Kajal Aggarwal

Kajal Aggarwal, born on June 19, 1985, began her acting journey with the Hindi film Kyun! Ho Gaya Na... where she portrayed Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's sister. Kajal's Telugu film debut came in 2007 with Lakshmi Kalyanam, starring alongside Kalyan Ram. That same year, she made her mark in the critically acclaimed film Chandamama. In 2008, she made her foray into the Tamil film industry with Pazhani, starring alongside Bharath. While the film garnered commercial and critical success, it failed to catapult Kajal's career due to her minor role. Her subsequent Telugu films Pourudu, co-starring Sumanth, and Aatadista, starring Nitin, garnered mixed reviews but performed well at the box office. From 2009 to 2012 Kajal Aggarwal exploded onto the South Indian stage, delivering a relentless string of high‑octane releases that cemented her as a marquee name. She opened 2009 with a mixed‑review, box‑office flop opposite Vinay Rai in the Tamil venture Modhi Vilayadu, but the same year she vaulted to superstardom in S.S. Rajamouli’s magnum opus Magadheera, starring opposite Ram Charan Teja and dazzling audiences with dual portrayals of the ethereal princess Mithra and modern‑day Indu—earning her a Filmfare Best Actress‑Telugu nod, shattering records as the highest‑grossing Telugu film ever, and later repeating the triumph in its Tamil incarnation Maaveeran (2011). Subsequent 2009 outings Ganesh (with Ram Pothineni) and Arya 2 (with Allu Arjun) drew mixed critical chatter, yet Kajal’s performances were singled out for praise. 2010 saw her charm as Bandini, Prabhas’s childhood love, in A. Karunakaran’s Darling—a commercial hit that netted a second Filmfare nomination and a Sify verdict that she “mesmerized” viewers. She then turned heads in the gritty Tamil thriller Naan Mahaan Alla opposite Karthi, a real‑life inspired success that resonated in its Telugu dub Naa Peru Siva, before capping the year with the critically lauded, box‑office‑smashing Brindavanam alongside Jr. NTR and Samantha, clinching the CineMAA Best Actress award. 2011 kept the momentum alive: as doctor Priya in the breezy rom‑com Mr. Perfect with Prabhas, she garnered rave reviews (“looks great, expresses well”) and a third Filmfare nod; a moderate run followed in Veera with Ravi Teja, and she made a bold Hindi debut in Singham opposite Ajay Devgn, earning a Filmfare Best Female Debut nomination despite mixed press remarks, while the film itself roared at the box office. A late‑year misstep arrived with Dhada opposite Naga Chaitanya. 2012 revived her star power: she teamed with Mahesh Babu in the Sankranti hit Businessman, receiving commendation for a restrained yet effective turn; she returned to Tamil in Maattrraan opposite Suriya, winning plaudits for her sincere portrayal of translator Anjali; then exploded as boxer Nisha in A.R. Murugadoss’s Thuppakki with Vijay, a blockbuster that crossed the ₹1 billion mark and secured her the SIIMA Critics Award for Best Actress‑Tamil, even as Daily News & Analysis noted she “acts as a pretty face mostly, but is pleasing and cute in many sequences.” Her final 2012 release, the Telugu romance Sarocharu with Ravi Teja, faltered commercially, but Kajal’s candid confession—preferring the Telugu industry for its respect toward women over the hero‑centric Tamil arena—underscored the fierce, unapologetic spirit that defines her meteoric rise. The powerhouse performer Kajal Aggarwal ignited the screen in 2013 with the action-packed Naayak, a massive commercial triumph. She then captivated audiences as the girl-next-door in the critically acclaimed heist drama Special 26, earning praise for her sweet romance. Her star continued to rise with Baadshah, a financial success where she was lauded as stunning eye-candy with a role she truly owned. While All in All Azhagu Raja saw mixed results, 2014 cemented her status with the blockbuster masala film Jilla, where she commanded attention as a police officer, and a memorable cameo in the hit Yevadu. She then delivered a standout performance in the highest-grossing Telugu film of the year, Govindudu Andarivadele, earning her a fourth Filmfare nomination. 2015 was a whirlwind, featuring the commercially successful Temper and the blockbuster Maari. Though Paayum Puli faced criticism, her cameo in Size Zero added to her busy year. 2016 saw her shine as a princess in the moderately successful Sardaar Gabbar Singh, and her portrayal of an NRI in the critically panned Brahmotsavam still garnered positive remarks. She impressed opposite Randeep Hooda in Do Lafzon Ki Kahani, and after an eight-year wait, her long-delayed film Final Cut of Director finally saw the light of day. She concluded the year with a stunning appearance in Kavalai Vendam and a show-stopping special dance number in Janatha Garage that became a massive hit. 2017 proved to be another phenomenal year, beginning with a moderate success in Vivegam and a scene-stealing comic performance. She then reunited with Vijay for the colossal box office smash Mersal, and delivered a powerhouse performance in the blockbuster Khaidi No. 150. Her final release of the year, Nene Raju Nene Mantri, was a commercial triumph, with Aggarwal stealing the show as a strong wife, earning her the prestigious SIIMA Award for Best Actress – Telugu. In 2018 Kajal stormed the Telugu screen with a lead in MLA and, in April, inked a third‑time‑around deal with Ravi Teja, while also delivering a gritty turn in Awe and securing a spot in Kavacham. The following year she dazzled in Comali before reuniting with director Teja for Sita, embodying the ruthless, money‑driven titular businesswoman. 2020 saw her cast opposite legends Chiranjeevi and Ram Charan in Koratala Siva’s Acharya—only to have her scenes mysteriously omitted from the trailer, a cut later confirmed by the director. March 19 2021 became a double‑release day as she appeared in Jeffery Gee Chin’s Mosagallu alongside Vishnu Manchu and Suniel Shetty, and in Sanjay Gupta’s Hindi action epic Mumbai Saga. Early 2022 brought Hey Sinamika (directed by Brinda) with Dulquer Salmaan and Aditi Rao Hydari, and 2023 added Bhagavanth Kesari under Anil Ravipudi, which earned mixed critical notes. After a brief hiatus, she returned in 2025’s Sikandar as aspiring entrepreneur Vaidehi, sharing screen space with Salman Khan and Vishal Vashishtha—though The Hollywood Reporter’s Rahul Desai lamented that “a capable performer like Kajal has been reduced to the sort of passing character.” Upcoming projects include Kannappa opposite Akshay Kumar, The India Story with Shreyas Talpade, and the mythic role of Mandodari alongside Yash in Ramayana: Part 1. On the personal front, she announced her engagement to Gautam Kitchlu on 6 October 2020, married privately in Mumbai on 30 October, and welcomed son Neil on 19 April 2022 after confirming her pregnancy via Instagram. Widely hailed as one of Telugu cinema’s most popular and highest‑paid stars, Kajal cracked Forbes India’s Celebrity 100 at 58th in 2015 with an estimated ₹101.3 million earnings, ranked 15th among South‑cinema Instagram influencers in 2021, topped the most‑tweeted South Indian actress list in 2020 (2nd in 2021), and was the most‑searched South Indian actress on Google in 2022. She clinched Hyderabad Times’ Most Desirable Woman title in 2016, followed by runner‑up spots in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020, and now fronts major brands like Panasonic, Dabur Amla Oil, Bru and Pond’s, while standing among the most‑followed Telugu actors on Instagram as of August 2024. Her trophy cabinet boasts four Filmfare Best Actress‑Telugu nominations for Magadheera, Darling, Mr. Perfect and Govindudu Andarivadele. Her glittering career has been punctuated by prestigious accolades, solidifying her reign as a true cinematic force. She was nominated for the coveted Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Telugu an astonishing four times, for her unforgettable performances in Magadheera, Darling, Mr. Perfect, and Govindudu Andarivadele. Her triumph at the Filmfare Critics Awards for Best Actress – Telugu for Satyabhama in 2024 marked a triumphant return, proving her enduring talent. The CineMAA Awards have also recognized her brilliance, with wins for Best Actress – Telugu in Brindaavanam and Best Actress – Tamil in Thuppakki, alongside nominations for Magadheera and Mr. Perfect. Her impact extends to the Vijay Awards, where she clinched the Favourite Heroine award for Thuppakki and earned a Best Actress nomination for the same blockbuster. Further cementing her status, she took home the Cosmopolitan People Choice Award for Best Actress for Thuppakki. The Edison Awards celebrated her captivating presence, awarding her The Gorgeous Belle of the Year in 2016. Her social media dominance and undeniable style were acknowledged at the Zee Telugu Apsara Awards 2016 with wins for Fashion Icon of the Year and Most Popular Female Celebrity on Social Media. She has also been honored with the Femina Penn Shakti Award and the Femina Power List South, and the Zee Telugu Golden Awards recognized her as Best Actress in 2017. Her reign as Hyderabad Times Most Desirable Woman in 2016 is a testament to her widespread appeal. The Zee Telugu Apsara Awards 2018 further solidified her legendary status with the Actress of the Decade award and a Best Actress win for 2017. Even early in her career, her potential was undeniable, earning a nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut – Hindi for Singham.