As Kajol gears up for the release of her latest film Maa, a mythological horror drama, the actor opened up about her unconventional relationship with the horror genre — and it’s as candid and charming as you’d expect.
“I am not a horror buff at all,” Kajol confessed during the film’s promotions. “There are so many things in life that scare you naturally. You don’t have to watch a movie, basically.” Despite her personal aversion to horror, the actress is surrounded by family members who are die-hard fans of the genre. “My husband, my son, my nephews — everybody around me loves, loves, loves horror. They watch at least one film every week. Come hell or high water.”While Kajol admits to watching a few horror classics, she does so with a twist. “I watch these films without sound. Without sound, I’m not that scared,” she laughed. It’s a trick many wary viewers might relate to — muting the jump scares while still soaking in the eerie visuals.Interestingly, Kajol recounted a hilarious incident involving one of horror cinema’s most iconic films. “I was told that Rosemary’s Baby was going to be a lawyer drama,” she revealed. “I was like interesting, I think I’ll watch it. And then cut to… we had this!” The 1968 psychological horror film, directed by Roman Polanski, is actually a chilling tale about a young woman who comes to suspect sinister forces are conspiring against her unborn child. Far from legal drama territory, it’s widely regarded as one of the greatest horror films ever made which went on to earn more than US $ 33 million at the box office.Kajol also shared her appreciation for the aesthetic value horror films can offer when done right. “One of the biggest things I like about horror is that when it’s done well, it has a beautiful aesthetic to it.”Maa has been backed by Ajay Devgn and is directed by Vishal Furia.