Bollywood actress Kajol recently opened up about a surprising childhood incident where she tried to run away from her boarding school at just 11 years old to see her ailing great-grandmother.
A Deep Family Connection
Kajol shared that she grew up in a unique household, living with four generations of women: her great-grandmother, grandmother, mother (veteran actor Tanuja), and herself. This environment fostered incredibly strong and lasting bonds, especially with her maternal great-grandmother.
She recounted how news of her great-grandmother’s deteriorating health deeply affected her. Despite being only 11 and residing in a boarding school in Panchgani, a five-hour journey from Mumbai, young Kajol felt an urgent need to be by her side.
The Daring Escape Attempt
Kajol called her mother, hoping for permission to return home, but was told to wait until her December holidays due to upcoming exams. Undeterred, and joined by a similarly unhappy friend, Kajol hatched a plan to escape to Mumbai.
She ingeniously convinced her local guardian in Panchgani that her mother had called her home, asking him to take her to the bus stand. However, just as she was waiting to board the bus, the nuns from her school appeared, taking her back by the ear and putting an end to her audacious plan.
Boarding School’s Lasting Impact
Despite this rebellious episode, Kajol holds her boarding school experience in high regard. She believes that living among many different people taught her invaluable life lessons and helped her develop a better understanding of society.
In fact, her positive experience has led her to advocate for boarding schools. She revealed that she sent her daughter, Nysa, to a boarding school, and plans to do the same for her 14-year-old son, Yug.
Kajol feels that boarding schools help children appreciate their parents more and become more adaptable to various social situations. It’s a testament to how even a foiled escape attempt can lead to a deeper understanding of life’s lessons.
- Kajol attempted to run away from boarding school at age 11.
- Her motivation was to see her ailing maternal great-grandmother.
- Despite the incident, she values her boarding school experience and sent her own daughter to one.
This heartwarming anecdote highlights the strong family ties that shaped Kajol’s life and her unique perspective on child-rearing.
