Ahead of her horror film Maa, Kajol speaks out on how paparazzi provoke celebrities for reactions, drawing comparisons with Jaya Bachchan for her stern off-screen persona.
Mumbai | June 24, 2025: Actress Kajol has responded to being labeled “scary” and frequently compared to Jaya Bachchan for her run-ins with the paparazzi. In a candid interview with Zoom, Kajol acknowledged that both she and Jaya often ask shutterbugs to maintain boundaries but blamed the paparazzi for pushing celebrities to the brink.
“It’s okay if you believe that I’m scary—please go watch Maa,” Kajol quipped, referring to her upcoming horror film. “Even the paparazzi, for that matter… they’re waiting for you to say something. They coax you, they push you, till you have to respond! Not scream, but at least say, ‘Listen, guys, calm down.’”
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She went on to say that the focus has shifted from simply taking pictures to eliciting reactions that can be packaged with “negative taglines.”
Kajol on invasive media culture
Kajol, like many Bollywood celebrities, has voiced concern over the increasing invasiveness of paparazzi. In a previous interview with Bollywood Hungama, she shared her discomfort about being chased by cameramen across the city and being hounded even during solemn events like funerals.
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“I find it very strange when they run after actors at someone’s funeral asking for photos. I find that odd and a little disrespectful. I find it strange that you can’t even go for lunch,” she remarked.
Kajol’s Upcoming Film: Maa
Kajol will next be seen in Vishal Furia’s horror thriller Maa, releasing in theatres on June 27 under the banner of Devgn Films. The story centers around a mother who fights to protect her daughter from a haunted village’s demonic curse. The film stars Ronit Roy, Indranil Sengupta, and Kherin Sharma in pivotal roles.
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