Veteran actor Kajol believes Indian cinema is witnessing a meaningful shift in the way women are portrayed on screen. Speaking about the growing number of female-led films, the actor praised Alia Bhatt and Sharvari Wagh’s upcoming action film Alpha, describing it as an encouraging sign for the industry’s evolving storytelling.
Kajol, who celebrated her birthday recently, reflected on how opportunities for women in cinema have changed over the years and why she sees this as a positive direction for Bollywood.
Kajol Praises Alpha
During an interview with Hindustan Times, Kajol spoke about Alpha, calling the film’s concept exciting and highlighting its significance as a women-led action entertainer.
According to the actor, projects like Alpha demonstrate that audiences and filmmakers are increasingly embracing stories where women take centre stage.
“You have a film like Alpha that’s come out, which is an action film. I think the idea of it was absolutely fantastic.”
She added that Indian cinema is moving in the right direction by creating stronger opportunities for female characters.
‘Women Are More Than Just a Side Plot’
Kajol noted that women in films are no longer being limited to supporting roles.
She explained that today’s scripts are giving female characters greater depth, stronger personalities and more meaningful contributions to the story.
“They’re writing better characters for women. They are giving women more of a chance to be more than just a side plot, which I feel is a good trend that we’re going towards.”
According to Kajol, this change reflects the industry’s gradual shift toward more balanced storytelling.
Choosing Roles That Challenge Her
Reflecting on her own career, Kajol said her approach to selecting films has remained consistent over the years.
She shared that she has always chosen projects that offered interesting characters and opportunities to explore different emotions.
At the same time, she expressed a desire to continue experimenting with roles she has never attempted before.
“I’ve always selected projects that appealed to me, characters that made me feel I could do something with them. That hasn’t changed. But yes, I want to experiment.”
Kajol on Personal Growth
Looking back on her journey, Kajol also reflected on how she has evolved as a person.
She described herself as kinder today than she was earlier in life, explaining that while kindness was always part of her personality, she may not have expressed it as openly in the past.
Her comments offered a glimpse into both her personal and professional growth over more than three decades in the film industry.
Why Alpha Is Generating Buzz
Alpha has attracted significant attention as one of Bollywood’s upcoming women-led action films.
Starring Alia Bhatt and Sharvari Wagh, the film has been widely discussed for placing female protagonists at the centre of an action-driven narrative—an approach that remains relatively uncommon in mainstream Hindi cinema.
Kajol believes such projects contribute to expanding opportunities for women both in front of and behind the camera.
The Changing Landscape of Hindi Cinema
Over the past decade, Bollywood has seen a steady rise in stories driven by female protagonists across genres including action, drama, thriller, sports and biographical films.
Industry observers note that audiences are increasingly welcoming narratives that present women as fully developed characters with their own journeys, ambitions and conflicts rather than supporting figures in male-led stories.
Kajol’s remarks reflect this broader evolution, highlighting the importance of diverse storytelling in contemporary Indian cinema.
