Kajol opens up on Shah Rukh Khan vs hubby Ajay Devgn

She is returning to the screen after quite a gap and is now open to working on both films and television. Actress Kajol says, “Once I got married and had babies, I had to take time out for my children. Hence, I took a break. My personal life took over my profession life and I was very happy about it.”

Kajol has never got dragged into controversies, but recently when her husband had a face-off with Yash Raj Films’ release ‘Jab Tak Hai Jaan’, starring close friend Shah Rukh Khan, she ended up not being invited to the premiere of JHJ. “Such controversies remain for the day and go away. So I guess we need to take it up in stride!”

How is her relationship with YRF now? “My relationship with YRF? You’re asking me as if YRF is my boyfriend or something. Well! Whatever has happened is in the past. We share a very co-cordial relationship with them.

“Whenever I meet them at an event or some get together we greet each other. We all are a family belonging to the film fraternity.” She says now she is open to doing television shows. “If something comes my way that I like I shall definitely do it, but I am not open to reality shows and especially dance reality shows.”

The ‘Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge’ actress admits that motherhood has changed her.

“When I advise my daughter not to do this or that, I’m reminded of my mom’s instructions. We would get bored with her advice and try to ignore it, if we could. Now I understand and appreciate the value of what my mom said. Even when it comes to acting, there’s a new dimension to how we portray our roles as onscreen mothers.”

Asked why she doesn’t play out-of-the-box characters, Kajol says, “I have always done films I believe in. We all believe in doing films which we think will make us feel proud and happy watching them even years later.

“I never chose out-of-the-box films merely because I do not like dark characters nor do I prefer watching dark films. In the initial stage of my career I did opt for some such films. I was just 16 when I entered the industry and I did a few films without caring much. Also, I prefer playing character I am comfortable with.”

Talking about her daughter Nysa she says, “She doesn’t like to see me cry in films. She gets angry and asks me: ‘Mom why do you always like to cry? Why don’t you do a ‘Golmal’ kind of a film?”

On her new svelte look she says, “I am keeping my mouth zipped. I have stopped hogging. I regularly go to the gym. Exercises at home and walks have helped me reinvent myself.

“Also, I dress up better, something I learnt from Karan (Johar), who was the first one to bring in a change in himself. The media has changed and it is time we all decided to pull up our socks by caring for fashion.”

She says that while fashion may not be her strong point, acting most certainly is. “I have performed all my characters with great honesty. I have given my 100 per cent always. Other actors I think will need a little more time to come up to that level. As far I am concerned I have done my job well.”

Kajol is reminded of her father’s love and care when she is with her kids. “When I sit down and tell my children stories I am reminded of my father because like him I give them background music, for instance if horses are running I try and make that sound as he did when he told us stories.” But she is reminded of her mother when she scolds the kids. And while acting, she says, “In some scenes I get the flash of my aunt Nutan, but not always. So many people have also told me that.”

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