Kajol Devgan, née Mukherjee (Bengali: কাজল দেবগন Kajol Debgôn, Hindi: काजोल देवगन), born August 5, 1975 in Mumbai, India, popularly known as Kajol, is an award-winning popular Bollywood actress.
Kajol made her acting debut with Bekhudi (1992) and had her first hit with her second film Baazigar (1993) along with Shahrukh Khan, with whom she later went to deliver some of the biggest Bollywood hits like Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge (1995) and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998). Her performances in both the films were praised and earned her two Filmfare Best Actress Awards. After the successful Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham released in 2001, she took a sabbatical from full time acting for five years. She made a successful comeback with Kunal Kohli's Fanaa (2006), for which she received her fourth Best Actress award at the Filmfare ceremony. During her career years, she has been part of many critically and commercially successful films, and is regarded as one of India's most successful actresses.
Daughter of Tanuja and Shomu Mukherjee and niece of Nutan Behl.
Kajol is a fourth-generation actress: her mother Tanuja, maternal aunt Nutan Behl, maternal grandmother Shobhna Samarth and maternal great grandmother Rattan Bai were all movie stars in their day.
Cousin of Rani Mukherjee, Sharbani Mukherji, and Mohnish Bahl. Niece of Joy Mukherjee and Deb Mukherjee. Sister of Tanisha (I).
Often paired on-screen with actor Shah Rukh Khan. In fact, each of her five movies with him (Baazigar, Karan Arjun, Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, and Kabhi Khushie Kabhi Gham) have all gone on to become super-hits and blockbusters.
In 2001, she retired temporarily from Bollywood to spend more time with her family.
Her wedding to Ajay Devgan was a quiet affair where only a few close friends and relatives were invited. The newly wed couple went on a two month honeymoon traveling the world visiting such places as Sydney & Cairo. She will continue to act in select films, maybe in one or two a year.
Has a daughter with Ajay Devgan, named Nyasa.
Listed as number 4 of 'Top Bollywood Actresses' of 2006. (rediff.com, 8-25-2006)
