As she celebrates a milestone birthday, Bollywood icon Kajol shows no signs of slowing down. With four diverse projects in various stages of production, the actor reflects on her enduring career and the evolving landscape of Indian cinema.

“I don’t do too much work. That’s my motivation,” Kajol tells Variety with characteristic frankness. “I want to work with good people. I want to work with people that I can tolerate for the entire amount of time that I’m shooting with them.” This selective approach has served her well over the decades, allowing her to stay relevant.

Kajol’s career has been marked by a string of memorable performances in commercial and critical successes. Her collaborations with Shah Rukh Khan in films like “Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge,” “Kuch Kuch Hota Hai” and “My Name is Khan” have become cultural touchstones. She’s also won acclaim for more dramatic turns in “Fanaa” and “Gupt,...