Kajal Aggarwal opens up about Deepika Padukone, Alia Bhatt getting meatier roles in Bollywood while married actresses facing stereotypes in the South: ‘Nayanthara is an exception’ | Hindi Movie News

Kajal Aggarwal, who is known for her works in Bollywood, Telugu and Tamil films, recently spoke about the evolving roles for female actors in the South Indian film industry. In an interview with Galatta Plus, Kajal talked about how the industry often reserves strong roles for female stars only after they are married or become mothers.
During the chat, the interviewer pointed out the contrast with the Hindi film industry, where stars like Deepika Padukone and Alia Bhatt continue to secure leading action and romantic roles irrespective of their marital status.Kajal noted that this discrepancy is evident in her own experience, as seen in her upcoming film, Satyabhama, where she plays a cop.
Reflecting on the industry’s stereotypes, Kajal said, “We still have a little bit of stereotyped attached. I am hoping that we get rid of it soon. I also feel it is now that this entire new generation of actresses are married and have children.”
The interviewer also noted that while Bollywood has seen married actresses like Sharmila Tagore and Hema Malini continue to thrive in versatile roles, the South Indian film industries have yet to fully embrace this trend.

Responding to this, Kajal, who married Gautam Kitchlu in 2020 and became a mother two years later, sees positive shifts today. She praised Nayanthara for successfully headlining romantic and action films on her own terms.
“If we are offered, we would take the meatier roles, maybe the pivotal roles in films. Things are changing. Like Nayanthara, for example, I love how she conducts her filmography, I love her choices. She is an exception, who gets these parts, on her terms and conditions. So that is great,” Kajal.

Sharing her own experience, Kajal recounted how she balanced motherhood and her career. “I had my commitments before I got married–in COVID–which I honoured and travelled a lot for it. It was difficult for my husband to understand that initially because he has never seen what our industry is about. I finished the films that I had to do, got pregnant, and right after I delivered my child, I did Indian 2, which has possibly been the hardest role of my life. It was physically demanding, I had to be strong to do that. I was horse riding! That was still a ‘strong’ role, which I had signed four years ago. I am glad Shankar sir waited for me and asked me to come in his last schedule. Yet, it was so hard for me.”
Kajal’s upcoming film, Satyabhama, is set to hit cinemas on June 7.