Mama Madhuri

The Bollywood star shares her thoughts on 25 years of stardom and what her children feel.

NEW DEHLI:

She has mesmerised millions with her screen performances, but Madhuri Dixit’s children who were raised in the US,  realised their mother’s stardom only when they visited the sets of a dance based reality show recently.

“They didn’t know, but they are realising now when they visited the sets of ‘Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa’ and saw everybody praising me and talking about me. They were surprised, ‘Oh, so you are a big star in India’,” said Madhuri.

Madhuri lives in Denver, Colorado, with her husband Sriram Nene and two sons - Arin, 7, and Raayan, 5, and is in India as the judge of the fourth season of the show.

Madhuri became a national craze in the 1980s and the 90s with her scintillating performances in superhits like Tridev, Khalnayak, Hum Aapke Hain Koun, Dil To Pagal Hai and Devdas.

“It feels wonderful. I am blessed. There is not a single day when I don’t thank God that he has given me so much. I have received so much love from everyone wherever I have gone. I feel I am very fortunate and thank everyone for that,” she said.

Her on-screen simplicity, acting prowess and elegant dancing style have made her an icon for many, especially youngsters.

So, how does it feel being called an icon?

“It feels wonderful that people love you so much, they appreciate your work and consider you an icon. It’s always good to get compliments. It makes you feel cherished. It makes your face glow,” she said, flashing her evergreen smile.

She was recently honoured with a special award for completing 25 years in Bollywood at the 56th Idea Filmfare awards.

For those eagerly awaiting Madhuri’s return to the silver screen, will have to be patient as she’s going back to the US to be with her kids and husband after “Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa”.

“It was great to be back at work after taking time off to be with my kids. This is a nice change for me, though I miss my kids very much; I’ll be leaving (for the US) in a month,” she said.

As for her next film Madhuri said: “I have gone through a lot of scripts, but nothing has been finalised as yet.”

When asked if she would play a mother onscreen, the actor said: “I don’t feel weird about playing a mother on screen. I am a mother after all!”

“What matters is the subject ... it’s not whether I have to play a mother or a child or whatever. That doesn’t matter. But what is the film about?  What kind of role is it and what all have I to do in the film are very important considerations,” she said.

Her last Bollywood outing Aaja Nachle failed to create ripples at the box office, but she is ready to take on new challenges and is open to working with the new wave of directors now.

“I am looking forward to working with good directors. I don’t mind working with someone new or even someone I have already worked with.

I just think it should be something new on screen and it should show me in a new light,” said Madhuri.

She is also ready to make a departure from her image for the sake of interesting roles.

“The right kind of script is very important. I want to do a fun and entertaining movie which my fans would like.

I am ready for an image change, only if I think a film is going to be worth it and going to say something different,” said Madhuri.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 8^th, 2011.