabbatical?
Yes, nd it will be that way always. It has to be like that when you have kids. I had kids because I wanted them. I did not have them because somebody thrust them on me. It was not by chance or mistake. I had my kids because I honestly, genuinely wanted them. Therefore, if you have taken on that responsibility then it is your job to sit down and make it happen to the best of your abilities. I don't think I could've done that if I was working. Many parents work after having kids. Kudos to them for managing it. But I personally thought I wouldn't have been able to manage it so I took time off from films. I wanted to experience this feeling because I was waiting to have kids all my life. So I wanted to be there 120 percent!
How's Ajay as a dad?
I have to say it honestly that he did change the diapers some of the times. Initially, he had difficulties changing the nappies, but diapers toh, he could easily do it and was very happy. He is pretty much, a hands-on dad because he realises that his kids do need him around too. Children do need their parents around. So if the mother is not there, the father has to be there. So we manage it between us. So if I am going out of town, I make sure he's in town and vice versa. One of us is always there with the kids.
So now that you will be going out for your film, will he be there for Nysa and Yug?
I hope he will! (Laughs) We will manage it again. It's a question of time management, micro-managing your time and we will be taking our kids along with us. I will at least be taking my kids along with me wherever I am going. I am a little emotional as a mother that way. I need to be around my children and I don't think I can survive well without them.
You've always said Nysa is a lot like Ajay. Is Yug like you?
I hope so. Right now, his personality is like mine. But he has a lot of Ajay in him. And how much ever I say that Nysa is like her father, there's a lot of me in her as well. So, I think it's a happy nice combination of both.
Like other heroines, are you tired of the word comeback'?
To be honest, I have come back about five times already (Laughs out loud) So, I don't think the next can be considered a comeback as such. It's more like taking a gap and getting back to work. So it's work and it's more like a lunch break which you go for and then you come back from it to work.
When do we get to see you back on screen then?
I hope next year in all probabilities. My film will release in 2016. The film we are doing right now, under our production banner, will roll out in July-August. So we start shooting that time.
Is it the same film (Ram Madhwani's film) that you were supposed to start last December?
No, its not that film. That did not work out. This is a very different story.
There were also talks that this new film is the remake of the South film How Old Are You?...
No, it is not a remake at all. It is an original script. I cannot tell you much about it right now.
Any plans of working with Shah Rukh soon?
It's always been fantastic working with Shah Rukh. There's a certain comfort level with him and I cannot work with people who I'm not comfortable with. So I hope we work soon. Let's see. (Smiles)
So aren't you doing the Rohit Shetty film?
I am not in a position to accept or deny it. So let's see.
You have always worked with filmmakers who you're comfortable with. With a flurry of new directors now, are you looking forward to working with any?
Ayan is my cousin. And there are others who I really like. In fact if you look back at my career, I am a person who has worked with the maximum new directors. As far as feeling comfortable with someone, it does not have to do with old or new. I only think that person needs to be intelligent, compassionate and open. Beyond that, it's a plus. But then again, intelligence and common sense are two very rare things in this world.
Even Ajay was supposed to direct a film with you in it. What about that?
Yes, we had been planning that. I would love to work in Ajay's film. I hope so, again. From your mouth to the words of God.
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