In an exclusive interview with India Today, actor Kajol opened up about the current crop of talent in the film industry. She commented on the comparisons between the actors of her generation and the Gen-Z stars. The 50-year-old appreciated stars like Alia Bhatt for carving their own path in the industry.

“I’m very happy to say that there is none,” Kajol said when asked if anyone from the younger generation reminded her of the way she was in the ’90s. “It’s not an arrogant statement or anything like that. But each one of the actors that we have has very clearly made their own world. They are not following anyone’s footprints – and they shouldn’t. It’s a different world today,” she added.

Kajol further emphasised that actors today are driven by their own vision, highlighting that it was not the same case back when she started working in the industry. “They are very clearly following their own ideas about what films they should and shouldn’t do. And they’re even clearer about who they are. Their identity is pretty much set in stone, and it’s not a map of anybody else,” she said.

When asked about the most promising star from the newer generation, Kajol responded with admiration for multiple young talents but acknowledged Alia Bhatt’s rise in particular. She said, “Alia, I think she has proven herself quite a bit. So, I mean, yeah… Then you have Ananya, Janhvi, Sara – the regular – all of them.”

Kajol is currently promoting her upcoming film ‘Maa’, which is all set to release in theatres on June 27.

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