Kajal Aggarwal Says Bollywood Can Learn Punctuality From South

• Kajal Aggarwal said she became selective about Hindi films because South cinema offered her better-quality roles.
• The actor said Bollywood could learn punctuality and discipline from the South film industry.
• Kajal recalled waiting the longest for Salman Khan during a film shoot, saying his late arrival surprised her.
• She said South cinema has evolved in writing stronger and more liberal roles for female characters.
• Kajal is set to appear in The India Story and Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana films.

Actor Kajal Aggarwal has opened up about her career choices, explaining why she focused more on South Indian cinema despite having worked in Bollywood films with major stars. She said the quality of roles offered to her in the South matched her creative priorities better and added that Bollywood could learn punctuality from the South film industry.

Speaking on Shubhankar Mishra’s podcast, Kajal said she prioritised meaningful roles over the number of projects she signed. She explained that the opportunities she received in South cinema aligned more closely with the kind of work she wanted to pursue.

“The quality of work I was getting down South was not something I was getting in Bollywood. The roles that I wanted – my priority was quality over quantity, and South was giving me such roles in abundance,” she said.

Kajal added that language was never a limitation for her career choices. She said her interest was always focused on the filmmaking process and the quality of the projects she was offered.

Kajal on punctuality differences between industries

The actor also discussed differences in work culture between Hindi and South Indian film industries, saying punctuality was one area where Bollywood could improve.

“Bollywood should learn punctuality from the South. In Hindi films, nothing is on time. In the South, they work by the clock,” Kajal said.

Recalling her experience working with Salman Khan, Kajal said the actor’s arrival time once left her surprised because she was accustomed to the stricter schedules followed in South cinema.

“Salman Khan has made me wait the longest, and I was not used to it,” she said, adding that she spent the waiting period exercising at the gym on set.

Actor discusses changing portrayal of women in South cinema

Kajal also reflected on how the portrayal of women in South films has changed over the years. She said the industry has moved towards writing more liberal and character-driven roles for female protagonists.

She said South cinema is now exploring stronger female characters and coming-of-age stories, adding that older trends around objectifying female actors have reduced.

Kajal has worked across Hindi, Telugu and Tamil films during her career. Her Bollywood appearances include films such as Singham and Special 26, while she became widely known in South cinema through movies including Magadheera, Thuppakki and Mersal.

On the work front, Kajal will next appear in The India Story. She is also part of filmmaker Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana projects, where she will portray Mandodari.