In Celebration of Madhuri!
Today we celebrate the birthday of Madhuri Dixit, one of Bollywood’s icons and brightest stars. She has appeared in over 60 films and is the favorite of millions of fans, who know her for her incredible beauty, amazing acting talent, and virtuoso dancing performances. Recently, on Women’s International Day, a special article was released to pay tribute to Bollywood Heroines: Dixit topped the list of the Best Bollywood Actresses Ever.
Madhuri Shankar Dixit was born in Mumbai on May 15, 1967. She is the daughter of Shankar and Snehlata Dixit and has two sisters and a brother. She attended Parle College as microbiology major but that was not to be her life’s work – Bollywood came calling – and she made her acting debut with Rajshri in a film called Abodh.
Unfortunately, the film did not do so well but filmmaker Subhash Ghai saw her potential to be the number one film star that she is today. She had a tiny dance sequence in his film Karma (1986), but the sequence was cut from the final film. He then cast her in Ram Lakhan (1988) and the film succeeded in exposing Madhuri’s beauty and talent.
Her first star-making role was in Tezaab (1988). In Tezaab, her skills as an actress were illuminated and the dance sequence ‘Ek do teen’ showed off Madhuri’s exceptional dancing talent and established Saroj Khan as a choreographer. Dixit’s career took off after the film’s phenomenal success and she dominated Hindi cinema through the 1980’s and 90’s. A few of her hit films are: Dayavan (1988), Parinda (1989), Dil (1990), Saajan (1991), Beta (1992), Khalnayak (1993), and the Bollywood blockbuster Hum Aapke Hain Kaun! (1994). Her career went into a bit of a slump, but she made a great comeback as Pooja in the successful Dil To Pagal Hai (1997).
The magazine Rediff said of Madhuri, “She has done it all! From irresistibility in ‘Tezaab’ to tragedy in ‘Parinda’, from wedding magic in ‘Hum Aapke Hain Koun’ to college tomfoolery in ‘Dil’, from the ultimate muse in ‘Gajagamini’ to the firebrand in ‘Mrityudand’, Madhuri’s enchanted us for years.”
After Dil To Pagal Hai she made many other movies with moderate success, but 2002 brought the role that garnered her renewed critical acclaim. She starred in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s masterpiece Devdas, with actors Shah Rukh Khan and Aishwarya Rai. Madhuri Dixit was applauded for her acting in the film, and her performance in ‘Dola Re Dola’ with Rai is considered one of the finest dance sequences ever on celluloid. The film attracted worldwide attention and was featured at the Cannes Film Festival.
After Devdas, she joined her husband Dr. Sriram Madhav Nene in the US and is the proud mother of two sons, Arin and Ryan. They live in Denver, Colorado where Dr. Nene is a cardiovascular surgeon.
In 2006 she performed on stage for the first time in six years at the Filmfare Awards to music from Devdas. Her performance was choreographed by Saroj Khan and was enthusiastically received.
Madhuri’s graceful dancing skills, expressive eyes and that million-dollar smile has endeared her to the hearts of fans worldwide. Songs, such as ‘Ek Do Teen’ (Tezaab), ‘Bada Dukh Dina’ (Ram Lakhan), ‘Dhak Dhak’ (Beta), ‘Chane Ke Kheth Mein’ (Anjaam), ‘Choli Ke Peechche’ (Khalnayak), ‘Akhiyan Milau’ (Raja), ‘Piya Ghar Aya’ (Yaarana), ‘Key Sera’ (Pukar), ‘Mardala’ (Devdas) and others have received critical acclaim as well as audience appreciation.
Over the span of her long career Dixit has been nominated numerous times for her performances:
1989: Filmfare Best Actress Award for Tezaab
1990: Filmfare Best Actress Award for Prem Pratigyaa
1992: Filmfare Best Actress Award for Saajan
1994: Filmfare Best Actress Award for Khalnayak
1995: Filmfare Best Actress Award for Anjaam
1996: Filmfare Best Actress Award for Yaraana
1996: Filmfare Best Actress Award for Raja
2001: Filmfare Best Actress Award for Pukar
2001: Star Screen Award Best Actress for Pukar
2001: Zee Cine Award Best Actor- Female for Pukar
2001: IIFA Best Actress Award for Pukar
2002: Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award for Lajja
2002: IIFA Best Supporting Actress Award for Lajja
2003: Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award for Devdas
2003: Star Screen Award Best Supporting Actress for Devdas
2003: Zee Cine Award Best Actor- Female for Devdas
She has been honored by the Bollywood community with the presentation of these awards:
1990: Filmfare Best Actress Award for Dil
1992: Filmfare Best Actress Award for Beta
1994: Filmfare Best Actress Award for Hum Aapke Hain Kaun!
1995: Star Screen Award Best Actress for Hum Aapke Hain Kaun!
1996: Star Screen Award Best Actress for Raja
1997: Filmfare Best Actress Award for Dil To Pagal Hai
1998: Star Screen Award Best Actress for Mrityudand
1998: Zee Cine Award Best Actor- Female for Dil To Pagal Hai
2002: Zee Cine Award Best Actor in a Supporting Role- Female for Lajja
2002: Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award for Devdas
2003: Star Screen Award Best Supporting Actress for Devdas
Dixit was also presented with the prestigious National Citizens Award in 2001 for her contribution to Indian cinema. The United Nations Human Rights’ Committee Chairman Justice P N Bhagwati, presented this award to Madhuri and many other eminent individuals. “The awards, initiated in 1987, to recognize excellence in various activities affecting national life, reflect India’s pride, a peep into our unique rich culture embodying ideals of renunciation and service,” Justice Bhagwati said.
A few interesting facts:
* She is trained in the Indian classical dance of Kathak.
* She was a top-line model in India before entering the Hindi film industry.
* Madhuri Dixit has been the muse for the famous Indian painter M.F. Hussain who considers her the epitome of the Indian woman. She also appeared in his film Gaja Gamini (2000). Gaja Gamini was intended as a tribute to Dixit’s talent and beauty.
* Main Madhuri Dixit Banna Chahti Hoon! which starred Antara Mali is one of the few films in Bollywood named after an actress.
Madhuri Dixit’s first steps back onto the silver screen will be in the Yash Raj film Aaja Nachle, co-starring Akshaye Khanna. The film, directed by Anil Mehta, is set in the theatre world and the film depicts the journey of an aging actress.
Yash Raj Films are saying that this film will end the year with a “big bang”. Aaja Nachle is currently shooting in Mumbai’s Film City and is slated for a November 30 release.
Madhuri is very enthusiastic about the new film and returning again to acting. “When I heard the script, I thought Aaja Nachle is the right film to make a comeback. What I missed was being in front of the camera and assuming various characters,” Madhuri said. The film is one of the most anticipated of the year and we cannot wait to see Madhuri in action again – we know the box-office will be dancing!
Since she is filming presently in Mumbai she celebrated her birthday quietly with family members. Her business manger said, ”Only me and my wife were the non-family members who were part of the quiet family celebration.”
Her husband Dr. Nene is scheduled to arrive in Mumbai next week and Dixit will wrap up the shooting of her film on May 20 and then leave for the US.
From BollySpice and fans all over the world we wish her a very happy birthday and many blessings for the future.
