30 years of Kajol in Bollywood: Tracing the star’s iconic style moments onscreen 

For a legion of ‘90s kids, Kajol is an everlasting icon of femininity and grace—girls wanted to be her, guys wanted to be with her. As she marks three decades in the industry since the release of her debut, Bekhudi (1992), her style choices continue to remain the stuff of industry lore.  Perhaps you ripped out a newspaper clipping of her salmon pink lehenga from ‘Sajanji Ghar Aaye’ as a inspiration for your own  bridal look or maybe you lost your heart to her array of monotone saris against snowy locales—there’s no denying that her legacy-defining impact on the fashion landscape. Ahead, we take a look at all the iconic style moments from her portfolio that will have you reimagining pretty for the 21st century:

Athleisure for all

As a new generation of cosy-seekers, we pursue comfort above all else, and athleisure has staged a triumphant comeback but there is no denying its original champion during the ‘90s—the firebrand Anjali of Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998). As the archetypal tomboy, her fuss-free uniform of logomania tees, varsity sweatshirts and the iconic headband find relevance till today. 

Read more : Brides, here’s how you can build a timeless wedding wardrobe

Sari, not sorry

Fans of the star will be acquainted with the fact that a slinky chiffon sari is her go-to sartorial signature, however it pays to note how she anchors her choice of colour as the focal point of the look. Her lexicon of feminine romanticism on display in the iconic ‘Sooraj Hua Madham’ from Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001) is easy to love, with a palette that burns hot and cold from the palest whites to sheer black numbers for apres-hours glam. 

Hats off

…to the star’s refusal of blending in with the wallpaper, as she took on tricky trends and made them her own. Flip back through her style files, and you’ll find that her onscreen repertoire is replete with adventurous headgear, ranging from floppy sun hats to knitted berets for a romantic sojourn in Switzerland, as spotted in the cult classic Dilwale Dulhania Le Jaayenge (1995). 

Cheers for chunky jewellery

While bolder silhouettes have been kicking around for a while, it comes as little surprise that Kajol’s penchant for chunky jewellery—from statement hoops in Ishq (1997) to maximalist chokers in Baazigar (1993)—continues to find a spot on the moodboards of nostalgia-driven millennials and Gen Z. 

Bolder the better

While Kajol’s onscreen career has been replete with go-with-everything pastels, her truly iconic moments have seen her reaching for saturated hues. From eschewing bridal reds for an all-green number for mehendi night in Dilwale Dulhania Le Jaayenge (1995) to the statement ‘gerua’ that has won her favour for romantic ballads in movies like Fanaa (2006) and Dilwale (2015), the star’s loud-and-proud roster of colour continues to spark envy decades later.