Born into the storied Mukherjee-Samarth film family, Kajol was sixteen when she faced the camera for Bekhudi (1992) and never went back to school. Unconventional by 1990s heroine standards and proudly unbothered about it, she became the decade's defining female star through her crackling pairing with Shah Rukh Khan in Baazigar, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, while proving her range as a chilling serial killer in Gupt.

After marrying Ajay Devgn in 1999 she chose to work sparingly, yet almost every return was an event: Fanaa and My Name Is Khan brought her fourth and fifth Filmfare Best Actress trophies, and Dilwale and Tanhaji rank among her biggest hits. A Padma Shri recipient, she has lately embraced streaming with Tribhanga, The Trial and Do Patti.

Filmography Highlights

• Baazigar (1993) — First hit and first pairing with Shah Rukh Khan
• Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995) — As Simran in the longest-running Indian film ever
• Gupt: The Hidden Truth (1997) — Won Filmfare's Best Villain award, a first for a woman
• Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998) — Beloved tomboy Anjali; second Filmfare Best Actress
• Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001) — Family blockbuster; third Filmfare Award
• Fanaa (2006) — Comeback romantic thriller opposite Aamir Khan
• My Name Is Khan (2010) — Acclaimed drama; fifth Filmfare Best Actress win
• Tanhaji (2020) — Period blockbuster with husband Ajay Devgn

Image: Wikimedia Commons. Part of the Top 50 Bollywood Celebrities series. Ranking inspired by popular industry listings; profiles are original editorial content.