Kajal Aggarwal explains why married actresses in Bollywood get meatier parts but South actresses are ‘stereotyped’: ‘If we’re offered, we would take…’

Kajal Aggarwal, awaiting the release of Indian 2 and Satyabhama, lauded Nayanthara for still managing to headline romantic as well as action parts on her 'own terms.'

Kajal Aggarwal spoke about the way actresses in the South are stereotyped after getting married and having children. (Source: Kajal Aggarwal/ Instagram)

Actor Kajal Aggarwal says female actors in the South Indian film industries are trying hard to change the system, which often offers female stars “strong” parts once they are married or become mothers. Kajal, who predominantly appears in Telugu and Tamil films, says things are different down South as compared to the Hindi film industry.

In an interview with Galatta Plus, journalist Baradwaj Rangan noted how the Hindi film industry will offer a role of an action heroine to Deepika Padukone in Fighter and a leading romantic part to Alia Bhatt in Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani, which isn’t the case in the Tamil and Telugu film industries, where a married woman will play a “strong” role like the one Kajal plays in her latest, Satyabhama. Kajal is playing a cop in the film. They also spoke about Vidya Balan’s Tumhari Sulu, where her character wore her sexuality proudly but that wasn’t the case when the film was remade in Tamil as Kaatrin Mozhi, starring Jyothika.

Also Read | Kajal Aggarwal says she would pump milk for newborn son between shots during Indian 2, took therapy and anti-depressants to deal with mom guilt

When asked the reason, 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.” Baradwaj then pointed out how the Hindi film industry has have had examples in Sharmila Tagore and Hema Malini, who continued to act in such parts after marriage, but it hasn’t happened to that extent in the South film industries.

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Kajal also insisted that as moviemakers, they need to step up and present such stories to their audience where women can be seen in varied parts. Not blaming the audience, Kajal admitted that they are ready for it but the makes need to catch up.

Kajal, who got married in 2020 to Gautam Kitchlu and became a mother two years later, said things are changing today and lauded Nayanthara for still managing to headline romantic as well as action parts on her “own terms.”

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A post shared by Kajal A Kitchlu (@kajalaggarwalofficial)

“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.”

The actor then gave an example from her life and detailed how she was back on set after delivering a baby pulling off one of the toughest parts of her career in Indian 2, headlined by Kamal Haasan and directed by Shankar.

“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.

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“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 me for and asked me to come in his last schedule. Yet, it was so hard for me,” she added.

Satyabhama, set to open in cinemas on June 7, will feature Kajal Aggarwal as a cop on a mission to crack an unsolved murder case.

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