When asked why actors in the South don’t receive the same types of roles as Deepika Padukone and Alia Bhatt in Bollywood, Kajal Aggarwal responded with the following.
Actor Kajal Aggarwal recently discussed the need for South Indian filmmakers to broaden their horizons regarding film genres and the roles offered to married actors. In an interview with Galatta Plus, she was asked why female actors in the South don’t get the same types of roles as Deepika Padukone or Alia Bhatt in Bollywood, such as romantic leads or action film roles.
It’s not a cultural thing.”
While Kajal acknowledged that she received significant roles in Shankar’s Indian 2 (Bharateeyudu 2 in Telugu) and Suman Chikkala’s Satyabhama before getting married and having a child, she denied that married actors in the South are sidelined due to cultural reasons.
“We still face some stereotypes, but I hope we overcome them soon. This generation of actors is married and continues to work after having children. I don’t think it’s a cultural issue; audiences are receptive to such films (like Tumhari Sulu) if filmmakers start offering them. It’s the filmmakers who need to start exploring more genres,” she stated.
“Look at Nayanthara.”
Kajal admitted that her husband, Gautam Kitchlu, initially found it challenging to understand why she had to travel so much for her work commitments. She explained everything to him and planned her pregnancy to coincide with the end of her schedule. However, she still had to shoot for Indian 2 for two months postpartum.
She admitted, “If offered, we would take meatier roles, perhaps even pivotal ones in films. Things are changing. Look at Nayanthara, for example. I love how she manages her filmography and her choices. She is an exception, getting roles on her terms and conditions, which is great. I am happy to be working at this stage of my life in the industry today because I’ve received kindness and compassion from my directors.”
Upcoming Work
Kajal will portray a police officer for the first time in her career in Satyabhama, set to release on June 7. She also stars in Indian 2 alongside Kamal Haasan, Siddharth, and Rakul Preet Singh, which is scheduled for release on July 12. Additionally, she was slated to star in Tathagata Singha’s Uma, but there have been no updates on the film.
