Actress Kajol once offered a candid and deeply personal assessment of her mother, veteran actress Tanuja, calling her the most spontaneous performer she has ever encountered — and admitting that even decades into her own career, she still feels outclassed by her mother on screen.

What Kajol Said About Tanuja

Speaking on the classic chat show 'Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai', hosted by the late Farooq Sheikh, Kajol was asked to rate Tanuja as an actress and identify her strengths and weaknesses. Her response was unequivocal. 'I think she is a fabulous actress. I really do. I really think that she is an absolutely fabulous actress. She is the most spontaneous actress that I know of,' Kajol said.

She went further, reflecting on the humbling experience of sharing screen space with her mother for the first time. 'I mean, I have worked with her actually and I feel that if I worked with her today, there would be so much of a difference. Because when I worked with her in my first film, I felt like, you know, I felt like she was like worlds ahead of me, and she still is worlds ahead of me,' Kajol added.

The Film That Brought Them Together

Kajol and Tanuja first appeared on screen together in Kajol's debut film 'Bekhudi', released in 1992. In the film, Tanuja played Kajol's on-screen mother — a role that mirrored their real-life relationship. It was during the making of this film that Kajol first experienced, up close, the effortless naturalism her mother brought to every scene.

Kajol also offered a telling personal remark about their bond: 'But she is just so spontaneous. I mean, in the talent department, I really feel, I mean, whatever people may say about me, she really is my mother, literally.'

Kajol's Own Journey in Bollywood

Despite her self-deprecating admiration for Tanuja, Kajol went on to build one of the most celebrated filmographies in Hindi cinema. Her blockbusters include 'Baazigar', 'Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge', 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai', 'Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham', 'Fanaa', and 'My Name Is Khan', cementing her status as one of the most bankable actresses of her generation.

Notably, Tanuja herself is a towering figure in Indian cinema, with a career spanning several decades and a reputation for instinctive, unforced performances — qualities her daughter clearly absorbed and admired from the very beginning.

A Legacy Rooted in Craft

The mother-daughter dynamic between Tanuja and Kajol offers a rare window into how screen craft is passed — not always through instruction, but through observation and awe. Kajol's willingness to place her mother above herself, even at the peak of her own stardom, speaks to the depth of that influence. As Bollywood continues to celebrate multi-generational talent, this conversation remains one of the more genuine tributes one actress has paid to another.