Jun 07, 2026 8:00pm IST
Kajal Aggarwal On Working In ‘Ramayana’: ‘It’s A Technically Superior Production’ (EXCLUSIVE)
It’s a busy year ahead for actor Kajal Aggarwal Kitchlu. “The India Story,” which sees her cast opposite Shreyas Talpade, is set for release in July. “Ramayana” releases Diwali 2026 and an upcoming film with veteran Telugu star Nandamuri Balakrishna will follow later this year. In an exclusive conversation with Variety India, she reflects on her two-decade-long career, her upcoming films, her love for South Indian cinema and how much the support of her husband Gautam Kitchlu means to her.
“The India Story,” with Shreyas Talpade as your co-star, releases next month. What can you share about the film?
It's a trilingual social drama in Hindi, Telugu and Tamil which focuses on the consequences of chemical misuse. The story is about parents fighting for their child whose health has been impacted by water contamination. It's a hard-hitting film.
You have just signed a film with Telugu star Nandamuri Balakrishna, “NBK111.” Have you started shooting for it?
I've actually just started filming. I've finished like three days on set so far. It’s an interesting story and I am teaming up with Balakrishna once again after “Bhagavanth Kesari” (2023). I'm also excited to work with director Gopichand Malineni and the entire cast, especially Balakrishna. He’s a genuine person and that influences his craft tremendously. He’s a no-filter sort of person who does not mince his words. And he's fabulous at his craft.
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You have been cast as Ravan’s wife Mandodari in “Ramayana.” What has the experience of working on the movie been like?
The experience was so different because it's a technically superior production. It's just something India has never witnessed before. And as actors, it's pretty much the first time that we're doing something like this. It is an intrinsically Indian story and it's so close to our hearts.
You have worked in several Telugu and Tamil films. Do you speak the languages as well?
I speak Telugu fluently now, almost better than Marathi. Tamil, I understand. I can converse in bits and pieces… broken words. My grammar wouldn't be a strong point when it comes to Tamil. Telugu maybe, because I started my career down south with Telugu films. Even then,, I always felt that language was never really a barrier when it came to acting. It was your performance that mattered.
Are there better opportunities for actresses in South cinema?
I believe opportunities are available in both, the Hindi film industry or the South Indian industry. But yes, when it comes to professionalism, the South is far superior. We've got great technicians; we've got phenomenal directors and storylines and creativity. Plus, now look at the South cinema's reach. I mean, it's doing far, far better than most Hindi films.
As a working mother, how important is the role of a supportive partner in sharing responsibilities?
It is extremely important. I would not be able to do this without my husband Gautam’s support. He does not belong to the industry, but he tries his best to understand it. We share a very open relationship and talk about things. I love for him to come on set and see how I work. He knows how hard I work and how I cope with ‘mom’ guilt. Right now, I am based in Hyderabad. We shut our home in Mumbai and moved here with our staff, nanny, dog and cars for two months because I am shooting ‘NBK111’ here. I feel that is the way to do it. My husband travels to and fro. That is where support and love come in. He literally schedules his life to accommodate my work life. When he is traveling, I try to take a backseat. I schedule my films, so they do not clash with his work dates, which are fixed for a year.
How do you cope with trolling and the constant intrusion into your private space by the paparazzi?
I think it's extremely sad. When I started my career two decades ago, it was so different. We didn't have this kind of culture back then. We had a great relationship with the media. But now, it has become invasive, for sure. I don’t pay too much attention to negativity. I don't get affected by trolls, if there are any. But I remember when my child was born, I had gained weight, and I was trolled so badly. I remember feeling so bad about it. And I remember putting out a post four years ago, where I pointed out that, obviously, I'm a mother now, it's going to be different. But I think the trolling settled down pretty quickly. Now it's not so bad because I do my work and head home.
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