Kajol on Tanuja's parenting: 'Our imaginations were never curbed'
Synopsis
Kajol's tribute to Tanuja on 'Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai' is more than nostalgia — it's a rare window into a parenting philosophy that prized imagination over expectation. The actress, who debuted opposite her own mother in Bekhudi (1992), still calls Tanuja 'worlds ahead' of her in talent, decades into her own celebrated career.
Key Takeaways
Kajol praised mother Tanuja's parenting style on talk show 'Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai' , calling it the greatest gift of her childhood.
Tanuja never tried to mould her children, instead giving them freedom to explore within limits — 'Our imaginations were never curbed,' Kajol said.
Kajol described Tanuja as 'the most spontaneous actress' she has ever worked with, saying her mother remains 'worlds ahead' of her in talent.
The two have shared the screen in Bekhudi (1992) — Kajol's Bollywood debut — and Toonpur Ka Superrhero (2010) .
In both films, Tanuja played Kajol's on-screen mother.
Veteran Bollywood actress Kajol once opened up about the parenting philosophy of her mother, celebrated actress Tanuja, describing it as a rare and liberating approach that shaped who she became. Speaking on the talk show 'Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai', Kajol credited Tanuja's hands-off, trust-first style as the most valuable gift of her childhood.
The Freedom Tanuja Gave Her Children
Joining the show via video call, Kajol reflected on how Tanuja never tried to mould her children into predetermined versions of themselves. 'The great thing about Mom was that she always let us be. We were allowed to be whatever we wanted to be. And there was never any holding us back or trying to mold us or trying to form us into some preconceived notion of what we should be as individuals. We were allowed to grow,' Kajol said.
She went further, noting that imagination was never stifled at home. 'We were never told that this is not what children do or this is not what you should do. It was just that if it makes you happy, go ahead and do it,' she added. Kajol acknowledged that this kind of parental restraint is far from common. 'I don't think that it's very easy for a parent to let go in that way. And I think that was the most amazing part,' she said.
Kajol on Tanuja as an Actress
Beyond the personal, Kajol also spoke at length about Tanuja's craft, calling her the most spontaneous actress she has encountered — and that includes having worked alongside her. 'I really think she is a fabulous actress. She is the most spontaneous actress that I know of,' Kajol said.
Recalling the experience of sharing screen space with her mother during her own debut, Kajol was candid about the gap in their abilities. 'When I worked with her in my first film, I felt like I was in front of her. Literally, I felt like she was worlds ahead of me. And she still is worlds ahead of me,' she said, adding, 'Whatever people may say about me, she really is my mother.'
Their On-Screen History Together
Kajol and Tanuja have shared the screen in two Hindi films. Their first collaboration was Bekhudi (1992), which also marked Kajol's Bollywood debut — with Tanuja playing her on-screen mother. The duo reunited nearly two decades later for Toonpur Ka Superrhero (2010), a 3D animation and live-action film in which Tanuja made a special appearance, again as Kajol's reel-life mother.
Why This Moment Resonates
Kajol's candid tribute to Tanuja arrives at a time when conversations around conscious parenting and creative freedom for children are gaining wider cultural traction in India. The 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai' actress's words offer a rare, unfiltered glimpse into one of Hindi cinema's most celebrated mother-daughter relationships — both on screen and off it.
Point of View
She is describing a deliberate parenting philosophy that ran against the grain of the film industry's image-management culture. In an industry where star children are often groomed from childhood, Tanuja's choice to step back and let her daughters self-define is genuinely countercultural. That Kajol — one of Hindi cinema's most commercially durable actresses — attributes her confidence and individuality to that freedom is worth noting. The interview also quietly underscores a generational truth: the most enduring influence a parent can have may be the one they choose not to exert.
NationPress
17 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Kajol say about Tanuja's parenting style?
Kajol said Tanuja gave her children the freedom to be whoever they wanted, without trying to mould them into preconceived ideas of what they should be. She called this open, trust-based approach 'the biggest freedom' and the most amazing part of growing up with Tanuja as a mother.
Where did Kajol make these revelations about her mother?
Kajol shared these reflections during an appearance on the talk show 'Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai', joining via video call. The show has a long history of featuring candid celebrity conversations.
How does Kajol rate Tanuja as an actress?
Kajol called Tanuja 'the most spontaneous actress' she knows, adding that when she worked with her mother in her debut film, she felt Tanuja was 'worlds ahead' of her — a gap she says still exists today.
Which films have Kajol and Tanuja acted in together?
The mother-daughter pair have shared the screen in two films: Bekhudi (1992), which was Kajol's Bollywood debut, and Toonpur Ka Superrhero (2010), a 3D animation and live-action film. Tanuja played Kajol's on-screen mother in both.
Why is Tanuja considered a veteran actress in Hindi cinema?
Tanuja has had a decades-long career in Hindi and regional cinema, known for her naturalistic acting style. Kajol herself describes her as spontaneous and technically far ahead of most contemporaries, reinforcing Tanuja's standing as one of the craft's more respected figures.
