Kajol

Born: 5 August, 1975 in Mumbai, India

Biography: Born to Tanuja and Shomu Mukherjee, Kajol is one of the leading Bollywood actresses of Indian cinema. She comes from a film family with her mother being a popular actress of her times and her father a film producer. Rani Mukherjee and Mohnish Behl are her cousins. Kajol did her schooling from St. Joseph’s in Panchgani; thereafter she left studies to pursue a career in films. In 1999 she married bollywood actor Ajay Devgan and has a daughter named Nysa.

Kajol made her debut with Bekhudi in 1992. This film was not a success but her performance was noticeable. Her second film Baazigar boosted her to stardom. In 1994, the film Yeh Dillagi was also a commercial success followed by another hit film, Karan Arjun. The years 1995-96 saw a host of releases; Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge in 1995 being a major success which won her Filmfare Best Actress Award. She has won 4 Filmfare awards for performances in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gam and Fanaa. Gupt won her the Filmfare Best Villian Award; first time ever won by a female actor.

Her next releases like Ishq, Dushman, Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha were also quite successful. These coupled with the blockbuster Kuch Kuch Hota Hai established Kajol as a brilliant actress known for her versatility and performance.

After another great success in the form of Kabhie Khushie Kabhie Gham, Kajol took a hiatus and made a comeback with Fanaa (2006) playing the role of a blind Kashmiri girl. In 2008, she appeared in her husband’s directorial debut U, Me Aur Hum and is currently working on Karan Johar’s My Name is Khan.

Apart from films, Kajol is also involved in a number of social service initiatives and is a recipient of Karamveer Puruskar: a national award for Social Justice and Citizen Action.