Now 50, she reflects on the emotional toll of early fame—and how a quiet conversation with co-star and long-time friend Shah Rukh Khan shifted her mindset for good.
“I was exhausted, burnt out, and emotionally drained. I didn’t even know what that meant at the time,” Kajol shared in a recent interview. “There was so much happening so fast.”
In an industry known for gloss and glamour, Kajol’s honesty strikes a chord—especially in 2025, when mental wellness is no longer a luxury but a cultural necessity.
The Pressure of Early Stardom
Kajol made her acting debut at 17 in Bekhudi (1992), but it was Baazigar (1993) and Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995) that cemented her as one of Bollywood’s most beloved stars. But behind the iconic roles and screen chemistry, the grind was relentless.
“I didn’t know how to say no. I didn’t know how to rest. I was just doing what I thought I had to,” she said.
Her words mirror the struggles of countless young achievers today—especially Gen Z, who often feel overwhelmed by expectations, even when things appear “successful” on the outside.
Shah Rukh’s Words That Stayed With Her
At a moment when she considered walking away from the spotlight, Kajol says it was Shah Rukh Khan’s calm presence and advice that helped her pause—and then carry on with perspective.
“He told me, ‘You’re allowed to take a breath. You don’t have to prove anything in every moment. Just show up, do your bit—and remember, the camera doesn’t need you to break. It needs you to feel.’”
That line, she says, “saved me from quitting at a time I didn’t even know I was struggling.”
Kajol’s decision to stay, heal, and redefine her rhythm has made her a rare mix of stardom and self-awareness in Indian cinema.
Kajol's journey is proof that sometimes, resilience doesn’t look like pushing harder. Sometimes, it looks like pausing, listening, and choosing to stay—not because you have to, but because you’ve remembered who you are.
