Mumbai: In the 90s, when mainstream Hindi cinema actresses preferred to portray the simple, innocent, and “girl-next-door” image on the big screen, Kajol took a bold step that shocked Bollywood. Having become the heartthrob of youth across the country with her portrayal of Simran in the 1995 all-time blockbuster “Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge,” just two years later, Kajol chose a role no one could have imagined. In director Rajiv Rai’s acclaimed suspense thriller “Gupt: The Hidden Truth” (1997), Kajol not only played a negative role but also, with her sensational performance, instilled such a sense of dread that audiences were stunned in theaters. Her portrayal of Isha Dewan proved to be the biggest test of her career and this character wrote a new chapter in the history of Indian cinema.
In the 90s, when heroines were afraid to take risks, Kajol took a big risk.
When “Gupt,” released in 1997, hit theaters, audiences expected a typical love triangle and murder mystery. The film starred Bobby Deol (Sahil Sinha) and Manisha Koirala (Sheetal Chaudhary) alongside Kajol (Esha Dewan). Throughout the film, Kajol was portrayed as a loving, devoted, and passionate lover who is deeply in love with Sahil. Sahil was seen as the prime suspect throughout the story, accused of murdering his own father. However, when the film’s final twist arrived, the revelations on screen sent chills down the spine.
The real killer in the film was none other than the innocent-looking Esha Dewan. In the 90s, it was considered a huge career risk for an established and top romantic actress to play such a terrifying and insane villain. It was believed at the time that playing a negative role could tarnish a heroine’s on-screen image and make audiences stop accepting her as a leading lady. But Kajol, defying this stereotype, happily accepted the challenge.
Created a historic record at the Filmfare Awards, becoming the first actress to win an award for a villain.
Kajol’s risk yielded results that neither the filmmakers nor the critics had anticipated. Gupt not only became one of the biggest hits of 1997, but Kajol’s performance was universally praised. History was made at the 43rd Filmfare Awards in 1998. Kajol was awarded the Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Negative Role / Best Villain for her role as Isha Dewan.
This award marked a milestone in the history of Indian cinema, as it marked the first time in Filmfare history that a female actor (actress) won the coveted trophy in the Best Villain category. Previously, this award category had been dominated by legendary male actors like Amrish Puri, Danny Denzongpa, Ashutosh Rana, and Nana Patekar. Kajol’s record remained unbroken for years, proving that a female actor could be more fearsome and powerful on screen than any male villain.
The success of ‘Gupt’ and Kajol’s iconic climax scene
The climax scene of the film “Gupt” is still considered one of Hindi cinema’s most spectacular and shocking twists. In the final hospital scene, when Isha Dewan’s truth is revealed, Kajol’s facial expression transforms from innocence to utter horror and craziness in an instant. The terrifying madness in her eyes, her screams, and her knife-wielding attack were enough to send chills through the audience.
Kajol revealed in an interview that when she was narrated the story of this character, she was momentarily shocked, but realized that this role was the perfect way to push the boundaries of her acting abilities. She lived every shade of Isha Dewan’s character with such depth and passion that the audience couldn’t forget her terrifying look even after the film ended. Biju Shah’s background score and the title track “Gupt Gupt” remain the hallmarks of this suspense thriller even today.
Why was this role the biggest test of his career?
The 90s were a time when the scope for actresses in Bollywood was limited. They were primarily confined to dancing in songs, playing the hero’s girlfriend, or performing emotional scenes. In such an environment, Kajol’s decision to play a psychopath killer was nothing short of audacious. Had this experiment failed, it could have severely damaged her career.
But the power of Kajol’s acting was that she not only frightened audiences but also shocked them. After “Gupt,” the approach to writing female characters in Bollywood completely changed. In many subsequent films, actresses began to be offered roles with gray and negative shades. While a few actresses, like Priyanka Chopra (in “Aitraaz”), later achieved success in this genre, it was Kajol who blazed the trail.
Kajol’s acting journey and the immortal legacy of ‘Gupt’
“Gupt: The Hidden Truth” not only became one of the most challenging films of Kajol’s career, but it is still considered a benchmark for Indian suspense-thriller cinema. Kajol subsequently proved her mettle in numerous superhit films like “Dushman,” “Kuch Kuch Hota Hai,” “Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham,” “Fanaa,” and “My Name Is Khan,” but her portrayal of Isha Dewan is still remembered as the highlight of her cinematic career.
Even after more than 25 years, whenever Bollywood’s best murder mysteries or most terrifying villains are discussed, Kajol’s role in “Gupt” always comes to mind. It was a role that proved Kajol not only the queen of romance, but also one of Indian cinema’s most fearless and versatile actresses.