Kajol initially hesitated to take on the role of a rape victim in the 1998 psychological thriller Dushman, but she agreed after assurances from producer Pooja Bhatt and director Tanuja Chandra. The film, directed by Tanuja Chandra, features Kajol in a dual role as twin sisters, one of whom is a rape victim.

Kajol admitted that she was initially reluctant to do the film because of its intense subject matter. She explained that she loves the script and the idea, but she didn't want to portray any kind of molestation or rape on screen. As an actor, she feels those emotions while acting, and she didn't feel the need to do that, stating that she could showcase her acting skills in other ways.

Pooja Bhatt approached Kajol for the film, but Kajol refused because she did not want to portray any kind of molestation or rape on screen. Kajol said that when you are acting in that emotion, you feel all those things, and as an actor, she didn't need to do that, she could show her acting prowess in other things.

Kajol shared that Tanuja Chandra and Pooja Bhatt made her understand and assured her that they would figure it out. They promised to shoot with a body double and would not do anything that would make her uncomfortable. That's how Dushman came to be.

In Dushman, Kajol plays twin sisters, Sonia and Naina Sehgal. Sonia is outgoing, while Naina is shy. Tragedy strikes when Sonia is brutally raped and murdered by Gokul Pandit, played by Ashutosh Rana. Naina is distraught and vows to hunt down Gokul. She meets Suraj Singh Rathod, a blind military veteran played by Sanjay Dutt, who helps her overcome her fear and trains her to fight back.

Dushman is a remake of the Hollywood film Eye for an Eye. The movie was lauded for its intense narrative, performances, and handling of sensitive themes. Ashutosh Rana won the Filmfare Award for Best Villain for his portrayal of Gokul Pandit. Kajol was also nominated for Best Actress at the Filmfare Awards for Dushman, but she won the award for her performance in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai.

Other actors in Dushman include Jas Arora, Tanvi Azmi, Pramod Muthu, and Kunal Khemu. The movie is produced by Mukesh Bhatt and Pooja Bhatt.

Dushman was released in the same year as Kajol's blockbuster Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. While Kuch Kuch Hota Hai was a massive hit, Dushman remained a powerful film that left a lasting impact with its gritty narrative and bold themes.