Kajol: Didn't have to face patriarchy

Telling women’s story in OTT debut vehicle Tribhanga, Kajol talks about being raised with the value of gender equality and passing on the lesson to daughter Nysa

"If I don't filter my words, Anu is 10 steps ahead of me [in that regard]," jokes Kajol, who considers her character in Tribhanga an extension of herself. But it was not just the strong-headed Anu that drew her to the script. Kajol was certain about making her digital debut with Tribhanga when she saw director Renuka Shahane's astute understanding of her three protagonists. 

"Anu feels love, hate and passion deeply — a trait I relate to. Though it was tiring to play her, it was not difficult to understand her," says the actor, adding that shooting for the women-led film — also featuring Tanvi Azmi and Mithila Palkar — was a novel experience. "The best thing about being on set with such strong women was that there was no insecurity."

Kajol. Pic/Instagram

The Netflix film studies the interpersonal dynamics between the three leads, belonging to three different generations, as they battle societal expectations to live a life of their choosing. Aware of how women battle judgments on a daily basis, Kajol considers herself fortunate to be raised in an environment that advocated gender equality. "My father [Shomu Mukherjee] was against me getting married at 24. He said that I should work more before I tie the knot. My mom [Tanuja] was my biggest supporter, and told me to go with my gut. I have been lucky that everybody around has always stood up for me. So, I did exactly what I wanted to do. I didn't have to face patriarchy. Or maybe I faced it without realising, because I can be oblivious in some situations."

 Surrounded by two strong voices — grandmother Shobhna Samarth and mother — in her growing-up years, Kajol says she has passed down the importance of being one's own person to daughter Nysa. "My mother made me independent, and my daughter is as independent as I am. She is [liberated] in her opinions." 

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