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Madhuri
Dixit
Biology student at Parle college who started with a
flop film (Abodh), then struggled for years until her
success with the 'Ek do teen' song in N. Chandra's Tezaab.
Her overtly sensual dance style continued to bring her
fame in the 'dhak dhak' song in Beta and 'choli ke peeche'
in Khalnayak. Now Mrs Nene, she reigns as one of the
leading female stars of Bollywood, proving her acting
ability with fine performances like Prakash Jha's
Mrityudand.
Name Madhuri Dixit
Pet Name Bubbly
Born on 15th May 1967
Place of Birth Mumbai
Mailing Address Vijaydeep, 3rd Floor
Iris Park, Juhu,
Bombay 400049, India
Height 5 feet 4 inches
Weight 51 kg. (112.2 lb.)
First Film Abodh
First hit film Tezaab
Fav. Hero (Indian) Balraj Sahani
Fav. Hero (Foreign) Gregory Peck
Fav. Heroine (Indian) Nargis
Fav. Heroine (Foreign) Ingrid Bergman
Three all time favorite desi films Ganga Jamuna, Sholay,
Padosan
Three all time favorite foreign films All about Eve,
Amadeus, Non Voyager
Hates Interviews, especially if there is a string of them.
Favourite Food Maharashtrian dishes/backed, cheesy stuff.
What scares you the most? Cockroaches
Obsession My films, my work
Dream Man Sir Winston Churchill:
Orator, warrior, PM and writer
Dream Woman Smt. Indira Gandhi:
Power, wit, dignity
All Time Favourite Dance Numbers: Vyajyantimala -- Jewel
Theif -- 'Hothon pe aisi baat...'
Sandhya -- Jal Bin Machli Nritra Bin Bijli -- 'Kajara
lagake...'
Waheeda Rehman -- Neel Kamal
Padmini -- All her films
Helen -- Inteqaam
Madhuri in a Nutshell
Madhuri Dixit, the Madhubala of the nineties, the
Maryln Monroe of Bollywood, has stolen the hearts of the
young and the old alike. She has quite a range of fans,
right from little kids in the railway station dancing to
the beat of Ek do teen, college gir ls aping her costumes
and dance movements from her Hum Aap Ke Hai Kaun, to M.F.
Hussain, the magnificent painter who is completely fida
over her charms.
So what is it that makes Madhuri, the symbol of womanhood
in Indian cinema? Is it her "the girl -next- door" charm,
unlike the sophisticated types of Zeenat Aman and Parveen
Babi, that appeals to the masses? Oh, lest you be
mistaken, Dixit is probably o ne of the few actresses who
has been to school. In addition to her feminine charms,
and training in classical dance (Kathak), Madhuri has a
bachelors degree in Microbiology. But it was not her
education that brought her fame. She got a lucky break
when Su bhash Ghai spotted her dancing talent during the
shooting of Awaara Baap. He told her that if she stopped
doing itsy-bitsy roles, he would relaunch her in his
films. Madhuri of course jumped at the opportunity, and
since then there is no looking back.
There was a time in the Tezaab girl's life when she was
threatened by the onslaught of new teenage movies. But for
producers who are looking for an actress with more than
just sex appeal, Madhuri is the best bet. She can not only
gyra te, but can act too . Take for example, the film Prem
Granth by Raj Kapoor productions. Madhuri’s superb
performance as a low caste village belle who moves from
one tragic situation to another a la Nargis in Mother
India, confirms that Madhuri’s mass appeal and her consoli
dates her number one position in the industry.
So does the nimble feet damsel have any plans for family
and relationship, or does she like the many screen legends
before her, let life pass by and live in the mirrored
existence of the synthetic screen? "I think one should
feel that one wants to get mar ried and settled. And I
feel there’s such a lot to do with my career that I don’t
want to settle down at this moment, " says the Menaka of
Master painter M.F. Hussain.
Her story
Madhuri wanted to become a micro-biologist - however
that just wasn't destined to be. An offer from Rajshri
Productions brought Madhuri her first role, the film `Abodh'
(1986) released and forgotten, it wasn't until godfather
Ghai saw Madhuri and gave her a tiny dance sequence in
`Karma' (1986), that things improved. The dance sequence
was omitted from the final cut. Ghai promised Madhuri
better roles, on the condition that she stop doing tiny
roles in insignificant films. Thus, Ghai gave Madhuri
`Uttar Dakshin', and then a proper launch in `Ram Lakhan'
(1988). Ghai also took the step of putting an eight page
advertisement in the trade magazines featuring Madhuri,
proclaiming that producers of the calibre of Boney Kapoor,
Yash Chopra and six others had signed Madhuri for their
forthcoming projects. It was all together another matter
that none of the forementioned producers had signed
Madhuri for their films.
Madhuri however, didn't have to wait for Ghai's `Ram
Lakhan', N.Chandra's `Tezaab' and ek, do, teen char took
the nation by storm, Miss Dixit had arrived, and the whole
world knew. Tezaab went on to complete a golden jubilee,
and was thus a bigger hit than Ram Lakhan.
A superb performance followed in Dil (1990) - which
brought Madhuri her first Filmfare award, a rapport was
struck with Indra Kumar which resulted in two more
blockbusters Beta (1991) and Raja (1995). 1990 onwards, a
hit film per year followed including Saajan, Khalnayak,
Prem Pratigaya, cumulating in Hum Aapke Hain Koun (1994),
hindi cinema's biggest blockbuster to date. Madhuri mania
ensured the success of `Raja' (1995), a film with many
flaws, thus Madhuri was renamed `the female Amitabh
Bachchan'.
Unfortunately after the success of `Raja' (1995),
Madhuri's films started to collapse at the box office.
Yaarana, Rajkumar, Prem Granth, Mahaanta, one after the
other. Luckily for Madhuri she gained praise for her
performance in `Prem Granth' (1996) and for her looks in `Rajkumar'
(1996). By now it had dawned on the industry that
Madhuri's lataks and mataks ensure a films success, not.
The presswallas had by now written Madhuris obituary, and
annouced that it was time for Madhuri to pack her bags and
get married. An issue was made of Madhuri co-starring with
Akshaye Khanna who was younger in age to Madhuri in
Mohabbat. It was also widely stated that Madhuri favoured
films produced by her secretary Rikku, even though all of
Rikkus productions failed at the box-office. Madhuri was
never far from controversies, her much publiced affair?
with Sunjay Dutt caused a storm, when Sunjay's wife issued
a press statement proclaiming her desire to have Sunjay
back. The Choli ke peeche song in 'Khalnayak' also caused
a stir. With women liberation groups asked for a ban on
Madhuri. After the not so great 'Koyla', director Rakesh
Roshan stated that Madhuri could no longer play the
youthful type, and continued to make unsavoury comments.
Madhuris response was a dignified silence. Madhuri is on
top of the league when it comes to being unaffected by
what is written about her. Very rarely if ever has Madhuri
retaliated to comments made about her in the press, by
either journos or collegues.
Prakash Jha's 'Mrityudand' (1997) ensured critical acclaim
if not box-office success, Madhuri still had the fire that
was shown in Tezaab, the intensity that came to light in
Beta. Age, said the industry was catching up, Yash
Chopra's Dil To Pagal Hai (1997), proved otherwise. A
phenomenal success at the box-office, mass acceptance by
the audience. Madhuri never looked better, danced better
or acted better, her latest offering was indeed her best
till date. Madhuri went on to win a handful of awards for
her performances in Mrityudand and Dil To Pagal Hai, and
even dedicated her Filmfare award to her critics.
In 1998 Madhuri had only one major film to her credit CN
Chandra's Wajood, unfortunately the film failed to
recreate the hysteria of Tezaab (1988). 1999 it seems will
be Madhuri's golden year, for an actress who rarely trends
the path of unconvential roles, this year has Madhuri in a
host of different characters. MF Hussain's 'Gajagamini' is
an art film that has Madhuri playing arange of characters.
In Boney Kapoor's 'Pukar' Madhuri's got a negative role,
as well as the usual dose of triangular love stories,
Madhuri's first south Indian film, 'Engineer', is a techno
thriller.
Past Present & Future
THE woman with the most dazzling smile. The 'female
Bachchan'. The Ek, do, teen girl. Painter Maqbool Fida
Husain's muse. Madhuri Dixit - sorry - Mrs Madhuri Nene
needs no introduction.
But ever since her marriage to NRI Dr Sriram Nene, critics
seem to have written her off. And it didn't help matters
when her last release Aarzoo bombed. For the world,
Madhuri Dixit's life seems to be going downhill. Has she
said goodbye to Bollywood? We'd like to think otherwise.
Madhuri Dixit's career evolved along with her talent. The
actress, who once scrambled between studios working two
shifts a day, slowly but surely climbed the pinnacle of
success. Once there, she maintained her standards. No more
working on Sundays and only four films a year.
In the makeup cabin during one of her last movies she
said, "An hour before the shooting is very relaxing. I sit
back and assess myself personally and professionally. I
also use such times to pay attention to little details
like cutting my nails or check the split ends in my hair!"
It's quite unusual to see a normally wary Madhuri being so
forthcoming about personal information. "People expect
stars to a breed apart. They forget that they are humans
too. I'm an introvert and don't speak much but that
doesn't mean I'm snooty. If I have done two shifts how can
you expect me to be social?"
Although her smile can melt a thousand hearts, her
forbidding demeanour has often caused people to feel that
she's cold and unapproachable. She doesn't agree. "Am I
supposed to get euphoric every time I meet a director,
co-star or a journalist?" she concludes, irritated at the
accusation.
"My family gives me enough security and warmth. I don't
have to look for it outside! After achieving so much
success and fame I'm apprehensive about people's motives.
I want to be sure that people want to be friends with me
and not my fame!"
Did you know that Madhuri once wanted to become a
microbiologist? An offer from Rajshri Productions,
however, changed her life. Although her first role in
Abodh (1986) brought her no recognition, the same year
Subhash Ghai promised Madhuri meatier roles on the
condition that she stopped accepting itty-bitty parts in
insignificant films. He kept his promise. Madhuri starred
in Ghai's Uttar Dakshin and then in his star-studded
blockbuster Ram Lakhan. Soon her jhatkas in the Ek, do,
teen number in Tezab set the screen ablaze. A noteworthy
performance in Dil gave Madhuri her first Filmfare award.
From 1990 onwards, Madhuri delivered a hit every year --
Saajan, Khalnayak and Prem Pratigaya.
But soon after a spate of flops, the industry grapevine
had begun writing obituaries for Madhuri's 12-year career.
However, the kitschy Hum Aapke Hain Kaun (1994), Hindi
cinema's biggest blockbuster to date, re-established
Madhuri as Heroine No 1. Madhuri mania ensured the success
of Raja (1995), a film with many flaws, earning Madhuri
the enviable reputation of being one of the very few
actresses who could carry a film on her shoulders. Her
stellar role in Prem Granth (1996) and the drop-dead
gorgeous looks that she sported in Rajkumar (1996) were
widely appreciated.
But both were flops. Jha's Mrityudand (1997) brought her
critical acclaim if not box-office success, as did Nana
Patekar's Prahaar where Madhuri, sans make-up, shocked
entranced audiences. Mrityudand also won her the Screen
Videocon Best Actress Award and established her as the
'thinking actress', a necessary feather in every
self-respecting actress's cap. Dil To Pagal Hai, a feel
good romance released in 1998, saw Madhuri raking in the
mega bucks and it also fetched her the Filmfare Best
Actress award.
With a rumoured Rs. 75 - 80 lakh price tag, Madhuri, until
recently, was one of Bollywood's most expensive actresses
Although her secretary denies this, the grapevine says she
charged Rs. 2 crore for her first Tamil film Engineer. But
due to the film industry's youth-obsessed standards,
Madhuri was shunted down to the 'ageing star' category.
Contends Honey Irani, "Madhuri must move away from the
college-girl variety of roles, not because she can't pull
them off, but because it was time she took on different
and challenging roles."
Madhuri seems unperturbed by her descent from her No. 1
status. "For someone to be No. 1, someone has to give up
the position," she points out. Would she miss the
limelight? Pat comes the reply, "No I won't. Our lives
come a full circle. For someone else to be No.1, someone
has to give up the position. Didn't Hemaji bow out to give
place to Sridevi? When I joined films I was clear I wanted
to make a name, which I have done."
We couldn't agree more. All the best, Mrs. Nene!
Srirdm Ganapathy
First Updated : 04 Apr '94 Last updated 06/30/2007
10:53:15 |
