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Madhuri Dixit Back in India.
Update: November 2011: Madhuri Dixit is back in India with her family. According to the Hindustan Times: “School worries are finally over for Madhuri Dixit-Nene. Ever since the actor moved back to India with her husband Dr Sriram Nene and sons Arin and Ryan, her kids’ education has been on the top of Madhuri’s agenda. Now, she has finally zeroed in on Oberoi International School in Goregaon.” So it’s back to school for Madhuri and her family in Mumbai, and the story recounted below is now just a memory, a part of her excellent American adventure!
Madhuri Dixit, Bollywood Super-Star..
She’s out of sight but not out of our minds – we’re talking of none other than the bubbly, ever vibrant superstar Madhuri Dixit. Well, here are some nuggets from a brief but fun interview she gave to me during her New York visit some years back. What came through was her warmth and easiness as she adapted avidly to a very un-Bollywood lifestyle in Denver, CO.
Ask her what’s the one memory of her film career which stays with her, which she relishes and think about, and she says, “I guess it’s hard to pinpoint one moment because there are so many moments which shape your whole life and make you who you are. I would say that probably after ‘Tezaab’ when I was recognized for the first time and was asked for my autograph for the first time. I think that’s an unforgettable kind of a moment.”
She adds, “You’re working for something when you’re an actor and you want to be recognized and you want people to say ‘Hey, I saw you in that movie and you were good!’ And when that actually happens, it’s a different thrill. You say ‘Oh, my God! Someone recognized me!’ And of course, once everyone starts recognizing you, you want to wear dark glasses and hide – that’s the irony of it!”
Does she ever miss the glitter and glamour of being a superstar? “Well, I miss my craft – I miss acting, dancing – I don’t miss the paraphernalia at all,” she says. “It’s a dichotomy. Even when I was working in movies, I was a star on the sets but once I was home, I was just the homebody.”
Recently she ventured back to Bollywood for the film ‘Aaja Nachle.’ How was the experience? “It was great – at first I was a little apprehensive, a little nervous, but the way the industry operates, it’s changed. Now it’s very well organized. It’s much better technically – scripts are ready on time.”
Madhuri loves her new life with her husband, the easy-going Dr. Shriram Nene, and her two kids in Denver. She says, “I enjoy being normal because I am a normal person and I like a normal life. I think it’s good for my kids too that they are in a very normal environment where they can be themselves, and be their own person, and there is not a particular expectation from them.”
Ask her who does the cooking, she or her husband the surgeon, and she exclaims, “Oh, he’s the cook! He was interested in cooking but for me I was working since I was 16, so I never had the opportunity or the urge to cook. He cooks so well – I’ve learned so much from him! We cook anything from dosa to bhajji to chicken tikka masala or just barbequing I love the way he makes steak.”
So who does the cooking and who does the chopping? “We share the chores. My kids are also into it, asking, can we cut this, can we cut that. Of course, I don’t let them cut anything!”
While Madhuri is not anxious to rush back to Bollywood unless there is a script which really moves her, she would like to pass the magic of dance to young people in the US: “I would love to start a dance school out here where you teach all different kinds of dancing, not just film dancing – like the basic classic Kathak because I believe that if you learn Kathak, you can do any style of dancing in the world, except ballet, of course. Our folk dances are so rich so one school would teach all that. I will definitely do it one day!”
Well, what could be better than learning to shake a leg from the Dance Queen herself? So stay tuned for Madhuri Dixit – coming soon to a dance school near you!
Photo and text © Lavina Melwani
Update: Well, the dance school hasn’t happened yet – but Madhuri Dixit, who now lives in Mumbai, recently taught a dance class in her son’s school. Here’s the video – enjoy!
Maybe all dance lovers will learn a thing or two from this loving explanation of Indian dance!
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37 Comments
Wow, that’s a really great article. I really felt that I was talking with Madhuri when I was reading this. Superb job!
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Gulsum Basheer, you are right – Madhuri Dixit is one woman who proves you can have it all!
Hi, I am a great fan of Madhuri. I just happened to see this article today. Well said. She is an amazing person, one of the few Indian women who had their cake and got to eat it too.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Pinky. Madhuri is certainly doing lots of things in India so you will keep seeing your favorite star on TV and film. I don’t know when the dance school will happen though!
Hi, I am a fan of Madhuri Dixit ever since I start watching her movies. She moved to India but that’s not bad. India is also modern these days and now you can get better education for kids, a better life and most probably more fun with friends. I hope she opens a dance school around the world and our kids can start learning dance from her Academy. That’s it.
Sonia, thanks for sharing your viewpoint. I think Madhuri has moved back for a number of reasons, not just for her career. She is keen to bring up her children in India and be with family.
I think she is no ordinary heroine making a comeback – she has a huge fan base and is a consummate actor. If she selects the right, challenging projects and good scripts, the film industry will be enriched by her continued contribution.
Take my word, she will pack her bags and leave back for the US in 2 years.
It has never worked for a heroine making a comeback. All this publicity and press is due to her being out of the media for long. Too much visibility can lose the charm.
And by the way, this is not her first comeback. We will see some news of her at ribbon cuttings and promoting products and that too will get old after a while.
You don’t get shows like Jhalak Dikhla Ja all the time. Even Big B and SRK had a tough time. And in today’s Bollywood, the stars are making their own movies to keep themselves in demand. I think the best way to keep in media is to be out of it and appear like a shooting star.
Wish her good luck, but that is life.
Harsh, thanks for your comments. I think many fans will agree with you – she’s moved to India and is causing quite a hullabaloo in the press. It will be interesting to see how she chooses to re-enter the public world.
The most beautiful actress of the modern era,surpassing the likes of Aishwarya Rai and Rekha, is Madhuri Dixit. She is the ‘Madhubala’ of the modern times.She also possessed acting prowess and was brilliant in some films like ‘Mrityudand’ with a natural style of acting.
Glad you enjoyed it – it’s amazing how fans have kept Madhuri in their hearts in spite of so many new stars ruling in Bollywood.
Nisha, will try my best to get you some information.
Lavina, Great interview and great picture. It was nice to read about a little of what Madhuri has been up to.
Thanks a bunch! Will be eagerly waiting to hear more!!! 😀
Hi Nisha, lots of fans are hoping for the same thing! Stay tuned – will try to get you an update on this.
Ahhhh, I really hope she opens a dance school in the U.S. I’m dying to learn Kathak and dance from her and hope to run into her in Colorado some time!!! Like to say I’m amongst her biggest fans out of India and in the US.
Thanks Rakesh for your comments. I hope Madhuri Dixit appreciates how much her fans still care for her!
Anshu, sorry for the late reply. I was planning to reach Madhuri Dixit to ask her this but somehow it got on the back burner. Will try to find out about this.
It’s a fantastic piece which really gives impact as something coming from the core of the heart. I pray to the Almighty for her all time success in her future life.
Thank you for the article Lavina. I am an instructor at UCLA. I teach Hindi to High School Students during summer. I have been thinking of getting in touch with Madhuri for recording a small message, welcoming and encouraging my students who take up learning Hindi during High School to keep it up. Most of my students are Bollywood fans and want to enjoy Bollywood movies without sub-titles besides doing business with India. These are few of the reasons which prompts them to learn Hindi. Can you suggest a way to see if she may be interested in recording a one minute encouragement note for my class?
thank you
Anshu
I too agree and wonder as to what is so great in eating meat!
Meat-eating is now fashionable and in-thing to do. Even people who were vegetarians have taken to non-vegetarianism whereas here in the West people are realizing that meat-eating is not good for health nor compassionate towards animals. They are cutting down on meat-eating and taking to vegetarianism and even becoming vegan.
Dixits are not a meat-eating community – but of course everyone is free to eat what they like.
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Leaka, yes, I’m sure she misses dancing – though two young sons probably make her dance around! It is amazing how popular she still is with fans. I’ve had this article on the home page for months and readers never seem to tire of it. Hopefully, I’ll put together a photo feature on Madhuri soon.
I bet she does miss dancing…
and I hope she does open a dance school!
Rajendra, thanks for your comments. I know many Brahmins who do eat non-veg
– food is really a personal matter.
Omnivore, I like your choice of name – and yes, you absolutely have the right to call yourself whatever you like! Just like everyone – Brahmin or not – is free to eat whatever they want. Religion, spirituality and belief systems are a very personal thing.
I think what happens with celebrities is that people feel they know them and don’t look upon them as strangers – hence they feel free to get personal. Madhuri, especially, has been India’s sweetheart and so fans expect all sorts of things from her.
A fantastic article, and one that gives me hope of running into her in Colorado– even with my three left feet. On another note, I’m disturbed by the last comment. What Madhuri chooses to eat with her family should be up to her and her family. Nobody, especially a stranger, has any right to tell her family what they “should” be. I don’t see any reference to her claiming that she is a Brahmin– only an assumption about her name, and what that “should” imply in some people’s minds. It “should” imply nothing about who she is as a real human being. I thought we had moved beyond such narrow-minded thinking…
We all know Madhuri Dixit from Indian Bollywood movies. She is so charming and a delightful personality who gives the feeling of Indian family culture. Everything is fine with her, God bless them. But being a Brahman family, how do they eat meat? Rather they should be vegetarian. So far as I know, Brahmins are vegetarian.
Wonderful news! Is it the “Mother: The Indira Gandhi Story” movie? I hope so. That’s an unusual role for her, but it would be fascinating to see what she does with it. If Madhuri is returning to the screen, then I am willing to wait for the dance school. 🙂 Thank you Lavina.
April, glad you enjoyed the article. Keep tuned – I hear there is a major screen role coming up for Madhuri. Once I’ve verified this I’ll keep you posted. Then you may have to wait a while for the dance school to materialize!
Thanks, Pratibha. Madhuri and Ram Nene enjoy cooking together and that I guess is the best way to cook! She really seems a very down-to-earth and unspoiled person, with no star airs. After having such a hectic public life, I think she is relishing this very private life which we all take for granted.
Delightful article. Learning Kathak and Bollywood moves from Madhuri would be the experience of a lifetime. I am a twenty year old American of European decent who would love to learn the classic folk dances of India, and I am not alone. Go for it Madhuri!
Excellent piece! Good to know what she is doing these days. Quite a lifestyle change for her. Pleasantly surprised to know that Dr. Nene has a penchant for cooking. Lucky Madhuri. Some people have all the good luck.
Very nice article indeed. It is very rare that a super hit and most popular star has such down to earth behavior and simple attitude. There can never ever be Madhuri’s replacement. No real Bollywood without her.
Thanks Lavina for your article. Like to hear more about Madhuri from you.
Nice article.
Madhuri eats meat? Didn’t know that.
Madhuri was a great interview – she had no hang-ups and was so down to earth. Time was tight – would love to do a more indepth feature on her in the future. Which are the other stars you’d like to see interviewed here?
wow. thanks so much for this wonderful article. 🙂