There’s a moment in the trailer for Maa that hits like a punch to the gut. Kajol, bound to a tree and tortured in the face of a demon utters the line: “Jab tak teri maa tere saath hai, tera koi kuch nahi begaard sakta.”
It’s more than a horror film one-liner. It’s a declaration, a promise, and a truth that echoes through generations of Indian women taught to fear but born to fight.
In a career spanning nearly three decades, from the iconic Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge to powerful performances in films like Devi and Do Patti, Kajol has long chosen characters that stay with audiences. But with Maa, she steps into what may be her most fearless role yet: a genre-bending horror film that dares not only to scare but also to speak to stories long hidden in silence.
Ahead of the film’s release, Asian Sunday and Style caught up with the ever-versatile star. The conversation unfolded far beyond horror and special effects, touching on the raw emotional terrain of motherhood, the physicality of rage, and the deep cultural scars that Maa dares to expose.
Set in a shadowy, rural village, Maa follows a mother’s fight to protect her daughter not just from demonic entities but from the darker realities of society itself. The film dives headfirst into menstruation stigma, female infanticide, gender-based violence, and the pervasive hold of patriarchy in parts of rural India.
“Well, I’m glad we have the horror tag to explore these themes,” Kajol says. “It gives them a platform and maybe makes them a little more normal. Because in real life, these things are normal. Talking about safety, menstruation, dignity… these are everyday realities.”
Directed by Vishal Furia, Maa breaks the mold of conventional horror. It doesn’t rely on gore or jump scares. Instead, it leans into Indian folklore, generational trauma, and maternal fury. “It’s a very physical film,” Kajol shares. “I thought it would be easier physically, but honestly, it’s one of the most demanding roles I’ve done.”
What grounds the film isn’t the fear but the fierce love at its heart. The mother-daughter bond becomes the emotional backbone of the story. “You watch horror films all the time,” Kajol says. “But do you really feel for the characters? That’s what makes Maa different. That instinct to protect your child, it’s so basic, so primal. You don’t need to be a parent to understand it. You just need to have loved someone that deeply.”
She recalls a particularly haunting sequence where terrified villagers, consumed by superstition, decide that her daughter must be sacrificed. “That’s when it hits you,” she says. “Because you’re not just watching a horror movie anymore. You’re feeling that terror and helplessness through the eyes of a mother.”
That now-iconic trailer line “Jab tak teri maa tere saath hai…” wasn’t just well-delivered. Kajol says she felt it in her bones. “I believed every word of it. And I still do. As long as my mother is with me, nothing and no one can truly touch me.”
Filming those intense sequences wasn’t just emotionally taxing; it was physically gruelling and technically challenging. “There was a lot of action and, of course, VFX,” she says. “Acting in front of a green screen is a whole different game. You have to imagine the monster, its size, and its movement when there’s nothing there. So, your trust in the director becomes absolutely everything.”
Kajol, who doesn’t consider herself a horror fan, was surprised by just how much the genre demanded. “I didn’t realise horror had to be played at such an emotional and physical pitch,” she admits. “You’re not just acting scared; you’re trying to make the audience feel that fear through you.”
And while Maa may be her most genre-defying film yet, the issues it tackles are painfully familiar. Kajol has portrayed women who faced violence, loss, and resistance before. But this film, she says, felt deeply personal. “Someone asked me, ‘Why don’t we make movies like the ones from the ’90s anymore?’ And I thought people have changed. Love has changed. Even the way we look at forever has changed. Maybe we don’t believe in eternal love the way we used to. But faith? Faith in yourself, in your strength that’s still possible.”
She pauses. “That’s really what Maa is about. It’s your faith versus evil. Your courage against fear. And the truth is, the glass ceiling? It’s in your head. We all have that strength inside us we just forget sometimes.”
Despite the heavy themes, Kajol speaks with conviction and humour. She doesn’t see the film as just a dark or tragic narrative. For her, it’s a story of empowerment, catharsis, and emotional release.
As we wrap up, Kajol, dressed in a Hot pink outfit matching Asian Sunday’s signature hue, flashes that signature grin, the one that lit up an entire generation of cinema. “I just hope people come out saying, ‘That was better than the popcorn and samosa!’” she laughs. “Because if they do that, we’ve won.”
In Maa, the strength is sometimes supernatural, but in Kajol’s hands, it’s unmistakably human. The film releases this month and promises not just to terrify but also to transform, challenge, and perhaps even heal, one scream at a time.
You can watch the full interview here
