Renowned actress Kajal Aggarwal, who has spent nearly two decades in the Indian film industry, is now in a new phase of her career, where the depth of the story and social responsibility have become just as important to her as acting.

Kajal, a prominent actress in the Telugu film industry, is also one of the highest-paid actresses there. In Forbes India's 2015 'Celebrity 100' list, she was ranked 58th. In 2022, she was among the most searched Asians on Google and is also the most followed Telugu artist on Instagram.

In a conversation with Indian media, actress Aggarwal spoke openly about her new film 'The India Story', her career, motherhood, and the discrimination faced by women in the film industry regarding age.

Asked about the tradition where male actors are seen in lead roles even at the age of 70, but actresses are viewed differently, she noted that perceptions about this have been changing recently.

“Now, circumstances and audience perspectives are changing. Audiences are happily accepting women in lead roles at any stage of their lives,” Kajal added, “I never chase after age; I look for challenging and interesting roles. Women have no ‘expiry date’, nor do good stories.”

Having started her acting journey in 2007 with the film ‘Lakshmi Kalyanam’ and delivered hits like ‘Magadheera’, ‘Thuppakki’, and ‘Special 26’, Kajal also shared her experiences regarding the working styles of the South Indian and Hindi film industries.

“When I started acting, I had big dreams but no film background,” said Kajal, who entered the film industry at 22, “Whatever I have learned about films and acting during this period, I have learned by working. During this time, I have worked in films of various languages and genres. Every film, whether successful or not, has shaped me as an artist.”

In two decades, she has worked in more than five dozen films in both Hindi and South Indian cinema. “Today, I don’t measure my career by the number of films I’ve done, but by whether I am still progressing in my work, whether I am still as passionate about my work, and whether I am choosing stories that can leave a mark in the future,” she added, “The India Story represents that phase of my career where purpose is just as important as acting.”

According to her, the South Indian industry is known for its discipline, planning, and efficiency, while the Hindi film industry is known for its diversity in storytelling. However, she believes that the boundaries between these two sectors are diminishing and the entire Indian film industry is moving forward as a single system.

Life After Becoming a Mother

Kajal has said that her priorities in life have changed after becoming a mother. Now the mother of a nearly four-year-old son, 41-year-old Kajal maintains that her passion for her work has not diminished. She said, “But after becoming a mother, my approach to choosing work and films has definitely changed.” She expressed happiness that her son now understands that, like his father, his mother also goes to work.

‘The India Story’ and Social Responsibility

Speaking about ‘The India Story’, which deals with food adulteration, excessive use of pesticides, and their long-term effects on family health, Kajal said, “We all eat food daily, but we rarely ask where it comes from or what has been mixed into it. This film seeks not to scare people, but to make them aware and responsible.”

She said that while not every film needs to carry a social message, being part of films that address such issues is significant. “If a film starts a debate in society, encourages people to ask questions, or even brings about a change in the eating habits of just one family, that will be a great achievement for this film,” Kajal said, “When a meaningful story comes before you and is told well, I think being part of it is a worthwhile accomplishment.”