Madhuri Dixit, the Madhubala of the nineties, the Maryln Monroe of Bollywood, has stolen the hearts of the young and the old alike. She has quite a range of fans, right from little kids in the railway station dancing to the beat of Ek do teen, college gir ls aping her costumes and dance movements from her Hum Aap Ke Hai Kaun, to M.F. Hussain, the magnificent painter who is completely fida over her charms.

So what is it that makes Madhuri, the symbol of womanhood in Indian cinema? Is it her "the girl -next- door" charm, unlike the sophisticated types of Zeenat Aman and Parveen Babi, that appeals to the masses? Oh, lest you be mistaken, Dixit is probably o ne of the few actresses who has been to school. In addition to her feminine charms, and training in classical dance (Kathak), Madhuri has a bachelors degree in Microbiology. But it was not her education that brought her fame. She got a lucky break when Su bhash Ghai spotted her dancing talent during the shooting of Awaara Baap. He told her that if she stopped doing itsy-bitsy roles, he would relaunch her in his films. Madhuri of course jumped at the opportunity, and since then there is no looking back.

There was a time in the Tezaab girl's life when she was threatened by the onslaught of new teenage movies. But for producers who are looking for an actress with more than just sex appeal, Madhuri is the best bet. She can not only gyra te, but can act too . Take for example, the film Prem Granth by Raj Kapoor productions. Madhuri’s superb performance as a low caste village belle who moves from one tragic situation to another a la Nargis in Mother India, confirms that Madhuri’s mass appeal and her consoli dates her number one position in the industry.

But ever since her marriage to NRI Dr Sriram Nene, critics seem to have written her off. And it didn't help matters when her last release Aarzoo bombed. For the world, Madhuri Dixit's life seems to be going downhill. Has she said goodbye to Bollywood? We'd like to think otherwise.

Madhuri Dixit's career evolved along with her talent. The actress, who once scrambled between studios working two shifts a day, slowly but surely climbed the pinnacle of success. Once there, she maintained her standards. No more working on Sundays and only four films a year.

In the makeup cabin during one of her last movies she said, "An hour before the shooting is very relaxing. I sit back and assess myself personally and professionally. I also use such times to pay attention to little details like cutting my nails or check the split ends in my hair!"

It's quite unusual to see a normally wary Madhuri being so forthcoming about personal information. "People expect stars to a breed apart. They forget that they are humans too. I'm an introvert and don't speak much but that doesn't mean I'm snooty. If I have done two shifts how can you expect me to be social?"

Although her smile can melt a thousand hearts, her forbidding demeanour has often caused people to feel that she's cold and unapproachable. She doesn't agree. "Am I supposed to get euphoric every time I meet a director, co-star or a journalist?" she concludes, irritated at the accusation.

"My family gives me enough security and warmth. I don't have to look for it outside! After achieving so much success and fame I'm apprehensive about people's motives. I want to be sure that people want to be friends with me and not my fame!"

Did you know that Madhuri once wanted to become a microbiologist? An offer from Rajshri Productions, however, changed her life. Although her first role in Abodh (1986) brought her no recognition, the same year Subhash Ghai promised Madhuri meatier roles on the condition that she stopped accepting itty-bitty parts in insignificant films. He kept his promise. Madhuri starred in Ghai's Uttar Dakshin and then in his star-studded blockbuster Ram Lakhan. Soon her jhatkas in the Ek, do, teen number in Tezab set the screen ablaze. A noteworthy performance in Dil gave Madhuri her first Filmfare award.

From 1990 onwards, Madhuri delivered a hit every year -- Saajan, Khalnayak and Prem Pratigaya.

But soon after a spate of flops, the industry grapevine had begun writing obituaries for Madhuri's 12-year career. However, the kitschy Hum Aapke Hain Kaun (1994), Hindi cinema's biggest blockbuster to date, re-established Madhuri as Heroine No 1. Madhuri mania ensured the success of Raja (1995), a film with many flaws, earning Madhuri the enviable reputation of being one of the very few actresses who could carry a film on her shoulders. Her stellar role in Prem Granth (1996) and the drop-dead gorgeous looks that she sported in Rajkumar (1996) were widely appreciated.

But both were flops. Jha's Mrityudand (1997) brought her critical acclaim if not box-office success, as did Nana Patekar's Prahaar where Madhuri, sans make-up, shocked entranced audiences. Mrityudand also won her the Screen Videocon Best Actress Award and established her as the 'thinking actress', a necessary feather in every self-respecting actress's cap. Dil To Pagal Hai, a feel good romance released in 1998, saw Madhuri raking in the mega bucks and it also fetched her the Filmfare Best Actress award.

With a rumoured Rs. 75 - 80 lakh price tag, Madhuri, until recently, was one of Bollywood's most expensive actresses Although her secretary denies this, the grapevine says she charged Rs. 2 crore for her first Tamil film Engineer. But due to the film industry's youth-obsessed standards, Madhuri was shunted down to the 'ageing star' category. Contends Honey Irani, "Madhuri must move away from the college-girl variety of roles, not because she can't pull them off, but because it was time she took on different and challenging roles."

Madhuri seems unperturbed by her descent from her No. 1 status. "For someone to be No. 1, someone has to give up the position," she points out. Would she miss the limelight? Pat comes the reply, "No I won't. Our lives come a full circle. For someone else to be No.1, someone has to give up the position. Didn't Hemaji bow out to give place to Sridevi? When I joined films I was clear I wanted to make a name, which I have done."