Kajol recently spoke about a personal decision she made early in her career—choosing to drop her last name and be known simply as Kajol. For someone who comes from one of the most respected film families in India, this wasn’t an easy or impulsive choice. She shared how, before entering the industry, her mother Tanuja asked her if she wanted to use her surname, reminding her of the incredible film legacy she came from. On one side, she had the legacy of her maternal grandparents, actress Shobhna Samarth and filmmaker Kumarsen Samarth, and on the other, her paternal grandfather Sashadhar Mukherjee and father Shomu Mukherjee, both well-known names in the industry.
Despite the strong lineage, Kajol felt the need to carve her own identity. She didn’t want to seem like she was favoring any side of her family or leaning on their reputation to build her career. According to her, even back then—and still today—she believed in staying true to herself and building her name based on her own work and choices. That’s why she decided to go with just Kajol, hoping it would help her avoid the pressure and expectations that naturally come with a famous surname.
She admitted that being part of a celebrated family does bring its share of baggage. There’s always the pressure to live up to what others have achieved before you. By choosing to drop her surname, she believed she could ease some of that burden and focus on being seen for who she really is—not just a part of a famous family tree, but an individual with her own voice and talent.
Over the years, Kajol has stayed true to that decision, and it’s become a part of her identity in the truest sense. Now, decades into her career, she continues to stand tall on her own terms. She will next be seen in Sarzameen alongside Ibrahim Ali Khan and in Maa, directed by Vishal Furia, which is set to release on June 27, 2025.
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