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Home , Anil Kapoor, Boney Kapoor, Dinesh Raheja, Govind Nihalani, Indra Kumar, Jackie Shroff

COVER STORY

HINDI FILM INDUSTRY THE MADHURI MAGIC

By ANUPAMA CHANDRA Khalnayak, makes what is now a universal assessment of her: "N,o two ways about it—she is Number One." VERYBODY'S dancing to it, everyone's watching it on the- (_ Last week, in the 40 degrees Celsius temperature of an video or the big screen. No party is complete without it, indoor Film City set, a middle-aged technician watching E no disco worth visiting if it doesn't play the Choli ke Madhuri playing a scene in the Rs 5-crore, special-effects peechhe number at least five times an evening. Seldom has a fantasy , took in her too-tight-to-breathe-in blood song—and the screen singer—captured the public mood and red strapless gown, the heavily lashed eyes, the full lips, and imagination with such devastating effect. remarked: "W«/7, kya namak hai." If has got the entire country swaying to the Namak. Salt. Sex. Style. Oomph. Take your pick. In Choli beat, she also has the film industry dancing to her tune. 's esoteric vernacular, namak could mean any of In the industry, they now speak of Madhuri strictly in those things. Or all of them. superlatives. "She's a 10," says Beta producer Ashok Thakeria. "The Madhuri craze is fantastic," says Vinod Doshi who financed Dil and Beta. "She is a great star." Tolu Bajaj, who distributed her starrers , , Beta and

124 TODAY » SEPTEMBER 1 5. 199 ! What is obvious is that in an industry where the battle for the kept on stand-by in case the crowds went berserk. top is conducted on the level of a blood sport, she has namak eno- In the first week after its release, Khalnayak grossed'approxi- ugh to be a phenomenon. charges more than Madhuri. mately Rs 4.5 crore. An initial draw which bettered that of any But there is no doubt who is Number One. Certainly not after the top Amitabh starrer. Many now concede, however, that stunning success of her latest release, Khalnayak, and the waves 's saga of a terrorist redeemed by love is a hit largely caused by Madhuri's sensual, pulse-pounding Choli number. because of Choli. The bawdy, bouncy song has been mired in Wearing a backless embroidered orange choli. she grinds controversy for months. Though overly concerned citizens like and thrusts in her trademark dhak dhak style. The whistles lawyer R.P. Chugh are yelling obscene, the censors, courts grow deafening when she stares into the camera, looks at and, evidently, the people are convinced by Madhuri's answer every man in the dark, and promises him her heart—and that the only thing heaving under her blouse is her dil. They are much more. In one Bangalore theatre, the police were coming in droves to see her perform the song whose soundtrack has sold over 20 lakh copies. "The song is sensational," says actor Anil , and Madhuri is "just mind-blowing".

N tinseltown, hype is king. Or queen, in this case. But even discounting Ithat, the Madhuri magic is currently working overtime. Around Rs 12 crore rides on the 25-plus heroine's slender 5-ft, 4-inch frame. With reputed names like , and Rahul Rawail directing her, she's clearly no seven-day wonder either. Advertisers are offering her anywhere up to Rs 60 lakh for product endorse- ments. She gets two to three acting offers a day, approximately 2,000 fan letters a week and if you are planning a potboiler with a combination of action, oomph and Bollywood shuffle, you can't do it without Madhuri Dixit. But you'll have to wait till October '95—she doesn't have any dates free until then. Magazines that once labelled her "Madhuri Jinx-it" are now actively touting her as number one. Movie, which had asked, "Can Madhuri over- throw Sridevi?" in a March '89 cover story shortly after the release of her tremendously successful Ram Lakhan opposite , answered the question in its June '93 opinion poll. Over 10,000 readers—or 39 per cent of those who responded—said Madhuri was their favourite actress. Suddenly, everyone's begun to take notice of her. Britain's Sunday Telegraph's Foreign Bodies column re- cently called her "India's sexiest film star". The Times of London, reporting on the heated Choli debate, called her the country's most glamorous actress. At Rs 40 lakh a movie. Sridevi remains the higher paid. Madhuri gets between Rs 30 lakh and Rs 35 lakh, roughly the same as but substantially higher than other stars like . Mukul Anand, who directed her in Mahasangram in 1990, admits that her appeal is on par with that of the heroes. ,

(From extreme left) Ek, do, teen; Dhak dhak; and Choli ki> peechhe: numbers that revved her up into superdrive

SKI'TFMBER 1i 125 MADHURI'S HIT PARADE With in (left) and in Dil: equal appeal NAME OF FILM BOX-OFFICE GROSS Tezaab (November '88) Rs 10 crore Ram Lakhan (January '89) Rs 11 crore dignified and sublime. "She's not a girl who knows she is sexy," says dance director (July '89) Rs 5.5 crore , who has choreographed her in DUQune '90) Rs 12 crore several song sequences. "She has a com- Saajan (August '91) Rs 7.5 crore bination of innocence and sex appeal." Beta (April '92) Rs 14 crore Moreover, she may not be a Meryl Khalnayak (August '93) Rs 8.5 crore* Streep, but she can act. Rahul Rawail, who is directing her in the female revenge She's possibly the only heroine who has had a major hit every year drama. Anjaani, says Madhuri has matured since 1988. into a "fine actress". Producer Rajkumar Barjatya adds that Madhuri's acting prow- (h'igures ;ire approximate all-India grosses) ess reminds him of Kumari. What another rising star, gets Rs 20 lakh but will need two Be to-sized FirozeRangoonwalla, chronicler of Indian cinema, finds remark- hits to challenge Madhuri's superstar status. able about Madhuri is her ability to recycle images of various So what is the Madhuri phenomenon all about? It's about heroines from the past. Besides, the fact that she isn't westernised dancing, for one. No other actress can match her suggestive, (read barely clad) or southernised (read no bulky thighs), says come-hither mobility. In the profusion of bare midriffs and Rangoonwalla, will take her far. It already has. wiggling hips, her sexuality stands apart, marked by an apparent Since her Ek, do, teen sensation in the 1988 golden jubilee hit innocence. Her expressive eyes retain a child-like look even as the Tezaab, Madhuri has followed up with seven blockbusters (see breasts heave and the pelvis thrusts. Her slim body lends grace to chart), including Dil and Beta which won her awards for the most blatant and suggestive choreography. She doesn't ooze best actress. Over 15 per cent of her films have been golden sex; only suggests it. With no overt come-on, she is the ultimate jubilee hits. Compare this to the Sridevi saga. She last had a hit Indian male fantasy—a desi, middle class Madonna. with Chandni. Since then, she has landed five major flops in succession, including Roop ki Rani Choron ka Raja. Sridevi's slide ADHURI'S girl-next-door appeal makes her an accessi- has paralleled Madhuri's rise. ble fantasy. Unlike Sridevi, who is perfect enough to be And Bollywood's money men are delighted. While tradi- Mplastic, Madhuri retains an essential vulnerability. Her tional trade wisdom has it that no heroine can command an sexuality is never threatening. The unaggressive glamour speaks initial—moviespeak for drawing power through the opening to the front-bencher as effectively as to anyone else. As producer week—or sell a film solo, financiers and distributors like Ramesh puts it: "It's the smile, the warmth on her face. It's Sippy agree that Madhuri makes an unbeatable bet. Her name in a face that can easily project all emotions and every emotion the star-cast of an A-class commercial film can fetch producers looks real. Few faces have such mobility." up to Rs 40 lakh more on total movie sales. In today's movie market, where sales of a film's soundtrack More important, unlike most stars, Madhuri has increased often dictate box-office destiny, song and dance have become of her price steadily over the years, always careful not to outprice paramount importance to a herself. Stars such as Salman film's success. This is exactly Khan and Ajay Devgan, who where Madhuri scores. With "T hiked up their price to Rs 40 eight years of rigorous training 1 meet strugglers every day, but rarely a lakh plus after one big hit, find in Kathak, she comes through girl like Madhuri. I knew she could hit the that several of their new films as a natural. Mukul Anand remain unsold. The reason: believes she can make the most big time and I took her on like a project." several consecutive flops have vulgar dance movements look SUBHASH GHAI. producer-director reduced their marketability

126 INDIA TODAY * SEPTEMBER 15. 1993 and theirfilm sca n no longer be Mr India. And there are those sold at prices that will recover is not a girl who knows she is who wonder if she ever can. the initial investment. '"Madhuri is damn good but Madhuri has also handled sexy. She has a winning combination she doesn't have it in her to the media with shrewdness. of innocence and sex appeal." match Sridevi's histrionics," Earlier, she denied, though says a director who knows SAROJ KHAN, dance director never too vehemently, allega- both closely. Adds Tarun tions of affairs with Subhash Mazumdar, a film director: Ghai and Anil Kapoor. Casually dismissive of rumours of an "Madhuri is becoming a prisoner of her own popularity. Her involvement with Sanjay Dutt at first, she issued a definitive physique is being exploited, not her acting ability." negative statement when Sanjay was arrested for possession of However, Madhuri's secretary Rakesh Nath, who is now also an AK-56 early this year. "To date, no one really knows for sure her producer in Dil Tera Aashiq, looks at the positive side. "So far about those two," says , editor of Movie. Her she's a musical sensation. The best is yet to come." That could be image, Khalnayak collections prove, emerged unscathed. true. Madhuri may not be a or even a Sridevi but in contrast to Sridevi's imperious and aloof image, Madhuri's ALL this makes Madhuri the hottest property in reputation in the industry has considerably enhanced her value. f-\. She herself thinks that heroines are finally People who have worked with her vouch that she is JL _A. coming into their own (see interview). Certainly, there hardworking and professional. "Success has not gone to her are films that prove this point. Damini, which revolved around head," says Anil Kapoor, who first worked with her in '87. "Her a woman fighting for justice, was a hit; Pamela Chopra's Aaina attitude toward me hasn't changed and she'll always be Behenji did well in urban centres; and now comes N. Chandra's to me." Adds Mukul Anand: "On the sets, there are no demands, Tejaswini, based on the life of supercop Kiran Bedi, which is she doesn't intimidate you with her growing stature." Indra scheduled for release shortly. However, directors like Rahul Kumar insists that "she's not on a star trip. Even today you can Rawail says that it may be too early to tell whether there is any mould her and she hardly interferes". real trend towards heroine-oriented films. While her surroundings have altered (the Dixits moved to a Although clearly capable of more demanding roles— spacious apartment in the upmarket area three years ago), witness —so far Madhuri has been memorable in films her entourage remains the same. Madhuri is accompanied to her that have a profusion of song and dance. In fact, her critics say, sets either by her plump, non-interfering mother, Snehlata, or take away the three dances—in Tezaab. Beta and Khalnayak— her quiet retired father, Shankar Dixit.'' Her parents are very nice and what does she have? people," says Indra Kumar. And this makes a difference. The criticism is not entirely unfounded. Reflected in For a superstar, Madhuri is remarkably civil. Her warmth Madhuri's performances are tantalising glimpses of - bala, but she is yet to appear as memorable on screen. She has never carried a film on her shoulders and is yet to pull off a In forthcoming Rajkumar: in danger of being typecast

SEPTEMBER 15. 1993 • INDIA TODAY 127 COVER STORY

puts people at ease even as an * * even with her maternal un- obvious Lakshman Rekha pre- cle. "We talk out everything vents them from getting too ller ability to recycle images of various together,'' insists her mother, familiar. "She is approach- heroines of the past is remarkable. And she's "even today." The family able," says Indra Kumar. "On does appear to be extremely the sets we can joke and laugh not westernised. These will take her far." close-knit. Affectionate rib- with her but she knows her FIROZE RANGOONWALLA, film historian bing and laughter happen limits and so do we." Madhuri often. The Dixits appear to be is not known to have any close personal friends in the industry. conservative, but looks deceive. Her mother claims she has Unlike the pub-crawling girls—, Manisha, Raveena, never objected to Madhuri's penchant for sensuous song-and- Somy Ali—she is seldom seen at 's night spots. dance numbers. "I am not uncomfortable at all," she says. "I am very happy with her success. I think girls should get ahead AMILY, it seems, is everything to her. "We have never and progress. They should be bold." Even Madhuri's financial been fond of parties and socialising," says her mother. affairs are managed through a consensus reached between FEvery year Madhuri takes one month off to visit her older the Dixit family and her secretary, Rakesh Nath. She does not brother and two sisters in the US. Talking about her star discuss price with producers. They sit across the table with her image, she says: "I'm not in love with that. I like myself like father and Nath. this, as I am with my family." Moreover, there are fans and well-wishers but no hangers- All major decisions are made through family consensus. on. She is, people say, genuinely uncomfortable with Madhuri's idea to drop out of college to join films was discussed chamchagiri. That could, however, change yet. Bollywood's

INTERVIEW

SHE'S without make-up and in a loose-fitting mustard film without any songs. salwar-kameez—but there's no missing Madhuri Dixit's mag- O. But your dancing has become so much a part of what netic personality or the high-wattage smile. Peals of laughter, you actually are. infectious though somewhat rehearsed, punctuate her chatter. A. Yes, that is one of my plus points. The words flow unceasingly until she hits apersonal question. She Q. But don't you think that might stop being a plus point took two hours off her busy schedule to talk to Senior Correspon- because people say Madhuri hai to dance hona chahiye? dent ANUPAMA CHANDRA. Excerpts: A. That is bound to happen because it is one of my strong assets. But I would like to break that. Q. Do you like being called sexy? Q. 7s Prakashjha's an attempt at changing A. Sexy is a general word. You can look innocent and yet the image? sensuous. In India sexy means just revealing. People have A. No, it's not. If I try to break away then I have to do only found the songs that I've done in Sailaab, Beta and Tezaab different kinds of roles, the , where there is no very sensuous. dancing at all. But right now, I'm part of the commercial set- O. How do you reconcile your off-screen middle class up and I'm proud of it. milieu with your on-screen boldness? Q. Are you willing to play around with your image? A. I've always done things I felt comfortable with. Like in A. Yes, If you stick to one thing, you will get boring after Parinda, the effect of the love-making scene was very nice, some time. Right now, I'm doing one parallel film a year. but we were wearing everything. Only the Q. Is that to fine-tune your acting talent hands and shoulders were bare, the back- or do you find that mainstream gives you light was used—so the effect is of some enough opportunity to act? surface of the body. Mainstream A. I tell you, mainstream is more difficult O. Did you ever have to struggle to than anything else. To be given unnatural overcome middle class inhibitions? cinema is more situations where you have to look convinc- A. No. Things like Dhak dhak just hap- ing, that's very difficult. pened on the sets. As we kept dancing, it difficult than Q. Are you number one? kept developing. But I regret doing the A. See, was or num- kissing scene in Dayavaan. But when you are doing parallel ber one or number two? No, they were new, you don't know if you can tell the films. Looking Madhubala and Nargisji. We are not inani- director you don't want to do it. But after mate objects to be numbered like that. I'm that I put my foot down. I realised that you convincing in Madhuri Dixit and I want to be remembered can say no. as that. And if you feel you're number one, O. You are doing another Choli number unnatural you stop growing. My best is yet to come. in Yaarana. Do you think you are getting situations is Q. What are your ambitions? typecast as the dancing heroine? A. I want to do better work. A. Even in the old days, whether it not easy." Q. Do you think heroines are getting a was Madhubala, or Nargis, better deal today? they all danced. People don't accept a A. There was a stage when there were

13G denizens are notoriously fickle and few have remained bringing up the subject of money. The film has a total budget of unaffected by stardom and status. only Rs 50 lakh. She signed Dil and Beta in the pre-Tezaab days But so far, success has not dampened Madhuri's student- for Rs 1.5 lakh each and did not ask for more even when Beta like passion to learn. The would-be star who rehearsed for 17 dragged on for four years and shooting was extended. "We days, nine hours a day, for the Tezaab number, still likes to go were shooting for Beta after Saajan was released," says over complex dance steps beforehand. "She's not over- Thakeria, "and there was no mention of money." Indra confident," says Saroj Khan. "She is probably the only artiste Kumar, who is now directing her in Raja, adds: "People ask us today who asks for rehearsals." why we always take Madhuri. Well, this is the reason we And perhaps, most surprising, Madhuri remains flexible always take Madhuri." on the price issue. She agreed to do Mrityudand without Alternative cinema directors are equally excited about her. says he would love to work with her. , who has cast her in his neo-feudalistic Bihar saga, Mrityudand, a sequel to Damul, can't believe his luck. In the film, Madhuri plays the challenging role of a leftist school- teacher's daughter who marries into a zamindar family, only to rebel. "When I narrated the subject, I was amazed at her understanding," says Jha. "She is confi-

Q. You once said in a magazine interview that you've never been attracted to a man. Is this true? A. Yes. Q. So who do you fantasise about? A. Well, I used to be a big fan of Gregory Peck. Q. What do you imagine Mr Right would be like? A. He must be honest, a gentle- man, he must have a sense of humour. Q. Look into the mirror and analyse your appeal. What works? A. I guess a kind of honesty in what I am and what I do. If a director tells me to do something, there is no cynicism on my part. The sincerity and intensity are there, whether it's the antakshri scene in Khalnayak where she's kind of crazy or the court scene, where she is quiet and has surrendered. Probably, somewhere the honesty reaches out. mostly hero's films. Now the trend is changing. Films like Sir Q. Your eyes and smile are said to be your biggest and Hum Ham Raahi Pyar Ke are doing well. Also, women are draw.... becoming more important, are working outside. Because A. Those are just physical things. You say, the eyes are people have started accepting women being independent, beautiful, wow. Okay, but how long can you sustain that? After actresses also get important roles today, a while, what's happening on the screen comes forward. It's 0. You've always maintained a distance from the press. not like if I'm crying, they'll say, 'oh, her eyes are beautiful'. What do you have to hide? Q. It must be heady being at the top? A. I've always believed that what I do after pack-up is my A. Yes, when people come and tell me, especially little business. I have my family and I'm answerable to them. And children—I love children—I saw your film, it's a high. But the I know that tomorrow if something happens to me, the important thing is, I'm not in love with myself, with the image. I person on the street or the journalist will not care. I will have won't wear make-up off-screen because people want to see me only my family. that way. I look at acting as a profession, as any other O. Was there something in your reported affair with profession. So if I'm successful, that doesn't make me a goddess. Sanjay Dutt? Q. Do you think you can live without the arc lights? A. Look, I would rather not talk about it. A. I don't know. Right now, it's easy to say yes, because Q. Then, were you upset by the way the press splashed it I'm warm and safe under the lights. But yes, I could live all over? without it. I would do something else and probably be A. I stopped being upset by the media a long time ago. successful at it. Yes, I would survive.

SEPTEMBER 15, 199S » f.VulA TtiUAY' COVER STORY

dent she can do this role, and I am confident of her." But Madhuri also has the basic instinct necessary for getting to the top. By transferring her cachet of talent and looks to alternative cinema, she is creating a rich avenue for growth. And, more important, giving herself a chance to be, measured against something other than the crass standards of a commercial hit formula. Success hasn't come easily. But on the slippery road to stardom, she's one star who has learnt her lessons well. In January '84, when she gave a screen test for ' Abodh, she was a 12th grade microbiology student who accepted the assignment for a lark—and less than Rs 25,000. The film ran for the grand total of four weeks. Madhuri was considered too thin by buxom industry standards. As a consequence, she was mostly given sister roles and second leads (Awara Baap, Swati) and formulae for putting on weight. Indra Kumar remembers her as a thin girl in a frock. "We liked her face very much but didn't really know if she could act. I told her to drink milk with honey and eggs. Her arms, especially, were too thin." Things began to look up once

HEROINES Growing Prominence

HE Hindi movie industry, never known as an equal Topportunity employer, seems to be grudgingly accepting female (read heroine) power now. While most heroines still begin as orna- ments, a few break away from the herd to achieve unheard-of status. The credit for the altered attitudes clearly goes to Sridevi in recent times. With thunder thighs and monster hits, Sridevi stormed every bastion of a (Clockwise from above) male-dominated world in the early Sridevi, Juhi, '80s. Churning out hits such as Tohfa, Himmatwala, Nagina and Mr India in succession, she broke With a series of recent hits the price barrier, asking for and getting up to Rs 40 lakh a behind her (Bo/ Bol, Lootere, film (Rekha, number one before her, peaked at Rs 20 lakh). Hum Hain Raahi PyarKe), the Rs20-lakh Juhi Chawlahas The producers also had to pick up her hotel tab since, until also raced ahead. Introduced by Mukul Anand in recently, she did not have a home in Bombay. Sultanat, she has grown into a fine actress. She has Films were and still are written around Sridevi and she several big films such as 's and David dominated the screen, even when paired with leading Dhawan's Eena Meena Deeka in the pipeline. Her only heroes. Films such as Chalbaaz (with and drawback is her baby-doll image. "Juhi lacks physical Rajnikanth), and Chandni (with and Rishi appeal.'' says Anand. "She's not sexy.'' But the actress is Kapoor) were her shows. Industry wags often referred to tackling that problem. Lootere had her prancing on the Sridevi's '87 hit, Mr India, as Mrs India. She was th,e first and, beach wearing only a white shirt. to date, only actress to be called, 'the female Amitabh The rest—Pooja Bhatt, Manisha , Karisma Bachchan'. Though currently on a downward slide, she Kapoor—are still at the ornamental stage. They charge still commands the same price. "There are some roles that between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 15 lakh and are mostly only Sri can do," says a leading director. "There is no one interchangeable. Pooja has had several big hits, mostly who can match her acting calibre." courtesy her father, . But she, like Pooja Bedi, Today, Madhuri Dixit is geared to carry the torch. Her continues to make waves more with her colourful personal price rivals that of leading heroes. Her '92 hit Beta was life rather than performances. Industry buzz is that Koirala, dubbed Beti. Her clout, though she is less inclined to use it with 's 1942: A Love Story up her than Sridevi, is also considerable. sleeve, is the woman to watch. —ANUPAMA CHANDRA

SEPTEMBER 15, 1993 » INDIA TODAY 133 COVER STORY

FAWZAN HUSAIN career had been aimed in the right direction: towards unmistakable stardom. Director N. Chandra signed her for Tezaab, Vidhu Vinod Chopra for Parinda, for Dayavaan and Indra Kumar for Dil and Beta. None of it, however, seemed enough. Madhuri's films bombed consecutively. The original producers backed out. "Everyone thought I had introduced the wrong girl," says Ghai. Adds Anil Kapoor: "I got a little scared. I thought, 'yeh apne aap to dubegi, mereko bhi saath le dubegi' (Not only will she drown, but will also take me down with her)." But in November '88 Tezaab was released, and the ek, do, teen girl became an overnight star. Beta only reinforced her status. Her no-holds- barred performance, combined with the Dhak dhak number, had her critics in ecstasy and the cash registers ringing. Equally fortuitously, Madhuri was at the right place at the right time. With the right goods. Through the '80s, while Madhuri struggled, cinema was grappling with the onslaught of the video. The reliable formu- lae—angry young man, and if that didn't work, multi-starrers—had run their course. Film makers were desperate for a winning horse. Though heroines seldom make a film run, Madhuri and her dances became a saleable point. The songs replayed on radio and television made her a cult figure. The same holds true even today. A week after Khalnayak's release, a theatre manager in said: "Many people can be seen making a beeline for the exit as soon as Choli draws to an end." Madhuri ultimately clicked because her in- herent talent was combined with immense per- sonal ambition. She evolved from a slim, al- most plain-looking teenager with a bad com- plexion and no connections, to a superstar. Madhuri with her parents: a private person after pack-up "She was very confident," remembers Boney Kapoor. She was also very determined. "For other girls, acting is just one of the things they do," says Mukul Anand. "They fool around, she bumped into Subhash Ghai in '86 and he asked her to have affairs. For Madhuri, work is the only thing. Look at her perform a dance number in Karma. She met Anil Kapoor physically. Nine years and there is not an inch of extra flesh on while shooting the number. The dance didn't make it past the her. She's maintained her stability in both body and mind." editing table but Madhuri had found several mentors. Boney Pursuing her goal with single-minded devotion, Kapoor recommended her to director —with whom she Madhuri did what was necessary to cover up her flaws— started Bajrangi opposite Anil Kapoor. It was never com- when the pimples started creating havoc (Ram Lakhan close- pleted. But by then Subhash Ghai and the Kapoor brothers ups had to be reshot), she got treatment in the US. Today, had begun to chart out her career. Rakesh Nath, who was with clearer skin and even more confidence, Madhuri's then Anil's secretary, was asked to look after her dates. She screen presence rivals Sridevi's. took diction classes and Anil's wife, Suneeta, gave her tips on The danger which always lurks around Bollywood's style. Lectures on her figure, make-up, marketing herself, darker corners is that she will get typecast as a dancing character and professionalism were thrown in for free. sensation. Having worked towards number one for nine years, Madhuri is not entirely comfortable with the label, Y the end of 1986, five pages of advertisements featuring insisting that she is not bound by her screen image. But her the all-new Madhuri Dixit appeared in Screen. They biggest challenge clearly lies in whether she can change that Bannounced her comeback and that nine film makers, image or, ironically, because of the success and sensation of including , Yash Chopra and N.N. Sippy, had the Choli song, remain stuck in the bump-and-grind groove. signed her up. Anil Kapoor signed five films with her and But what she does have in abundance is an effervescence promoted her heavily, with the aim of forming a successful and talent which, combined with carefully crafted upward star pair. "I was hard-selling her so much that most of my mobility, has transformed her into the star of the '90s. other heroines stopped talking to me," he remembers. But it There's clearly more behind the choli than most people are worked. The industry godfathers ensured that Madhuri's fantasising about. —with bureau reports

136 INDIA TODAY » SEPTEMBER 15. 1993