Mumbai: During an exclusive conversation with actress Kajol, where she discussed her film ‘Maa,’ a mythological horror film inspired by Kali Ma and Rakta Beeja. She praised her husband, producer Ajay Devgn, for his hands-on approach and dedication to quality films. Reflecting on her career, she noted the evolution of her roles and the challenges of filming, particularly the physically demanding climax. She expressed interest in doing a comedy film and appreciates subtle humor. The actress also commended the director, Vishal Furia, for his clarity and direction.
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#Kajol #AjayDevgn #Maa #ExclusiveInterview #UpcomingMovie #Trending #BollywoodNews #BollywoodGossips #BollywoodUpdates #BollywoodNews #Bollywood #Bollywoodcelebrity #BollywoodHindiNews #IANS
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00:00So, welcome to INS. First thing first, we have been hearing a lot about the genre, the mythological horror.
00:07So, can you please elaborate? In fact, you also spoke about the same in the press conference.
00:11Absolutely. It's the first time something like that, something like this has been attempted.
00:17I think world over, I don't think I've seen a mythological horror pretty much anywhere.
00:22And it's how we as a country have an amazing culture.
00:28We have such fabulous stories.
00:31So, it's basically bringing one of the stories back to life.
00:37And of course, we have the most amazing Kali Ma as a main protagonist.
00:43And that's where the title comes from actually, Ma.
00:46So, it is the story of, the germ story is of Kali and Rakta Beeja.
00:53I don't know whether you've heard of the story or not.
00:55But yes, of course, you must have.
00:56So, yeah, it's a very famous story.
00:59And that's where the thought came from.
01:01The film initially started out as, and we were kind of writing it in concept stage as a thriller.
01:10And that's what it started out as.
01:12And that's why I was so excited about it.
01:13And I was like, oh my God, you know, I'm such a believer.
01:16And this is such a perfect film for me to do.
01:19And I think Kali is the most perfect goddess of this day and age.
01:30The story of Kali Ma and Rakta Beeja, it's very popular in Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhanda, Syria.
01:36So, have there been any attempt to make it in a way so that it resonates with the entire India?
01:42Absolutely, absolutely.
01:43It's explained.
01:44We have explained it quite nicely in the film actually.
01:51So, yeah, that's the whole thought behind it.
01:54And of course, then there is a film.
01:58That's one part of the film.
02:00But yeah, so the whole film basically.
02:03I can't tell you too much about it.
02:05I hope you've watched the film.
02:06Then you'll understand exactly how we've interwoven it in the entire film.
02:10You started the entire promotion from Dakshineshwar Temple, Kolkata.
02:16Yes.
02:16So, how was your experience?
02:17I think because your roots are there in West Bengal and Kolkata.
02:21How was the entire experience this time?
02:23My roots are with Ma, wherever she is really.
02:27And I've been a Bhakt all my life.
02:32So, I think that I feel her hand on my head always.
02:38And I didn't think that there was a better way to start off the promotions of a film
02:44that seems to be dedicated to her than Kalimaa Ka Mandir basically.
02:54So, I think I'm very happy that we started off over there.
02:58And Dakshineshwar is a very, very powerful temple.
03:02Apart from praying in the temple, what else do you like most about Kolkata?
03:07Because it's like your parenting.
03:09I love the food.
03:10I love the food.
03:11I love the speed of the city, which is like nice.
03:14There's a certain ease to…
03:18Mumbai is not like that at all.
03:21In Bombay, I think you enter Mumbai and you feel like, you know, your pulse picks up literally
03:28the minute you step foot in Mumbai.
03:31But I think Kolkata has this…
03:33There's this ease to the city and to the people and even to the traffic.
03:38Frozen in time, something like your feeling.
03:40Yeah, kind of, kind of, which I haven't seen in any other city.
03:45And they're lovely people.
03:47They're genuinely just a wonderfully, wonderfully people.
03:51They're a wonderful people.
03:52And also, we saw the amazing chat with our Madhavan, you know, when you spoke, both spoke about
03:59Shaitaan and also Ma in the entire conversation.
04:04So, how was it like, you know, bringing the entire thing, you know, on the camera?
04:10It was amazing because I think Madhavan is a great actor.
04:12He's really a very, very fine actor.
04:14And he was absolutely amazing in Shaitaan.
04:18So, I think that's something that I was genuinely curious about.
04:24Of course, it was great to work with him.
04:26He's not in the film.
04:27Let me just tell you that.
04:29This film doesn't have him in it.
04:31So, but yeah, he's quite amazing.
04:35But there is some Shaitaan in the film.
04:36Haan, bilko, lek doitto hai.
04:38There's a rakshas in the film.
04:39And that's what Ma is fighting.
04:41And the whole film basically is about your battle between your faith and evil.
04:47And this has been co-produced by Ajay sir.
04:52And I was just thinking a while back from Raju Chacha to Ma.
04:59How has been this journey working with your husband like a professional?
05:06But I've been working with Ajay Devgan as a professional from the time that I was 18 years old or 19 years old.
05:11But he as a producer and then you as a...
05:14He as a producer is a really, really good producer.
05:17He's an excellent producer.
05:19And he's one of those, you know, very much hands-on producers.
05:22So, from scripting to, you know, the VFX to the music.
05:28He has really, really, you know, taken, put his, you know, gotten his hands dirty and made sure that he's a part of all of it.
05:36And made sure that it all works, fits, even to the marketing for that matter.
05:40So, yeah, he's a really good producer.
05:42But if we talk about the journey, because as I spoke about Raju Chacha, I remember that film because I have watched it multiple times.
05:48So, what change do you see in the entire journey?
05:51I think as a producer, he has, he is very clear that he wants to make good films.
05:59He wants to make good films.
06:00And he makes sure that whatever happens, you know, his company will come out with a good product.
06:06Something that he can stand up and say belongs to him and something that he can stand up and say he's not ashamed of.
06:11Which I think is a huge mark for him as a man and as a producer.
06:15Because sometimes it can get economically easy to produce a slightly shoddy product.
06:21But he has never let that come in his way as a producer.
06:25So, I think kudos to him.
06:27And do you give your inputs on the same?
06:31Like if you are talking about economics, so basically my question was economic centrics.
06:36Do you give your input?
06:37At least, I think he has a lot of people to advise him economically as to what he should and shouldn't do.
06:42So, no, I don't interfere with that aspect of it.
06:46As far as this film is concerned, Ma is concerned, yes, we did have, you know, some long conversations about it.
06:53I think we were, we had to, you know, shoot a part of the climax as well.
06:58For VFX reasons and for action, etc, etc.
07:02But yes, we're pretty much on the same page.
07:04We haven't really had any big fights over the movie.
07:06So, in the press conference, we saw Ajay, as usual, we see him making all these funny remarks and hilarious comments.
07:14And he spoke that any husband would like to, you know, make a horror movie with his wife.
07:20So, you know, it's like he comes across as a really funny person.
07:23So, how do you, like, you do never mind it?
07:26And do you think that one minute later, you get angry?
07:29Yes, absolutely, it happens. Why not?
07:32Yes, absolutely.
07:34But fortunately for him, I have given that answer before, I have not given that answer.
07:39So no, I can't get angry at my own answer now, can I?
07:43So you also spoke about the film's climax and you called it brutal.
07:47So can you please elaborate about it?
07:49By brutal, I meant that it was very, very physically taxing.
07:54It was very, very, you know, it took a lot, took a huge toll out of all of us.
08:03We shot for it for a very long time.
08:05Matti, dhul, cable, action.
08:08It was like full on, like getting your hands dirty, literally.
08:12Khoon pasi na ek karke, am like climax katam kiya.
08:15So yes, it was a really, really difficult climax to shoot, especially with the VFX angle to it and all that.
08:22So when you were, you know, working in 90s, so films used to be mostly like song, dance, romance and things like
08:30and now you are doing, you know, all kinds of characters, various roles.
08:34So do you think for these days, a challenge for an actor is much more what it used to be earlier?
08:40Because, you know, like you said that you shoot in real locations, dhul, mitti.
08:45No, we always did that.
08:46In fact, I think it was much more difficult to shoot a film, to shoot action in the 90s than it is today.
08:51Today, it's much easier to shoot a film because we have bigger sets, you have technology, you have, you know, you have better cameras,
09:00you have a lot more at your disposal.
09:04So yes, there is, it's much easier to shoot in fact, in today's day and age.
09:11But as an actor, yes, I mean, of course, I've grown up since then.
09:15So even if you look at all my choices of movies, it wasn't just song and dance.
09:21I did have something to say then and I still do.
09:24It's different today.
09:25As usual, the scripts that I choose today are different from what I did then.
09:29And I hope they continue to be.
09:31And as I said that in the last few years, you have been doing a lot more, you know, variety of roles like we saw in the film,
09:40Krithi, with Krithi, I forgot the title.
09:45So you played a cop.
09:46And now, again, this horror genre, which you have not done earlier.
09:50So what else, you know, there is left that you want to do?
09:53Because you have done everything.
09:55I mean, I imagine that I have seen all kinds of roles.
09:59But if I ask from your point of view.
10:01I don't know, honestly, it will depend on who comes to me with what.
10:04But I would like to do a comedy.
10:06I think I would like to do a comedy.
10:08I think it will be really cool.
10:09And I think I will do a fabulous job of it.
10:11So, I think I will do a comedy next.
10:13Okay.
10:14People these days speak a lot about the comedy of 90s and early 2000s.
10:18And say, that when I remember your film Ishq and many others.
10:24Do you really think that these days that punches and that comic timing, everything is missing?
10:30I mean, all these things are missing?
10:32I think comedy is something that is very subjective.
10:42It's very subjective.
10:44It's probably not possible.
10:47I think comedy is subjective.
10:52And I think most of the films that are being made today are made keeping an entire mass in mind rather than any particular viewpoint.
11:06So, yeah.
11:07It's changed in that sense.
11:09Yeah.
11:10But those same punches are being used time and again.
11:13So, no.
11:14I would like to see a really, really, maybe very, very well written comedy.
11:19I haven't seen that in a long time.
11:20True.
11:21Which school of comedy you belong to?
11:23Rishikesh Mukherjee kind?
11:25Or, you know, Ishq, your film which was there.
11:28Or, you know, it used to be very subtle comedy in Rishikesh Mukherjee school.
11:32Yeah.
11:33I thought the Rishikesh Mukherjee films were so intelligent.
11:37They were really intelligent.
11:39They were really funny.
11:41I love, I love that kind of, you know, filmmaking.
11:45And I wish we had better films made like that, in fact.
11:48So, if I ask you because since we are currently talking about comedy.
11:52So, if you ask you one or two of your favorite, you know, comedy films.
11:55I can't really name any honestly.
12:01I really can't name.
12:02I can't remember right now.
12:03But, but I think that I definitely agree with you that I think that there's a subtler comedy that I find funnier.
12:13Really dark comedy, satire, all of that.
12:16Okay.
12:17Now, coming back to Uma, how was your experience working with the director?
12:21It was amazing.
12:22Vishal is such a fine director.
12:24And, you know, it's, he's, all of the, the whole, all the scenes and everything, he's directed it so well.
12:33At no point did I feel that, you know, I was confused as to, you know, what I was supposed to be doing or anything like that.
12:39I think he was very clear about what he wanted to do and how he wanted to shoot it, etc.
12:44So, I'm really grateful.
12:45I think he's a wonderful director.
12:47I met him a few weeks back for an interview and then I, you know, asked him that because I found that he's very talkative.
12:53So, he said, no, no, I don't talk much on the sets.
12:55I'm very focused.
12:56So, was it like that?
12:57No, no, no, he doesn't talk at all.
12:59We have to, we had to like sit down and, you know, I had to actually sit down, make him talk and, you know, ask him.
13:06I kept asking him.
13:07I was like, what do you want?
13:08What do you want?
13:09You know, what do you want to do?
13:10You want to change something?
13:11Tell me.
13:12All of that.
13:13So, I had to literally like coax, you know, that out of him.
13:18But, yeah, he was, but he knew what he wanted.
13:21I mean, that was very clear that he had a very clear idea of where the film was going and, you know, how it should go there.
13:28We also like, not on camera, but off camera, some newcomers or directors who work with very senior actors.
13:35So, off camera, they say that at times they find it very uncomfortable interacting with very, very senior actors, very experienced actors.
13:42So, I mean, you are the one, aap turan samaj jhaati hoi ke haan yeh uncomfortable ho raha hai hai.
13:47So, how do you then make the director comfortable?
13:52I didn't really have to work too hard.
13:55I didn't really have to work too hard.
13:57I think it was, I think he's a lovely guy.
14:01He's, he's a wonderfully quiet and, you know, well-spoken person.
14:06And, I think everybody on set was on the same, you know, in the same, on the same side basically.
14:15So, I think we all just kind of chilled and had fun together.
14:18And, no, I don't think there were any awkward moments between, you know, all of us at all.
14:24Okay, talking about re-releases, so many are happening and your films have also re-released.
14:30So, a few more like, kuch aici films jisko aap ki film.
14:34You would like to see it again on the, in the theatres and people going and seeing it.
14:40Well, I think how many films have released?
14:42DDLJ is released.
14:43DDLJ.
14:44Kuch kuch ho ta hai, we release ho ga hai.
14:46Nahi.
14:47Kuch ho ta hai.
14:48Hame toh itni stories kar dal ki ha mein khudi nahi.
14:50But, if it hasn't released then I'd like to see kuch kuch ho ta hai back again in cinemas.
14:56So, yeah, that's one film that I would like to.
14:59And, what about Bazi Garh did it?
15:00And, maybe Pyaar To Ho Na Hai Tha.
15:02Yeah, I think that's one film that I would like to see on screen again.
15:07I think it'll be fun to watch Pyaar To Ho Na Hai Tha again.
15:09Do you watch your films?
15:10Like films that you have done in dialogue?
15:11No, I don't.
15:12Okay.
15:13I'm really bad.
15:14I don't watch films period.
15:16I'm more of a reader.
15:18So, I watch films very rarely.
15:21So, we are almost done with the interview.
15:23So, would you like to add something from your side about the film and, you know, everything?
15:27The only thing that I would like to add is that the film, like I said before, is releasing
15:32on the 27th of June.
15:3427 June ko release ho ra hai hai.
15:36And, we are very very proud of it.
15:38We are very very, we've worked very very hard on it.
15:42It's a mythological horror, which is the first time that it is coming into cinemas.
15:47And, I think that it's one of those films that, you know, has a has a feel to it.
15:56We haven't just made the film to be a particular genre.
16:01It has a feel to it.
16:02It has a story.
16:03It has something to say.
16:04So, you know, na ma hai, to ma ko leke jaiye lekin zaroor dekhye.
16:10And, one question I would like to add again.
16:13Sorry.
16:14I think this has been asked from you many times.
16:17Because, you have done mother's role in multiple films in the last few years.
16:21So, again, the question is same.
16:23Does it become very easy?
16:25Do you think it comes very naturally to you, mother's role?
16:29Because, obviously.
16:30Of course, it does.
16:31I think it's it's something that I am very good at.
16:36Bohut baar kiya hai.
16:38Aur I think apne khud ke bachche hote hai toh then it's automatically easier to enact that part of it.
16:44It's a role that I play every day.
16:46So, it's it is easy.
16:48The emotion also.
16:49A bit good.
16:50Thank you so much.
16:52Thank you so much.
16:54Thank you so much.