At the age of three, Madhuri Dixit was asked to sing a classical number at a family
get-together. She did do a number but not a classical one. As she laughs herself,
"Instead, I broke into a cabaret number from a film, replete with all the "jhataks"
and "mataks"! I guess therein lay the dormant beginnings of 'Ek, Do, Teen..."
When Madhuri first danced to "Ek Do Teen" she could never have imagined that it would
become the nation's mantra. It did give her the courage to further a career which she
had chosen after much deliberation.
From a middle-class J.B. Nagar to the posh Iris Park house, Madhuri has had an interesting
journey to the top. The killer instinct in Madhuri steered her to the number one position
where she was to stay for the next ten years. "I think it was the anger in me. I couldn't
accept the fact that what I had finally decided to do, was not working out. I was
absolutely determined to prove everybody wrong and myself right." She did prove everybody
wrong.
At that point in life, making it big was more important. It is difficult to imagine that
she would never have entered films because after 'Abodh' her first film, Madhuri was
planning to do anything from genetic research to hotel management. "Acting was going to
be just a hobby," as she says herself.
She admits that her first love was films though she was not sure where she would end up
eventually. After some insignificant roles in films like 'Awara Baap' and 'Swati',
Madhuri was noticed by Subhash Ghai who gave her a break in his home production 'Uttar
Dakshin'.
Madhuri "arrived" truly with "Ek Do Teen" and 'Tezaab' though. After that came 'Ram
Lakhan' and "Ho Ramji, Bada Dukh Dina". The audience was crazy about her. Dances were
imperative "item numbers" in each of her films therafter. "Dum Duma Dum" and "Humko Aaj
Kal Hai Intezaar" firmly placed her in the top bracket. Madhuri is perhaps the only
number one star who made it despite her pimples and atrocious dress sense. Her bright
smile more than made up for everything. Comparisions with Madhubala and Sridevi were
inevitable. However, all these obstacles were crossed in the due course of time.
Whether she was a woman caught between two men in 'Saajan' or a fiery daughter-in-law in
'Beta', Madhuri portrayed them with a rare passion. It was more than apparent that she
was the best, and appealed both to the masses and classes. After crossing the
controversial "Choli Ke Peeche" bridge, it was time to create history with the record
breaking success 'Hum Aapke Hain Kaun'.
However the success of 'Hum Aapke Hain Kaun' was difficult to live up to. Madhuri tried
some off-beat films like 'Prem Granth' and 'Wajood' which were not accepted by the
audience. Prakash Jha's 'Mrityudand' and Yash Chopra's 'Dil To Pagal Hai' were the only
silver linings during this phase.
The Madhuri mania is still on. Today, married with her million dollar smile intact,
Madhuri continues to fascinate film makers who line up to sign her for their films.
Though her husband Dr. Sriram Nene is settled in the US, Madhuri is sure that she can
handle her career and family together. Knowing her penchant for taking up challenges,
it sure will be a cakewalk for Madhuri.
