Kajol Devgan (
née Mukherjee) (born 5 August 1974),
[1] known
mononymouslyas
Kajol, is an Indian film actress who predominantly works in
Hindi cinema. Born into the
Mukherjee-Samarth family, she is the daughter of actress
Tanujaand late filmmaker
Shomu Mukherjee. Through her Bollywood career, Kajol has established herself as one of the most popular actresses in India. She is the recipient of
numerous accolades, including six
Filmfare Awards, among twelve nominations, and along with her late aunt
Nutan, holds the record for most
Best Actress wins at Filmfare, with five.
[2] In 2011, the
Government of Indiaawarded her with the
Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian honour of the country.
Kajol made her acting debut with the unsuccessful romantic drama
Bekhudi(1992), while still in school. She quit her studies to pursue acting, and had her first commercial successes with the thriller
Baazigar (1993). She subsequently rose to prominence by playing the lead female role in several romantic dramas, including
Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge (1995),
Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya (1998),
Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha (1998),
Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998), and
Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... (2001). Kajol also garnered critical acclaim for playing against
type in the 1997 mystery film
Gupt: The Hidden Truth and the 1998 psychological thriller
Dushman. Following a sabbatical from full-time acting in 2001, Kajol returned to films with the 2006 romantic thriller
Fanaa, and continued working infrequently thereafter, playing leading roles in the dramas
U Me Aur Hum (2008),
My Name Is Khan (2010),
We Are Family (2010), and the comedy-drama
Dilwale (2015). She, thus, established herself as one of India's most successful actresses.
[3][4]
In addition to acting in films, Kajol is a social activist and is noted for her work with widows and children, for which she received the
Karmaveer Puraskaar in 2008. She has featured as a talent judge for
Zee TV's reality show,
Rock-N-Roll Family and holds a managerial position at Devgn Entertainment and Software Ltd. Kajol was in a relationship with actor
Ajay Devgan since 1995. In 1999, they married, and she gave birth to their daughter, Nysa, in 2003 and their son, Yug, in 2010.