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EXCLUSIVE: Kajol on Shah Rukh Khan - There's a comfort when somebody has seen you at your worst and is still okay with it
Kajol gets candid about her stardom, equation with Shah Rukh Khan and completing 25 years in the industry.
Born to be a star, Kajol continues to remain unparalleled even after 25 years in the industry. To carve a niche for herself in a male pre-dominant society isn't easy but Kajol held her own. For someone who is outspoken, the actor has always been graceful and unapologetic about her actions, which is a rarity in this industry.
The actor who recently turned 43, will be next seen in a Tamil movie VIP 2 opposite Dhanush.
In a candid interview with PINKVILLA, Kajol recounted her childhood days as an actor, 25 years in the industry, her equation with her children, Shah Rukh Khan and much more.
Here's an excerpt from the interview:
You recently completed 25 years in the industry? How has the experience been so far?
I feel I have such a long way to go. I mean my mother has completed 67 years in the industry, she has been working since the age of 7. When you have that kind of an example in front of you, you know that you have a very long way to go before you can say that 'oh I have achieved everything I thought I should'. As far as work is concerned, as long as God is willing, I will work till I die, doing something or the other if not acting. 
You started at a very tender age of 16 and since then a lot has changed. How does it feel when you look back and evaluate your struggle?
I don't feel bad at all. I feel I have utilized my youth in the right manner. I didn't flitter from here to there, I stayed in one place. I started out in the movies when I was 16. I couldn't even sign my first contract then. I definitely don't feel that I lost out on anything. I like working and I enjoy myself working. I love making movies and acting in films, I truly enjoyed it and I am probably amongst those lucky ones who found their calling very early in life.
We see that you now choose scripts with extreme caution and are not going out and about with movies. What kind of projects are you looking forward to now?
There is no goal in my mind that I have to achieve this in the next 5 years or 10 years. I take each day and year as it comes, each moment as it comes. I think you can't plan especially when movies are concerned. I think I do films that feels good to me, that works for me on a personal level. I wake up excited going to work. That's a good thing and I want to always wake up excited for work. I don't want to do too much work that I feel tired and then crawl back into bed. Although there are days when I want to crawl back to the bed but most of the time I truly love my work.
At what moment in life did you realize that you have arrived, that you are a STAR?
Honestly, there has always been a certain stardom attached to me considering who I am and where I came from. So there has always been a preconceived mindset that people have had when they have seen me from the time I was a child to even before I joined the industry and after I joined the films. So, people have expected things from me, had a notion of who I was, what I am and what kind of a person I am. But honestly, I never let it affect me; my mother brought me up to be a sensible enough person that I did not let that go to my head.
As for when I knew that I was a star and when I feel that I achieved something, I felt that when we went for one tour. That was one of those things you know. At that point of time I was like 'Oh My God' when I saw so many people standing around, waiting for hours and going all mad, screaming and shouting and they love you, that really overwhelms you in a maximum way.
Given your unprecedented stardom, fans go crazy with the sheer mention of your name. Has there been any such crazy fan moment which has still stayed with you?
I have had people crying, screaming, being hysterical with me. I think we were in Berlin (not too sure) when a lady in saree, I think she was a Gujarati, pulled my jacket off. I had to like leave without my jacket. I was like OMG .. I was shocked. I kind of did not expect it from a well-dressed lady in a saree somehow.
You and SRK completed 25 years this year. Your onscreen chemistry and equation with SRK have always been appreciated. How has your equation with SRK changed?
Of course, the equation has changed. I wouldn't say it is the same as it was in our first movie and of course, that is the way it should be. He has had 3 children, I have had 2 children after that. We both have grown, evolved and changed as human beings. We have just got more comfortable with each other and it is much easier to work with somebody you know for so long. There is a certain history and comfort involved when somebody has seen you at your worst and still is okay with it and treating you normally.
We see you spending a lot of time with your children now. How has your relationship with them evolved over the years?
As for my relationship with my children, I hope it keeps changing with time, age and maturity for one reason that at one point of time I felt they were quite helpless. They grew into being individuals and hopefully I have brought them up well enough that I know a good mother and god willing I will turn into a great friend eventually.
We recently came across a post wherein you mentioned that your daughter Nysa doesn't like the mushy captions you use for your social media posts. Does she still have a problem with it?
Not at all. That she doesn't think too much of my mushy mushiness. She thinks I am too sentimental about things. She thinks I get touched, upset very easily. She thinks I am a little OTT. But I guess, it is okay. Children are bound to think that of their parents.
Given the age, she is in now, does Nysa also go through a lot of mood swings. How do you manage it?
Honestly, she doesn't have that many. She is quite stable that way, I have to say considering all the other children I see of her age. She has a good head on her shoulders. I talk to her a lot about random stuff. I know when I hear her opinions about certain things that she is very intelligent and a balanced girl and that gives me a hope for the future.
While Nysa is now a young girl, Yug is still a child. Has he got accustomed to his parents' stardom?
I think he has grown up with our stardom. I don't know if they went through a period of getting used to it. As far as stardom is concerned, we keep it at the gate, no further. We try to keep them balanced and normal. So, they are very very normal children.
You will next be seen in VIP 2. How excited are you?
I am very excited for the release. I have spoken in Tamil after 17 years so I am hoping no one judges me too harshly. I had a great time making the film. I think the film has turned out well. I hope everybody goes and watches the film as well.
How was it working with Dhanush for VIP 2?
It was great working with him. He is a very fine actor and he has also written the script and screenplay for it so it was absolutely wonderful and convenient to work with him. I did not have to keep calling the writer to change something if I didn't like. It is also nice to work with somebody who is a fine actor who looks good and makes you look good.
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