In a bold departure from her earlier roles, Kajol steps into the eerie world of mythological horror for the first time in Maa, a genre-blending film that promises chills, emotion, and a strong message about motherhood.
At the trailer launch, Kajol shared her excitement and emotional connection to the film, calling it an unprecedented cinematic experience. She also reflected on how the horror genre in India is evolving. “Earlier, horror films didn’t have strong scripts or coherent storylines—there were exceptions, but not many. But now, things are changing. The stories are better, the production value is higher, and the entire genre is being taken more seriously. That’s what drew me to this film.”
She further added, "This is the first time someone has attempted a mythological horror in Hindi cinema. I’m just so happy to be a part of something so unique, and to have such a wonderful team backing me,” she said.
Interestingly, Maa came together at lightning speed. Kajol revealed that from concept to production, the entire process was unusually fast. “You usually get an idea, you develop it, you find people to back it—it all takes time. But this film? From the day we heard the concept to the start of shoot, it all happened in the shortest time I’ve ever seen. Within three months, the script, casting, and pre-production were all underway. It truly felt like there was a guiding hand over us, as if we were doing the right thing.”
Kajol, known for her instinctive approach to acting, credited the team for bringing the film’s intensity to life. “I don’t believe in too much conscious preparation. My prep always happens subconsciously. The script, the environment—everything around it helped build the character’s emotional depth. I have to give full credit to the director, cinematographer, and the entire crew. It’s because of them that it all came together.”
With Maa, Kajol promises a terrifying yet emotionally resonant experience. As she cheekily put it, "Mera plan hai itna daraungi… band bajne wali hai!" ("My plan is to scare everyone so much… it’s going to blow their minds!")
Directed by Vishal Furia—renowned for his horror hits Chhorii and Chhorii 2—Maa is set to hit screens on June 27. Backed by producers Ajay Devgn and Jyoti Deshpande, the film also stars Indraneil Sengupta, Ronit Roy, and Jitin Gulati.