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Home , Akshaye Khanna, Anil Kapoor, Dimple Kapadia, Hema Malini, Jackie Shroff, Kajol

SUNDAY SPECIAL

about madhur The making of a phenomenon

en years ago, they would never have dared to make their feelings public. Today, however, Farooq Abdullah, T.N. Seshan, Orissa’s poet laureate Sitakanta Mohapatra and, of course, M.F. Husain can get away with publicly declaring their adoration of her. After all, what’s so special about these people? Everyone is in love with . She is almost a national obsession, a constant fixture with the media. And her

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perfect everything," says Anna Singh. There was not much to perfect, she adds, because Madhuri is BEHIND THE SCENES such a beautiful woman. "We started the transition with Beta, then we did Dil Tera Aashiq. People began to The people who’ve created the Madhuri magic appreciate her new look. And then

Rakesh Nath: ten years with Madhuri : "The sky’s the limit" Anna Sin^:di

Rikku is all praise for Madhuri. "It is came the best. HAHK broke all ^akesh f\ath very difficult for me to work with records as far as costumes were her. You know why? Because she is concerned." ■ Madhuri’s secretary. Or manager, such a nice person. We all have to be Anna’s strategy with Madhuri is if you prefer. He doesn’t mind what extra careful about her. She doesn’t very clear. The key word is you call him. No one meets Madhuri complain. She doesn’t demand simplicity. "Most of our senior without making an appointment anything." actresses have had a penchant for lots through him. Rakesh Nath, better of jewellery, lots of heavy clothes. known as Rikku, has worked with A n n a S in g h With Madhuri, we give her just Madhuri for more than ten years. He enough accessories to complement says he had not seen any of ■ One ofMadhuri’s two dress her, not burden her. Madhuri has an Madhuri’s films when he agreed to designers (the other one is exquisitely beautiful face. We just work for her. "I just liked her face," Kashmira). Anna Singh, who owns a have to let it be." he explains. boutique in , , has Anna Singh is all praise for Today, Madhuri and Rakesh Nath worked with Madhuri for many years Madhuri’s professionalism. She have a comfortable working now, but not on an exclusive basis. cites the instance of the film, relationship. So much so that Rikku Even today, she also designs for , where the actress had to is now the producer of a film being other stars like Pooja Bhatt and wear a heavy Malaysian-style directed by his wife, Reema (a . headdress for three days and dance. successful script-writer of films like Earlier, there wasn’t much of a She did not complain once. Dil Tera Aashiq and Yaarana) need to devote too much energy on named Mohabbat, starring Madhuri. Madhuri. But once she started to get ^aroj K h an People have accused Rikku of using noticed for her talent, her vivacity on his influence to get Madhuri to star in screen, it was a different story. ■ Imagine Madhuri without her the film. But Madhuri claims that it People began to say that Madhuri dances. No Ek, do, teen. No Choli ke was one of the few scripts that had no dress sense and was not peechey. No Mera piya gharaaya. excited her the most. bothering enough about her Luckily, with Saroj Khan around, How does it feel to be the secretary wardrobe. you don’t have to imagine any such of ’s number one star? "That’s when we went all out to thing. This versatile choreographer

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www.rohininilekani.org SUNDAY SPECIAL

fans include not just countless men, but of cinema. If audiences are at women as well. Of all ages and from all last flocking back to cinema halls, it is has played a major role in Madhuri’s because of the songs and dances. Also, success. And she revels in the walks of life. Everyone seems to be bit­ ten by the Madhuri bug. It is a sign, both television and commercial cinema have knowledge that she and Madhuri of our more liberal times and her unique become symbiotic, each feeding the make a great team. A choreographer personality that Madhuri has managed other and creating a large resurgent mar­ must take into account the to single-handedly extend the bounda­ ket for Hindi films. In such a scenario, performer’s own limitations while ries of resf)ectability. From Ek do teen to Madhuri is quite naturally in her ele­ composing a dance sequence. "With Akhiya milaon, Ms Dixit has helped dif­ ments. She has been learning to sing and fuse the line between vulgarity and dance () since she was three decency. Today, fond mothers are years old. It is her dancing that shot her actually encouraging their kids to swing to fame, and judging by current trends, it their hips to the tune of Mera piya ghar is her dancing that will keep her on top. __J- aaya, a song that could have been per­ To follow Madhuri at work is to fectly obscene but for the innocence on watch the transformation of a beautiful Madhuri’s face. but simple woman into a stunning, Here is an ordinary girl, who vivacious superstar. Utter the words like before her, has ‘camera, action’ and Madhuri will brought middle-class family values into switch on her dazzling smile (if the shot: the film industry. Focusing exclusively calls for it) and the appeal in her eyes. on her work, she has risen steadily up the You can tell that Madhuri enjoys her per­ charts for ten years, hitting a new formance, especially her dancing. That industry high with Hum Aapke Main is why she appears natural, not contrived Koun (HAHK). She has had the boon of in each sequence. Her body, so quiet in which gave her image an arching forklift, bringing her face into the drawing room almost every day. If that brings with it the dangers of over-exposure, it also allows Madhuri the advantage of reminding viewers con­ stantly that she is one of them, the girl {h: droMing the superstar next door.

Madhuri," says Saroj Khan, "the sky’s the limit." She says Madhuri performs knee movements which are But why is Madhuri such a rave? Is the most difficult, with great ease and it because of her talent, her great perso­ without any precautions like nality? Is she anything more than the knee-caps. According to Saroj, one sum of her lips and hips? The answer of Madhuri’s best performances is is: no. There’s nothing the climax song of Yaarana, Jaane particularly sparkling, woh kaisa chor tha. "She did the frothy, enchanting or whole mukhda in one shot, which is vivacious about Madhuri really difficult," says Saroj. That’s Dixit, the person. And it the kind of Madhuri magic which has is precisely this that con­ helped Saroj to bring home four tributes to the Madhuri trophies. magic. You expect a star. Saroj Khan’s strategy for Madhuri You get a woman. An in forthcoming films; no more jhatka Indian woman. Sensible, movem'ents. Saroj Khan wants to reserved, conservative, ring in the old in 1996. "I am heading reasonably well-' towards the graceful movements of informed. You get a pro­ old Hindi film songs," says Saroj. fessional actress. Com­ "Like Aayiye meherban and Shola jo mitted to her job. Perhaps bhadke. There’s a lot of body like any other working language, a lot of hip movement and girl. I’m looking for that." Saroj has Madhuri, like - experimented with a more malleable bala before her, happens Madhuri in Mohabbat, and the to be in the industry at the audience will soon let the right time. Today, it is choreographer know whether her music more than strategy will work in the new year. anything else that’s pro­ pelling the fortunes

SUNDAY28 January—3 February 1996

www.rohininilekani.org SUNDAY SPECIAL

except for a couple of films like , where she plays an avenging angel. The film flopped despite the Shah Rukh THE TO THE TOP Khan-Madhuri combine. And with good reason. "What I’ve done so far has not been my best," Madhuri admits. So, she is much more choosy now about her scripts. Where she used to do 10-15 films a year, she is now doing a maxi­ mum of five to six. And some good projects have come her way. She is particularly excited about Chimpoo ’s upcoming . It’s the story of a rape vic­ tim. "It has a very large canvas," she says. "The character is very strong, the film deals with how she faces all of society. It has a lot of scope for perfor­ mance." Another Madhuri-starrer expec­ ■ , the last uncontested number one heroine, has, by now, ted in 1996 is , again a film burnt herself out. Juhi Chawia has to be content with remaining in the dealing with a woman. Both these top five bracket. has long since given up. movies are going to be quite risky for Manisha came a very close second with Bombay, but Akele Madhuri’s career. Although she has Hum Akele Turn has dipped her chances in the sweepstakes for now. made forays into offbeat cinema with Prahaar and Dharavi, it was a long time ago. But Madhuri is prepared to take the risk. "Even if my star quality is a little faded in these films, I don’t mind. Because I have my other films to balan­ ce that." If Madhuri’s strategy works, it will be no mean achievement. Rare is the actress who has successfully straddled both the worlds of parallel and main­ stream cinema. comes to mind, but nowadays, she is concentra­ ting almost exclusively on offbeat roles. tried it, but gave up. And ’s career was cut short. Then, there is . Whether she will remain a In Madhuri’s case, however, it’s one-film wonder or continue to shine, will soon be known. And, of going to be even more difficult, because course, there is the Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge super-hit girl, what the audience loves about her is pre­ . Now, she is the real contender for the number one spot. And cisely what offbeat cinema will not she is a good ten years younger than Madhuri. She has the talent, she allow. The crowds will never accept a has the looks and she has the backing. But will Kajol replace Madhuri Madhuri without the song-and-dance routine. Unless, of course, she can pull as Bollywood’s number one actress? off coups alongside. Like the recent live concert tour to the US, UK and Canada. repose, suddenly erupts into a jhatka with Madhuri, excesses don’t seem inde­ She drew capacity crowds everywhere movement, or a sensuous twirl. This is cent. Her colleagues say it is because of with her high-energy dancing. In fact, the Madhuri the crowds have come to her face. It is so innocent that nothing such tours are now going to become a watch. looks bawdy. Even if she tries. regular feature of Madhuri’s life. The Her sex appeal does not come so next one is slated for March, to the Gulf much from exposing too much of her countries. And more are planned. body as from exposing the right parts: her midriff and upper back. Sure, she has A ,nd now, Madhuri, as part of her worn plunging necklines in her sequen­ constant efforts to reinvent herself, is ces. But more than her cleavage, it is her looking to give a different direction to hy does Madhuri seem even waistline that comes to mind. She does w, her work. Inevitably, she wants to do more of a megastar than her predeces­ with her fully-clothed hips what belly- more meaningful roles. sors? Sridevi was also in the big league, dancers achieve with their bare abdo­ So far, her films fell largely into the but she never became a national craze men. And choreographer Saroj Khan girl-meets-boy-overcomes-oppositions- like Madhuri. Hema Malini and , promises that we haven’t seen it all. Yet, and-lives-happily-ever-after stereotype. too, had an impressive fan following.

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but they did not have the electronic enough to make Madhuri a superstar. media to boost their image further. Even her critics admit that Madhuri That’s the advantage today’s stars does not really need a good script to give enjoy, which even N.ow take a look at Madhuri’s car­ a memorable performance. She is, in had to largely do without. Pankaj Para- eer. An overwhelming majority of her that sense, an ‘independent’ actress who shar, director and ex-adman, offers ano­ 40-odd films have been at best medi­ can carry a film on her own. ther reason. "Stars are now much bigger ocre. And with the single exception of And yet, nobody thinks that Madhuri than they used to be, because the upper Hum Aapke Main Koun, which is a is a great actress. Not yet. She reminds middle-class has grudgingly accepted story in itself, where are Madhuri’s, her fans more of , another our cinema. Earlier, they used to turn up super hits? , DU, , beautiful heroine with a dazzling smile. their noses at it, so they make program- Beta, Khel, and recently. Raja, did reaso­ The general consensus is that Madhuri rnes in English about Hindi movies. And nably well at the box office, but not well has not explored her full capabilities yet. ail those snooty people, who now feel inferior to Ruby (Bhatia), and want to be like her feel that if Ruby praises Madhuri, why can’t we? That’s how stars are getting more respectability now." Parashar says that no star ever had the kind of hysteric following that enjoyed for three years. But the difference was that he was still looked down upon by the intelligent­ sia, by English-speaking people. Now, all that has changed. And Madhuri is one of the beneficiaries of that change. And yet, stardom does not seem to have affected Madhuri in any way. She remains largely unaffec­ ted by all the publicity. But that sounds too good to be true. How did she manage it? She feels the same (see interview) and There are two reasons. One, the Hindi she is still waiting to deliver her best per­ film industry itself has been rapidly formance. Co-star thinks changing over the years: it has become adhuri is an that comedy could well become Madhu­ more professional, has attracted more m, ri’s forte. He says that a good performer talent and has even acquired a certain res- ordinary Brahmin girl can be judged by the way he or she , pectability. Everyone in Bollywood handles ‘light’ roles. No amount of good today is talking of quality. And produ­ who has brought camera work and lighting can help an cers, directors and actors have come to middle-class family actor deliver an easy punch-line. He realise that as audiences get more says Madhuri has that talent. Her recent sophisticated and as more and more legi­ values into the film film. Raja, did portray her in a comic timate money enters the industry, every role but comedy is hardly going to sus­ frame counts. And Madhuri is an out- industry. Focusing tain Madhuri in the months to come. and-out professional. The second reason has to do with exclusively on her Madhuri’s background. Even today, at work, she has risen the height of her stardom, she remains B ut where is the competition? Sride- under the influence of her family. steadily up the charts, vi, the last uncontested number one Assisted by her secretary Rakesh Nath heroine, has, by now, burnt herself out. — known as Rikku to the industry — hitting a new industry has to be content with Madhuri’s family members have seen to high with Hum Aapke remaining in the top-five bracket. Mee­ it that her image is not tarnished by nakshi Seshadri has long since given up. rumours and Bombay’s film press. Main Koun came a very close

SUNDAY 28 January—3 February 1996 41 www.rohininilekani.org RATING MADHURI What they say about the superstar

Shabana iizmi ■ An acclaimed actress herself, but who has not been able to adjust to the demands of commercial cinema, Shabana Azmi has many kind words about Madhuri with whom she did ’s Mrityudand recently. "She is an intelligent, sensible girl. She has been able to contain her success. It is a very rare quality." And Shabana believes this quality has a lot to do with Madhuri’s family background. "Who you become depends on the people around you," Shabana Azmi: family is the key she says, "and Madhuri surrounds herself with her family. It keeps her feet firmly planted on the ground." A n il K(apoor M Madhuri has co-starred with Anil friend. Meeting him after many in more films than with any other weeks, she tells him how she really actor. And it’s been a winning misses being on his sets, remembers combination by and large. the camaraderie of the unit, the fun Interestingly, Anil Kapoor likes to she had there. He keeps telling her take some of the credit for Madhuri’s how much weight she has lost, how it success. "I’ve seen her since the time is taking away from the radiance of she faced the camera almost for the her face, how she must put back two first time, in Bajrangi [the film got kilos. Finally, she mildly rebukes: shelved later]. She was very nervous, "It’s just that you have got used to very thin, very awkward. Everyone’s seeing mota, mota people these days." reaction was discouraging. They said Of his three-times-lucky heroine, he says, "She is highly professional. Anil Kapoor: the gamble paid off she’s got a sisterly look, she has no passion, no sex in her. Even I was And the main thing with Madhuri is very demoralised. But then, we saw that she knows how to put her the rushes and we were thrilled." co-stars, actors, directors at ease. The Kapoor says it was after the first tension that is usually there when shoot of Hifazat, their very next film you work with famous artistes is not together, that he realised Madhuri’s there with Madhuri. I have never potential. He signed up four or five seen this knack with anybody else." films in as many days with Madhuri, including , Tezaab and Ram Lakhan. It was a gamble, but it paid fl^ankaj f^arashar off ■ He is one director who is at the moment praying that the Madhuri \ndra K umar magic will carry over into 1996. His ■ He has achieved a hat-trick of much-delayed Rajkumaris set for successful films with Madhuri: DU, release in January. It is a fantasy film, Beta and Raja. He is not just a good and he is hoping that it will succeed director to her, he is also a good where a similar, much-touted Sridevi M.F. Husain: more Madhuri paintings

42. SUNDAY 28 January—3 February 1996 www.rohininilekani.org second with Bombay, but Akele Hum Akele Turn has dipped her chances in the sweepstakes, at least for now. Then, there is Urmila 'Rangeela' Matondkar. Whether she will remain a one-film wonder or con­ tinue to shine, will soon be known. And, of cour­ se, there is the Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge super-hit girl, Kajol. Now, she is the real con­ tender for the number- one spot. And she is a good ten years younger than Madhuri. She has the talent, she has the looks, she has the back­ ing. But will Kajol replace Madhuri as Bolly­ wood’s number one actress? That’s the Rs one- crore question for the highest-paid actress of Hindi filmdom. What is in store for Madhuri in film Roop Ki Rani. Choron Ka Raja avoid being fragmented. Look how 1996? Will the people eventually tire of failed. she managed to make HAHK her Madhuri this year? After all, she’s had a Parashar believes that a good film, although the role was not longer run than Sridevi did, possibly script is the key to turning an actor special." longer than Rekha as well. She has to be into a star. Whoever has an instinct Rajadhyaksha feels it would be a dethroned sometime...but when? So far, for accepting the right projects also mistake for her to accept serious her chart has been climbing steadily up has a great chance of beating the roles, as very few heroines have been since Tezaab, peaking with HAHK and industry average of hits. "Madhuri able to make the transition into probably stabilising a little lower on the has put in that amount of work for meaningful cinema. scales after Raja. Now, Rajkumar needs that much of time and her luck has to become a super hit to keep Madhuri in been sustained in getting the right F.H usain the number one slot, because films com­ projects. That is a very difficult thing ing up after that are a big gamble for her. to do, getting the right projects. She ■ His obsession with Madhuri has Mrityudand and Prem Granth are both has unirriaginable talent, like any become a national topic of serious films with offbeat treatment. good actor. And she has been lucky.” conversation. And Husain is still Not much of the bump and grind. And ecstatic about Madhuri. He is Mohabbat, produced by Madhuri’s A a t\ajadhyaksha planning many more paintings of secretary Rakesh Nath and directed by her. And a film to be co-produced by his wife Reema, is again going to be a ■ Film critic and co-author of an ■ Madhuri, where the actress will risky venture for the prima donna, along encyclopedia on cinema in the represent women through the ages of with the deadpan and the sub-continent. "Madhuri has civilisation. "Madhuri has the magic young . amazing mobility," he says. ' She is 1 was looking for. In my paintings, I Not that the future is bothering able to hold her own even when the have always been concerned with the Madhuri very rhuch. She has never let director is not quite sure what to do essence of the female form, as a the stakes get too high. Never allowed with her. Bachchan had that same manifestation of Shakti. And when I herself to be too vulnerable to the ups quality. To be a star, you have to be saw HAHK the. second time [I and downs of her career graph. She sums autonomous of the script. The way walked out half-way the first time], I up her philosophy thus: "1 live life the Hindi films are packaged, they are a i noticed that the body movements in way it comes. I believe that if you just combination of bits and pieces put her dances which could have so keep doing what you are good at, things together. Most actors get fragmented easily become vulgar, have a grace, keep happening." • by that. But Madhuri knows how to an electrifying power." Rohlttl Nilekanl/Bombay

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