"Till my husband leaves for work, I hover around him. After he leaves, I hang loose..."
 Madhuri Dixit |
 Madhuri
Dixit |
 Madhuri Dixit |
At 6.00 p.m. cars wait in the foyer to drive the stars to the venue. The stadium is packed to the seams. Huge banners of ‘Madhuri Dixit Nite’ are put up all over the gates and walls and there is heavy security both inside and around the stadium. There’s a common green room, a group of dancers are getting ready. A little further away in the corridor, are the private make-up rooms of all the artistes. Covered by a red velvet frilled curtain, the room is well-equipped for a stage show. Sponsored by ‘Emami’, the performers include singers of the calibre of Alka Yagnik, Sukhwinder Singh and Vinod Rathod.
The first half of the show has a medley of Rani Mukherjee hits. The second half has a Western and an Indian medley by Madhuri Dixit as the grand finale. When the show ends, there is pandemonium all over. The artistes are smuggled out through special exits and escorted directly into their cars. Back to the hotel, one expects Madhuri Dixit, after a strenuous three-and-a-half hour show, to be exhausted. She is in high spirits. Flooded with compliments from her colleagues and the sponsors, it’s time for celebration. In the company of Shilpa Shirodkar, Rani Mukherjee, Madhuri lets her hair down doing a post-mortem of the show. They come up with options of improving the concert for their next show. It’s only when mother Snehlata Dixit points out that it’s past midnight and they should order dinner before the restaurant shuts, food is ordered by room service.
Next day, on our flight to Mumbai, I chat up with La Dixit about showbiz, concerts and life after marriage.
Do you think men usually have a problem taking instructions from a successful woman like you?
Are you referring to the concert? I don’t think so. When doing the show, all of us work as a team. It’s like a family and very intimate. You spend a lot of time during travelling and rehearsals. We are either discussing our performances or just having a good time. Ego is the last thing on our minds.
Do you find yourself changing?
I think I’m the same. But people around me point out that I’m more receptive. Maybe because now I’m not racing against time.
But your consistent reserve all these years — is it natural or an image you cultivated?
Neither. I was just shy. I still am. It’s just that people give different definitions to my reserve.
Everyone still refers to you by your maiden name.
That’s understandable. Stars are remembered by their original names. What irks me is when I’m invited at formal functions and they refer to me as Mrs. Dixit. Maybe, next time they do that, I’ll send my mother for the function, instead of me.
Some of them address you as Madhuri Dixit Nene.
That’s better than the first. In fact, more and more women, even those not in the limelight prefer retaining their maiden names by just adding an extra surname. It’s nice and less complicated.
Why do you think your choice of husband generates so much curiosity?
I don’t know. A lot of it had to do with the media hype. They went on and on about it that even those unconnected to me would ask, ‘So, how is he....?’ It’s a strange question.
Did you feel strange leaving India and the film industry to join him
far away in Los Angeles?
I haven’t left the film industry and why would I feel strange about going to Los
Angeles? It’s my decision.
Has the new bride learnt to make bed and breakfast?
I am, and believe me it’s not at all difficult. I had never cooked earlier in my
life, but the first time I made his breakfast — scrambled eggs, I did a good job of
it.
It’s said that to know a person you have to watch what he
eats.
That’s an odd one. I have never heard that. He has simple habits and is not very
demanding. I eat mostly vegetarian — aloo methi, dal, roti and sabzi. You can add
some raita, papad and pickle to it.
Have you learnt driving?
I’ve still to accomplish that. I know to drive but not left-hand driving. Besides,
I’ve to still know my way around.
Can you use the computer?
Not completely, but I know enough to send e-mails — it’s just functional.
So how do you spend your day?
Till he leaves for work, I hover around him. After he leaves, I hang loose — watch
TV, read, exercise, have a leisurely bath. I’ve been denied all this and quite enjoy
being myself.
And when he gets back?
We’ve usually chalked out some plan. We either go out for a meal or sight-seeing and
if he’s tired, stay at home. Right now because of my old commitments, I have to keep
travelling to India and let me tell you that pulling away from each other everytime is
getting more and more difficult.
That’s romantic.
Every time we are together there is this urgency of cramming in as much as we can to make
up for the loss of time. The coming year will be very busy for him as he will be spending
as many as 10 hours at the hospital. There are so many things we want to do together but
have to wait to find the time for.
For instance?
Skiing! These days I’m learning skiing. Though he’s good in skiing, he enrolled
himself in the elementary class to give me company much to the surprise of the instructor.
Out of the entire class only me and another girl would keep falling on the snow. To my
credit I must say though that I have learnt to fall without hurting myself. Also,
I’ve learnt to rise on my feet without help.
You’ve always liked challenges?
Yes, they make me deliver to my optimum level. I was like that as a young girl in school
and later in my dance and career as well.
Are you looking forward to working with Sanjay Leela Bhansali?
Very much. I really loved his Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam.
What next?
There’s Husain’s Gajagamini, Deepak Shivdasani’s Yeh Raaste Hain Pyar Ke,
Bokadia’s Hum Aapke Hain Sanam and Bhansali’s Devdas, I’m not signing too
many films because I’m committed to a series of shows and in between, whatever time I
get, I’ll be running home to Los Angeles.
You refer to Los Angeles as home.
It is.
Earlier, every man you were seen with was a suitable boy?
Today, every man I walk with is Mr. Nene.
— Bhawana Somaaya