Madhuri Gobbles Ash Mumbai, March 11, 2002:

Insiders reveal that Madhuri Dixit-Nene has swallowed Aishwarya Rai with her mind-blowing performance in Devdas. Ash is smarting after seeing a private trial last week.  Ash had tried her best, and then some more by suggesting scenes that weren't in the original. Whether her wishes prevailed or not is not known. Sanjay Leela Bhansali is known to be very stubborn when it comes to his films and is not the one to compromise.

I have been told that he convinced Ash about her character being more powerful (truth) and that in the earlier versions, Chandramukhi had failed to outshine Paro (half-truth).

Madhuri's success is her own. Trade pundits give credit to the fact that Chandramukhi's is a glamorous character and Ash is playing an ordinary Bengali girl. However, Vyjaynathimala couldn't excel Suchitra Sen in the older version of Devdas.

The Showgirl: She stole countless hearts with her million-dollar smile and exhilarating dances. Madhuri was the undisputed queen of the BO for a long, long time.
The Actress: What sets Madhuri Dixit apart from most actresses is the power and energy she translates through her performances. She is capable of conveying subtlety and vulnerability to the same effect, too. Be it her high voltage persona in Dil, Beta, Lajja and Mrityudand or lighthearted romanticism in Hum Aapke Hain Koun, Dil Toh Pagal Hai, Madhuri is a winner.

The Person: Her rise to superstardom wasn't easy -- with concessions like the kissing scenes in Dayavan and Vardi for good measure. Apart from that and her alleged link-up with costar Sanjay Dutt, Madhuri has maintained a low profile. She is devoted to her family and now strives to make a success out of her marriage to Los Angeles-based Dr Shriram Nene.

What Next? Hum Tumhare Hain Sanam (Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan), Devdas (Shah Rukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai).

Madhuri To Play Amitabh's Wife!

She's run around on screen and played the leading lady of umpteen films to date. But now Madhuri Dixit is all set for a change in role. If sources are to be believed, the actress is playing Uday Chopra's mother, and Amitabh Bachchan's wife in Yash Chopra's next magnum opus. She seems to be varying her assignments too. She's all set to appear in a series of music videos for the Rajshris as well. Way to go, Mads. We're sure your fans would love to see you on the small screen as well!

Shubh Vivah in soup  3/8/02

Madhuri Dixit won't be playing matchmaker any more. The Delhi High Court has restrained Sony TV from launching its programme Shubh Vivah, which was to be anchored by the actress.

A media consultant, who had challenged Sony Television from airing the serial Shubh Vivah on grounds that it was developed on the idea disclosed by his company, has been given a green signal by the court to telecast his serial Swayamvar first on small screen within four months.

Madhuri’s secretary signs up Amisha for his film

06th Feb 2002   18.57 IST By ApunKaChoice Bureau   Rakesh Nath alias Rikku, better known as Madhuri Dixit’s secretary, has signed Amisha Patel and his son Karan Nath for his new film. Rikku’s son Karan made his debut with Paagalpan, which failed to click at the Box office. The film will be directed by Anees Bazmee. Other details are yet to be known.

Madhuri's marriage is rock steady!

There is a nasty side to stardom which surfaces every now and then. Ever since Madhuri Dixit has married Dr Shriram Nene, speculation has been rife about the fate of their long distance relationship.

"Any other human being would have gone mad by now, given all those crazy and untrue stories of her so-called split," said a close family friend.

The rumour-mongers can take a walk now that Mrs. Nene is painting the town red with hubby in tow. Judging by the number of restaurants the two have been spotted in, the Nenes are doing fine.

"I can't claim to be a great cook but I am learning fast," confessed a glowing Madhuri when fans caught her off-guard and quizzed her about her culinary skills.

If there's one film that Madhuri is keen that her husband should take time off his busy schedule for, it's Sanjay Leela Bhansali's adaptation of Sarat Chandra Chatterjee's classic Devdas. But the film is in the post-production stage and will be ready only by May-end, when she is scheduled to take off for the Swiss Alps on a well-deserved break.

What Bhansali can't get over is not Madhuri endorsing a popular brand of cream just a couple of months before his film's release, but Dr. Nene's curiousity when the director mentioned his film's subject. "Hey, but who is Sarat?" he asked innocently.

Rest assured, Dr. Nene, he isn't one of your spouse's co-stars?

The glow about Madhuri

Bachchan, Madhuri in Mira Nair’s next?
17th Jan 2002   12.13 IST
By ApunKaChoice Bureau  

After the critical and popular success of Monsoon Wedding, Mira Nair’s next film would most probably star mega-superstars Amitabh Bachchan and Madhuri Dixit.

The film would be a typical Hindi mainstream film with lots of melodious songs and dances.

According to Mira Nair, it is a subject only Madhuri can do justice to and if the rumors are to be believed, Madhuri has given her nod to star in the film.

Mira Nair is even thinking of casting the Big B in a grand role and if her efforts bear fruit, it would be the first time that Bachchan and Madhuri would be seen together in a film in major roles.

Madhuri had a special appearance in David Dhawan’s Bade Miyan Chhote Miyan, which starred Bachchan.

AB, Madhuri in Mira Nair's next?

Madhuri: No more fida over Hussain

Trust our filmi folks with their fickle ways! Till yesterday Madhuri was proud to be M F Hussain's muse. He proudly claimed to have seen Hum Aapke Hain Koun 75 times, and that only made Madhuri blush beetroot red. She even enjoyed his company on the sets. They even inaugurated a painting museum in Hyderabad together. Gaja Gamini was scripted and Madhuri offered to play the lead role in the film. What better launch could M F Hussain have as a director! The painter wielded the megaphone. Madhuri doled out chunk dates and religiously did whatever she was asked to do for the film.

But when she learnt that M F Hussain's film was turning out as abstract as his painting, her enthusiasm faded. She began to play tough. So much so that whenever M F Hussain spotted a journalist on the sets, he requested them to leave so that Madhuri did not waste her time with them. With great difficulty the film was completed. Premiere was held. Guests and relatives made it a point to be present but the one missing was the leading lady herself. "Neither Madhuri nor I have received any invitation to the premiere," complained Madhuri's indispensable secretary Rikku. Insiders insisted that the reason why Madhuri abstained from attending the premiere was because she did not want to be associated with a film that had head nor tail.

The final nail in the coffin was when Madhuri Dixit rebuffed M F Hussain at a special show of Pati Patni Aur Woh recently where the painter and his muse were invited. Hussain asked Dixit to sit with him. But Madhuri declined saying that she had her mother to keep her company. He coaxed and cajoled her further but she refuse to budge from her stand. Hussain finally had to give up and watch the play all alone!

Sanjay: Mad about Madhuri

Madhuri Dixit holds a special place in Sanjay Dutt's scheme of things. In fact he wants to work with her again and even requested his favourite director Mahesh Manjrekar to cast them as a pair. Now, since Mahesh Manjrekar has already signed Madhuri for the English version of Astitva, Sanjay Dutt is hoping to be cast in it as the lead. A thorough professional that Madhuri is, once that she has agreed to do the film no way is she going to back out of it. But insiders insist that Dixit has told Manjrekar to cast Sanjay in the role that Mohnish did. Madhuri Dixit and Sanjay Dutt first met when they were signed for Ilaaka. The couple went to do several films together. Love bloomed on the sets of Saajan. They were about to tie the knot when Sanjay Dutt got arrested. Dixit chose to cut-off all ties with the Dutt leaving him absolutely disdained and disillusioned.

Neena Gupta plans to rope Madhuri

Actress and television star Neena Gupta is all set to wield the megaphone yet again. No this time it is not for the small but the big screen. And guess who she has approached for the woman oriented theme of her film. Our ace dhak-dhak actress Madhuri Dixit Nene! The script has already been handed over to Madhuri and considering that the script entirely focuses on the central character, the actress should not have any objections to do it. But what if she turns down Neena Gupta? Neena already has someone in mind! And she is none other than herself!

Madhuri's posters burnt by BJP cadre protesting Lajja

Bhopal, September 3: A group of BJP workers on Monday burnt an effigy of Bollywood film-maker Rajkumar Santoshi and posters of film actress Madhuri Dixit to express their protest against what they described as "objectionable dialogues" against Hindu gods and goddesses in Santoshi's latest movie Lajja.

Police said the BJP workers led by Rameshwar Sharma, leader of the party in the Bhopal municipal corporation, were trying to move towards Raaz Talkies, where Lajja is being screened, when they were stopped in view of prohibitory orders in force because of the monsoon session of the Madhya Pradesh Assembly.

According to BJP workers, Madhuri's posters were burnt because the "objectionable dialogues" against Hindu gods and goddesses were uttered by her in the movie. "Lajja" is also being screened at the local Sangam cinema hall, but no demonstration was held there.

This is the second time this year that a demonstration against a Hindi film has been staged in the city. On July 19, activists of the Youth Congress had staged a violent demonstration against Hindi blockbuster Gadar.

Madhuri to do a matrimonial show

Madhuri Dixit may finally make her debut on the idiot box! Yes, the dhak-dhak actress has conceded to host a show for Sony TV's Shubh Vivah where she will interview just married couples and ask them questions about what made them choose each other as life partners and what qualities about one another do they like and hate et al! Madhuri since a long time had longed to do television. In fact she had literally nodded to do Zee's flop show Sawaal Dus Karod Ka till Zee backed out at the last minute saying they could not cater to the actress's unreasonable demands. Anyway, she may as well make the most her status before it gets washed out completely.

Madhuri's marriage on the rocks 
- Thursday, June 21, 2001

Ek Do Teen.... 

Looks like the countdown to the ‘jhatka’ queen Madhuri Dixit's married life has begun. Well close on the heels of the rumour that Madhuri had taken maternity leave from Bhansali’s film ‘Devdas’, another rumour seems to have taken to the streets of Mumbai, that it’s not maternal trouble which she’s having but marital. 

It seems Dr. Nene, a US based heart surgeon, isn’t doing such a great job pulling his beautiful wife's heartstrings. Bollywood Ki Biwi, Madhuri Dixit has been hardly spending any time with him. She has been clocking up frequent flyer miles between Mumbai and US, for shoots and more shoots. It does not look like the kind Nene has taken too kindly to these transatlantic jaunts.

According to insiders, he sighed and said, "Dil To Pagal Hai". And guess what Madhuri has been going round saying to friends? . She has been openly telling friends that she wants to get back to films full-time and would like to go to the US only "once in a while".

Now this sure the complete reversal of what she was saying in the earlier months of her marriage. Mrs. Nene had declared that she would settle down with her doctor husband in the US and come to India, once in a while" for her film commitments. ???

But hang on folks.... there is more to the rumour going round the place. The news is that the arch lights are not the only reason that has taken Madhuri away from her ‘Saajan’. If industry sources are to be believed, then Madhuri has been crooning akhiyan Milaoon, Kabhi Akhiyan Churaun to a Delhi based model. 

Surprised???
He apparently met Madhuri while she was in Delhi shooting. What’s more the hunk also shoots a lot in Mumbai.... which makes it easy for them to spend more time together. 

Here's hoping things get better on Madhuri’s marriage front, that is if the rumour is to believed! And if indeed the stork is visiting her, Well Madhuri Mama to be, for you and your Nene, Marital trouble is a big No No, for the sake of the babe atleast!

Madhuri to play mom in Yash Chopra's film

12th June 2001 20.18 IST 
By ApunKaChoice Bureau 

Yash Chopra has signed Madhuri Dixit to play a mom in his next film.

According to Bollywood Grapevine, the Chopras were looking for a high-profile actress to star opposite the charismatic Amitabh Bachchan. Their first choice was Sridevi. But the role wasn't meaty enough for the ‘Thunder Thighs’ to contemplate a comeback. So they decided to approach Madhuri. 

Initially, Mrs. Nene turned down the offer. But Madhuri's hubby talked her out of her reluctance. Mr. Nene reportedly reminded her that she owed the Chopras a good turn. And that did the trick. Madhuri relented. 

Madhuri plays Uday Chopra's mom in the film.

Dilruba For Madhuri 

Mumbai, June 4: Even as M F Husain moves over to his new film, Madhuri Dixit attracts another man: Dilip Chhabria. 

The film buffs may not know much about him, but film stars (specially those who love cars) and car lovers all over the world known him for a record 450, individually designed and crafted cars going by the brand name of DC. Each car is a marvel of automobile engineering. And this man has got these cars made in a span of 8 years! 

He may take a Tata Sierra and totally redesign it naming it Arya or take a Mercedec Benz and change its contours and design. Isa, Li'l, Arya and Arka are some of those traffic stoppers. These custom made cars are naturally much more expensive and are considered bigger status symbols than your regular Merc or BMW.

To return to his second love - the first is, obviously, cars - Madhuri Dixit-Nene, Chhabria would like to gift Madhuri a car specially designed for her. He has already thought of a name for her (the car, stupid!): Dilruba. 

He doesn't want anything in return. 

Chhabria may not be as old as Husain but is certainly on the wrong side of fifty. 

Madhuri's Hot Affair 

Mumbai, May 29: Grapevine has it that Madhuri Dixit-Nene is having a clandestine affair with a model based in Delhi. One doesn't know how correct the rumour is - there is nothing strange about a married woman falling in love - but every time it is repeated something is being added. I have known Madhuri from the days she was struggling and always found her holding middle class values. Everyone knows that after she became a top heroine and was romantically linked with Sanjay Dutt and her secretary Rakesh Nath. She disassociated with Sanjay only after his imprisonment and Dutts have never forgiven her that. That again was a middle class insecurity of Madhuri who wouldn't risk her career, life and reputation for love. 

But middle class morality has undergone a lot of changes and Madhuri moved up after Tezaab. Anything can happen. 

Madhuri Doing Yash Film 

Mumbai, May 29: In her desire to play a variety of meaningful roles, Madhuri Dixit has returned to Yash Chopra. Few know that Madhuri was not happy when, despite her feelers, Chopras signed up Aishwarya Rai to play the lead in Mohabbatein. Now, she is doing a Yashraj film that will be directed by the old man himself. Her costars will be Amitabh Bachchan and (you have guessed it) Uday Chopra! It is not known whether Madhuri will be the heroine opposite a much younger Uday or he will have a new girl opposite him. However, this will be a re-launch of the guy at the hands of his father and may do more for him than did brother Adi's Mohabbatein. 

Madhuri Dixit: No full stops yet!

Banish the thought: Madhuri Dixit isn't packing her bags and heading back to the US of A and hubby Shriram Nene after Devdas is canned and delivered. She has just accepted an offer from Yash Chopra for a stellar role in a film that will co-star Amitabh Bachchan and the producer-director's son, Uday Chopra. 

Clearly, as far as Madhuri's career is concerned, it certainly isn't finito yet. And that, according to reports filtering in from Los Angeles, is causing the good doctor of LA immense heartburn. He is no admirer of Hindi films. Now that his wife seems to be bent on keeping the shuttling-between-LA-and-Mumbai arrangement going for a few more years, there could be reason for him to hate them all the more. 

One, however, can understand Madhuri's eagerness to keep her options open in Mumbai. Yeh Raaste Hai Pyaar Ke, in which she plays the role of a married woman who's gone over the edge, is in post-production, while the Devdas shoot is reportedly progressing well after many a hiccup. 

If these two films do click, deadly Dixit could be the flavour of the season once again. She obviously doesn't want to lose out on the resultant fun by opting out of the race completely. Good thinking, Mads! But do we hear Dr Nene say, na na? 

Madhuri rushes back to U.S.

Hey guys, hadn't we reported sometime back how Madhuri was on a signing spree, taking on newer movies and trying to delay the inevitable? It has been nearly six months that she is in India. Looks like the lambee judaai has upset Madhuri's doctor hubby back in US. And though the two have been in touch all this time over the phone and more recently through chat on the Internet, Dr Nene must be eager to convert the virtual to reality. He seems to have run out of patience this time. So, it is home-run time for Mrs. Nene. The dhak dhak dame who was supposed to leave in June is rushing to the US by April end, two months ahead of schedule! And she has put all her Bollywood plans on hold. These include Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Devdaas with Shah Rukh Khan and Aishwarya Rai, Deepak Shivdasani's Yeh Raaste Hai Pyaar Ke and a recently signed filmed with Mahesh Manjrekar. The fate of the new ventures hangs in balance till Madhuri returns sometime in July. But movies can wait, because when a doctor needs nursing, it is obviously an emergency situation!

Madhuri in Astitva’s English version

21st May 2001   18.21 IST By ApunKaChoice Bureau   The buzz is that Mahesh Manjrekar has roped in none other than Madhuri Dixit-Nene for the English version of his critically acclaimed film Astitva. Manjrekar has reportedly signed a Hollywood studio to produce the film this time. So Madhuri hasn’t really packed off her bags from Bollywood. That’s a great news for her fans that she has decided to do a role as challenging as this one. But the question is why was Tabu neglected, even though she had won a National Award for her role.

Madhuri’s pregnancy puts Devdas on hold

09th May 2001   18.05 IST By ApunKaChoice Bureau   Finally, it can be confirmed that Madhuri Dixit Nene is expecting. According to the reports, Mrs. Nene has opted stay away from work on medical grounds for at least six months. For Sanjay Leela Bhansali, director of Devdas, in which Madhuri is playing a lead role, this news could be a source of many a headache, as Sanjay had juggled Shahrukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai and Jackie Shroff's dates in order to accommodate Madhuri, who had promised to give Devdas top priority. The jinxed Bhansali project, which has encountered more than its share of problems since it went on the floors, will have to wait until Mads returns from maternity leave.

'Devdas' gets another jolt  25th Feb 2001   19.48 IST
By ApunKaChoice Bureau  

Sanjay Leela Bhansali is one worried man these days.

Sanjay's pet project, Devdas after a series of interruptions resumed shooting and was progressing smoothly when problem again, this time in the form of Madhuri Dixit, stalled shooting for fifteen more days.

Apparently, Madhuri was not impressed with the dress ensembles designers Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla had readied for Mads. The apparels were predominantly, as typical of Abu-Sandeep, in white and off-white color. Madhuri felt that the light shades would not stand up to the screen like bright, vibrant colors and sent back the clothes for a rework.

Madhuri is also believed to have given an ultimatum to Bhansali to finish the schedule as soon as possible so that she can go and join her husband in the US.

Plagued by problems perennially, Sanjay sits quietly on the gigantic sets of Devdas portraying 18th century Calcutta, looking a perfect 'Devdas' himself.

"First they were getting her married every year and now
they are claiming she's pregnant for over nine months…!"

Momma Dixit smashes rumours of Madhuri's pregnancy!

It's all over the place. The sizzling news that India's numero uno actress Madhuri Dixit was in the family way. And it was a rumour which has been persisting for quite a few months now. A couple of websites had even published the report that Madhuri had given an ultimatum to her producers to complete their films within a certain time frame so that her pregnancy wouldn't affect their films in any way. And not to say later that they weren't given sufficient warning. Principal among the producers being Sanjay Leela Bhansali, who was making 'Devdas' with the actress he'd always wanted to work with.

However, Madhuri herself looked far from pregnant each time the press happened to meet her. The last couple of occasions being at the shooting of Deepak Shivdasani's 'Yeh Raaste Hain Pyaar Ke' in Delhi where she drove media and fans alike, insane with her elegant good looks. And more recently, at the Filmfare Awards function in Mumbai where she looked stunning and slim enough to pass as an adolescent. Still, the rumours dogged her. Being written about in print and on the web.

When we contacted the Dixit household to get the lowdown on Madhuri's alleged pregnancy, the fiery mama Dixit blasted. "They have been saying she's two months pregnant, she's two months pregnant for over five months now. That should make her ten months pregnant. First they were getting her married every year and now they are claiming she's pregnant for over nine months…! In any case she has been here in India for over four months now. Don't tell me that a pregnancy doesn't show up in four months. It should have been showing by now. People write nonsense all the time. It is not true and it is not something to hide. When it happens, we will be the first to announce to the world. After all, it is a happy occasion," exploded mama Dixit in her inimitable style. Squashing all rumours of her daughter becoming mommy Nene.

So as of now, that's that. Until the next round of rumours… or the reality… whichever may come first. -- Omar Qureshi

Stop That 

Gawd, tongues just go yakety yakety. If one more soul tells us that Madhuri Dixit's pregnant, we're gonna bust a few blood vessels. Because she's not. She's neck-deep into shooting for Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Devdas during the nights. While the days are spent surfing the net, whispering sweet-nothings to Shriramji Nene on Valentine's day. Plus it was an oh-so-chweet sight to see Madhuritai dial M for Nene for her lifeline question on KBC.

Hits and Mrs: Madhuri's Dil Da Mamla 
Pankaj Kapoor

Valentine's Day. The perfect day to celebrate love in your kind of way. Dreams unlimited notwithstanding, it was a perfect case of Mein Yahan Tum Kahan for Ms Dixit-Nene. ``It's so boring. Here I am stuck at a shoot, and we can't be together on Valentine's Day,'' sighs Madhuri on the sets of Yeh Raaste Hain Pyar Ke.

In town to shoot for the Deepak Shivdasani-directed film which co-stars Ajay Devgan and Preity Zinta, Madhuri might have been tied down by reams of reel on Valentine's Day, but her heart goes on... much beyond days and dates assigned to matters of the heart. ``To be very frank, I didn't have a clue about Valentine's Day till fairly recently. My idea of romance is being with someone you are in love with... it could be a candle-lit dinner, walking hand-in-hand on the beach or skiing side by side,'' elaborates the dhak-dhak damsel at her Inter-Continental suite.

Interestingly, Madhuri has tried her hand (or should we say feet?) at skiing in the US along with hubby Shriram Nene. Without much success though! ``I just couldn't keep my balance and kept on falling over,'' she recalls, ``I still haven't managed to get it right, but I certainly won't stop before I get the hang of skiing.''

Besides snow-clad slopes, it's the lady's kitchen which appears to be cooking up a potboiler. Madhuri's marriage, of course, is still at that good old stage in which a husband appreciates whatever is cooked at home. ``I am enjoying my cooking and there hasn't been any criticism until now. But you never know! Well, three years down the line he might say `namak kam hai!' Incidentally the last dish Madhuri prepared for Mr Nene was a Maharashtrian variant of pasta, ``because he just loves pasta!''

Currently taken up with Hum Aapke Hain Sanam, which features Salman and Shah Rukh Khan, and Devdas, which also has Shah Rukh Khan, besides Aishwarya, Madhuri longs to work in films of the likes ofMughal-E-Azam. ``The language, the whole set-up of the film is so amazingly rich,'' gushes the Gajagamini, ``And yes, I am excited about my role as Chandramukhi in Devdas. Though I haven't seen K L Saigal's Devdas, a lot of research has gone into the character of Chandramukhi.''

Even as the actress in her takes over, Madhuri's magic continues to work wonders. And not just in India. After all, if you're mad about Madhuri, distance has made a certain heart surgeon's heart in Atlanta grow fonder

Madhuri Dixit: Very Much In Competition! (02/14/01)

Many thought that the 'dhak-dhak' girl's career in filmdom is over and done with and a comeback is something that looked more impossible once she tied the knot. But all of you have got her wrong. Madhuri is engaged in making a comeback for herself on silver screen and her million dollar smile is gonna get your heart going 'dhak dhak' once again. The lady has lost tremendous weight and looks as fresh as ever and her entrance and presence still makes a difference making the ambience a lot more glamorous than what it would've been without her. This is what we witnessed at the press conference of 'Yeh Raste Pyar Ke' held at the Inter Continental hotel, New Delhi. Way to go Mads…especially since you have it in you.

Madhuri a winner all the way! (02/12/01)

Madhuri sure is a winner when it comes to her popularity both among her fans and co-stars. The reason? Her naked honesty. 
Star Plus telecast a special episode of KBC featuring Sachin Tendulkar and Madhuri Dixit recently. Since there have been other bigwigs , viewers took it for granted that it must have been a 'fixed' one when Madhuri won 50 lakh on the show. She did use her lifeline though, calling none other than hubby Dr Sriram Nene to answer a question about matters of the 'heart'.
"No they don't even let you know the kind of questions they are going to ask you. I was nervous as hell for three full days I was browsing through books on general knowledge", the numero uno actress revealed.
But did she anticipate the questions? 
Flashing her 5000 watt smile she quipped, " They asked for my bio-data to find out about my areas of interest, my favourite films and books and accordingly framed the questions". Refuting charges of partiality, she snapped, "And please don't underestimate the intelligence level of other stars people like Aamir, Sonali and Shahrukh are well read too apart from being good actors. Of course actors are asked relatively simpler questions".
So now we know why the gorgeous diva with the million dollar smile has the entire nation eating out of her hands! It's her sincerity towards work, honesty about herself and candor about her co stars that make her the unparalleled empress of emotions in reel and real lives!

Madhuri confirms her pregnancy
07th Feb 2001   14.12 IST
By ApunKaChoice Bureau  

Finally, the news has been confirmed by, none other than, the mama-to-be.

Madhuri Dixit is pregnant. She has requested her producers to finish off their films before she starts showing. The two producers to get the request note are Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Deepak Shivdasani.

In Bhansali's Devdas Madhuri has quite a few dance scenes which she wants to complete first. Her co-stars Aishwarya and Shah Rukh are cooperating with her in sparing dates to accommodate shooting of those portions of the film that have Mads.

Mads has also requested her co-stars of Shivdasani's Yeh Raaste Hain Pyar Ke, Ajay Devgan and Preity Zinta to cooperate with her in finishing the film as soon as possible

Lata Mangeshkar receiving the Noor Jehan award from Madhuri Dixit at the Screen Videocon Awards ceremony in Mumbai on Saturday night, January 20, 2001. (PTI photo)

Madhuri to raise money for quake victims

A visitor looks at a photocollage of India's leading film actress Madhuri Dixit, dressed as Mona Lisa, during an exhibition in Bombay, December 4, 2000. REUTERS/File Photo/SAVITA KIRLOSKAR

Madhuri Dixit - Kaun Banega Anchor? 12/2/00

Talking in individual terms, the game show 'Sawaal Dus Crore Ka' sure didn't live up to expectations. Everything from it's mere conception and unhealthy aim of competing with 'KBC' went against it. And who was to blame for all this? Its anchors Anupam And Manisha solely were blamed for the show doing badly. We've heard a lot of things when a pic is a hit. "I would like to thank this one and that one and the entire team for 'tis a team effort." Then why not over here as well? 'SDCK' was a sloppy show and now it is being totally revamped with a re-consideration of having Madhuri as host. So much so for the future of 'SDCK.' Hope people will come out wiser at some point in time. 

Gajagamini: Will the film live up to its Honour? 11/30/00

The much-talked-about-but-never-saw-light-of-day film, ‘Gajagamini’ finally sees release this week after a ‘star-studded’ premiere Thursday night in Mumbai. The MAMI has been kind enough to give the film it’s due and showcases it as a part of its closing ceremony on 30th November. Amidst the excitement of the film’s release also lies the fate of Mrs. Nene’s career. This could easily be the highlight of her career after ‘Pukar’ survived, albeit mar-mar ke. And so here’s looking forward to another run from the dhak-dhak girl. 

Madhuri e-mails a transcontinental marriage
AISHWARYA MAVINKURVE

PUNE, NOVEMBER 16: The stars shimmered and the flashbulbs would not stop. The conference hall at the Hotel President held a handful of the best known faces of the Bollywood film industry - a radiant Madhuri Dixit in a shimmering white salwar kameez, dulcet-voiced Asha Bhonsale, a cheerful Kajol, Tanuja and the man whose lens had captured their captivating beauty and also the reason they were in the city on Thursday, renowned photographer Gautam Rajadhyaksha. From a charming Madhuri admitting with that stunning smile that ``I'm in the most ideal situation now'' to the warm affection between Tanuja and her daughter Kajol, the stars showed that they also had an endearingly human side to them.

Known for her rich versatile voice, the bubbly Asha revealed her impish sense of humour from quick-witted remarks to poking gentle fun at the Marathi of the stars present. Said she self-deprecatingly, ``Gautam can make people look so beautiful, they cannot recognise me when they meet me. He is a magician with the camera. There have been instances of husbands who have wondered whether the women in the photograph are the ones they married.''

And it was again Asha who with trademark wit grabbed the mike to ask Madhuri the question uppermost in most minds. ``How do you feel after marriage?'' Said the dhak-dhak girl, ``To have a career is good but I'm also enjoying my family life. I don't care if it has affected my popularity. I'm working on three films and am looking forward to them'' Isn't it difficult to manage a trans-continental marriage? ``Haven't you heard of e-mail?,'' is the quick reply.

Kajol when the question was put to her too agreed, `` I am definitely more controlled, more content after marriage.'' While Tanuja added a quick, ``I don't even realise she's married, she's in my house all the time. One doesn't ever lose a daughter.''

That each of them share a special relationship with Rajadhyaksha was evident from the light banter and easy camaraderie that flowed between them. But by Rajadhyaksha's own admission, ``Madhuri has been my most retentive models.'' While she said,``I remember for my first session with Rajadhyaksha when although I had how although I did not have a professional make-up artiste had assured me that it's not the make-up, it's who you are that matters. He manages to catch the inner self.''

Madhuri is Manisha's new love!
15th Nov 2000  

This is something, dear pets, that even hardened gossipmongers had hiccups while digesting. But then, to say that strange are the ways of showville would be the biggest understatement of the millennium.

After all, weren't Madhuri Dixit and Manisha Koirala sworn enemies till last week, so much so that they dreaded seeing each other's face? That's the way it's always been ever since Nepali babe Koirala shot to the limelight with films like 1942 A Love Story, Bombay and Khamoshi in the mid '90s and haughtily declared she's No. 1 and nothing else. And to pack in the punch, Manisha had then directly attacked Madhuri, saying in print that Sexy Dixie had been No. 1 for only a year (between the Sridevi phase and Koirala's own upsurge, that is).

But that was yesterday. Take a look at what's happening today. On the sets of Rajkumar Santoshi's Lajja, we were zapped to find the two Ma'am Ms getting along like a house on fire! And guess what Manisha's catchline was: she's Madhuri's biggest fan!!

Frustrated at the patch-up, wicked souls? Don't be. From what we heard, Zee TV is jacking up its offer to Mads for hosting Sawaal Dus Crore Ka (remember, she had rejected the show before it fell on Manisha's lap?). The reason? Simply this, that they don't feel Manisha is upto the mark as a hostess. And Madhuri might just give the nod this time, considering the crazy sum being offered.

If that be, we can only visualize the Madhuri-Manisha equation going from red to bright chilly in complexion!

Medha Patkar has Madhuri's shoulders to lean
07th Nov 2000   21.41 IST By Tanuka Chakraverty

Medha (Narmada) Patkar's tears did not go waste. The Supreme Court's nod to the Sardar Sarovar Project has made an impact on bigger mortals whose hue and cry will reach some relevant ears. When you read the following you will know what we mean.

None less than Madhuri Dixit has shown keenness to complete Engineer, a film based on the havocs dams cause to people living on riverbanks. Arvind Swamy is the male lead opposite Madhuri.

The story of the film is set in a village that faces the threat of perishing if the dam is constructed. Madhuri plays a village woman, fighting against insensitive authorities that do not seem to be concerned with villagers' woes. She is left numb when she learns that her husband is also a part of the dam project.

Engineer to be directed by Gandhi Krishna has been in the news for long. First they had offered the film to Madhuri, but she declined. Then they put the film on hold. After the Supreme Court order on the Narmada dam project, Gandhi approached Madhuri with renewed interest and this time, she did not refuse him. This time, it was her Maharashtrian bahen Medha Patkar and her cause that attracted Madhuri to the film and she is too eager to complete it.

Madhuri's got her priorities right!  Oct 28,2000

Marriage no bar, Madhuri Dixit has given a terrific performance in Rajkumar Santoshi's Lajja.

That's just peachy. Except that the other leading ladies of the film -- Manisha, Mahima, Ash and Rekha -- are highly, shall we say, insecure.

But then, you gotta hand it to Madame Re. Cleverly preempting any talk, she has praised La Dixit to the skies.

We choose to ignore the fact that Madhuri's denials about quitting films and her statements like, "I am available for good meaningful roles" are fuel to rumours of her marriage already on the rocks. So what if Madhuri is spending more time in India than with her husband?  However, producer KC Bokadia paints a different picture.

Apparently, he had planned out the shooting schedule of his film in the US, since Shah Rukh Khan had agreed to shoot the songs when he was touring the country.

But when Shah Rukh changed the venue and decided to call the unit to Vancouver, Madhuri put her foot down and refused.

Why? Because she wanted to shoot in LA, which was closer home. And staying away from home was not ageeable with her.

Now, who said her marriage was on the rocks?

Screen Goddess or Vamp?

Is Madhuri Dixit playing a double role in real life? It seems like it. Judging from the different views that different people have of her, it almost seems as if there are two Madhuris. And we're not talking about Madhuri Dixit versus Madhuri Nene. Marriage may have changed her surname, but it doesn't seem to have changed her attitude. No, the problem goes deeper than that. The question really should be: Is Madhuri genuinely the screen goddess that she appears to be? Or is she a real-life vamp?

The most recent controversy that exploded in her face is the Saroj Khan-Gaja Gamini issue. Apparently, India's most famous dance director is maha-mad with Madhuri. That's a pity because until recently, Saroj Khan was maha-mad about Madhuri! In fact, Saroj Khan is one of the key pillars in the towering edifice of Madhuri's career. Remember the old but gold Ek do teen dance number from Tezaab? Of course you do. If it wasn't for that song, you wouldn't remember Madhuri today!

Until Tezaab and Saroj Khan's controversial choreography for that now-legendary song, Madhuri was just another pretty face among dozens of prettier faces. Remember the film Aabodh? Or Uttar Dakshin? Or any one of the half a dozen other forgettable flops? Why should you. They didn't make any impression on the box - office or the fans and neither did Madhuri at that time.

It took a director like N. Chandra, a star like Anil Kapoor, a song like Ek do teen and most of all, a dance ustaad like Saroj Khan to bring out the star-quality in Madhuri. Whatever her acting abilities, it was the way she moved on the dance floor that first gained her fame. The swaying of her ample hips drove fans crazy and had the cash registers ringing around the clock with repeat viewings. There's no question that she began counting her blessings with Ek do teen.

For years after Tezaab, Madhuri and Saroj Khan seemed inseparable. Their destinies intertwined, they rose together on a single,luminous cloud to greater heights of success year after year. On the sets, their camaraderie was considered rare and precious. You can't begin to count the number of interviews in which each praised the other. Or the number of times that veteran Saroj Khan recommended the upcoming young actress to every producer in sight, and vice versa. put all that seems to have changed. For the worse.

According to word in tinseltown, Saroj is fuming over the fact that she hasn't been credited for her choreography in Madhuri's long-awaited Gaja Gamini. If you recall, that's the arty film 'created' by maha-fida artist Hussain as a screen expression to his Madhuri-obsession. While the film isn't expected to have a strong commercial future, it's certainly an event that the media and filmlovers have been curious to see.

After all, once a star gains commercial success, the hunger for critical acclaim starts to show itself. Taking a cue from 'crossover' actresses like Tabu, Raveena and the suddenly experimental Karisma, Madhuri probably hoped that Gaja Gamini would raise her image as an actress of substance.

But first there were rumours that the film's release had been delayed indefinitely by Madhuri herself. Why would she do that, you ask? Well, if the rumours are to be believed, it's because she suddenly met with a string of flops, ending with the bitterly disappointing fate of Pukar, a film she had poured her heart and soul into without any results. She needed a hit badly, and releasing a Gaja Gamini now might have been the worst thing for her career. So, according to sources close to her, she used stalling tactics to delay the launch, upsetting her 'No. 1 fan' Hussain in the process.

But it still doesn't explain the Saroj Khan snub. What possible reason could there be for the danseuse not getting credit for her work in the film? One camp claims that Madhuri's secretary-turned-producer Rikku (Rakeshnath) is to blame. But as anyone who knows Madhuri, knows very well that Rikku wouldn't even breathe without Madhuri's permission. And even if someone else was responsible for dropping Saroj's name from the film credits, Madhuri certainly has the clout to get it included again. So why won't she do that much at least for an old, dear friend, and a mentor who was directly responsible for her early success? Your guess is as good as our's.

But that's only the tip of the iceberg. Like the giant glacier on which she danced in sub-zero temperatures for that glorious song sequence in Pukar, Madhuri herself seems to have turned her warmth down to near freezing levels of late. Saroj Khan is only one of the many Madhuri "campwallahs" who are upset with her today.

Ake Anil Kapoor, for instance. As her co-star in Tezaab, his fortunes were twined with her's just as closely as Saroj Khan's. In fact, he's said to have recommended her so often and so passionately to producers, that they began to wonder if they were actually siblings separated at birth! Their hits together could have formed a filmography that would match any modern superstar screen couple. The magic showed clearly in Ram Lakhan, where even director Subhash Ghai, notorious for being stingy with his compliments, openly praised their jodi and predicted a great future for them as a screen pair.

But today, you'll rarely even hear Anil Kapoor mention Madhuri's name, let alone recommend her. Not that he needs to, of course. But even at her wedding, he only put in a brief appearance and left almost immediately. That was definitely not what you'd expect from an old and dear friend and professional associate.

Again, the sources close to Madhuri claim that Anil was upset at the way she shut him out in the last few years. After the phenomenal success of Dil To Pagal Hai, her attitude to her longtime co-star is said to have changed drastically. And when the time came for her wedding, he was kept as much in the dark as anyone else. Not exactly the way an old friend would expect to be treated!

Perhaps Madhuri was secretly resentful of the fact that Anil had never taken her in one of his home productions, despite their warm professional relationship? She was said to have seethed silently as Sridevi scored big-time in brother Boney's big hits like Mr India and even bigger attempts like Roop Ki Raani Choron Ka Raja. Anil could hardly do anything about that.

Afer all, brother Boney's fascination for Sridevi was no secret even before he finally divorced his wife and married the dusky Southern beauty. But if the sources are correct, Madhuri was irate enough about her exclusion from the Surindar Kapoor-Boney Kapoor production camp to steadily distance herself from brother Anil. A petty form of behaviour and unfair to an old and loyal associate.

When there's the Sanjay Dutt story. A typical filmi love story, complete with tragic ending. Picture two young passionate co-stars. Brought together in a film that became an overnight romantic classic: Saajan. The romance that began onscreen in that tear jerking heartbreaker continued off screen through a series of liaisons that were said to be heading for only one possible goal - marriage. Sanjay himself made no secret of the fact that he was mad about Madhuri and she didn't deny it hotly either.

At the shooting of their film, Mahaanta, in a Dadar chawl, the two couldn't wait to 'get together' in Madhuri's vanity van for a spot of intimacy!

By the time they starred in Khalnayak, the two were said to be inseparable. Comparisons were being made to Raj Kapoor and Nargis, Dharam and Hema. Sadly, the relationship was doomed to suffer the fate of that first screen couple, not the second. When Sanjay Dutt was arrested under TADA and imprisoned, Madhuri was said to be shaken to the core. Like any image-conscious superstar, she was ultra-anxious about bad publicity. And Sanjay was getting the worst kind of publicity imaginable. At the time, it seemed hopeless for him. People were predicting that he would either commit suicide in jail or his career would commit suicide out of jail.

Madhuri's overnight severing of all bonds with Sanjay might seem practical, even inevitable as a co-star. But as a lover and all-but-fiancee, it was a betrayal of the worst kind. Sanjay, still reeling from the tragedy of his first doomed marriage and staggered by the crushing punitive action taken against him for relatively minor infractions, was said to be broken by her betrayal. Some say he still hasn't got over it.

After the breakup with Sanjay-or betrayal, whichever you prefer-Madhuri seemed to become even more remote and distant than before. Always known for her legendary "ice-queen" aloofness, she began to change in ways that any student of superstardom would recognize. Mumbai MLC Pramod Navalkar was heard complaining loudly that he had tried repeatedly to get her to attend a major charity function. He wouldn't have minded if she had refused on account of a busy schedule, but he's said to have resented the fact that she wouldn't even return his calls!

Sanjay Leela Bhansali, now riding high in filmdom after the phenomenal success of Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, had his own story of woe. Apparently, back in the pre-Khamoshi days when he was still an unknown entity, just one of a thousand other wannabes, he had tried repeatedly to meet Madhuri and narrate the script of Khamoshi to her. According to a source close to Bhansali, he was repeatedly kept waiting by Madhuri, until finally she's said to have slammed the door of her make-up room in his face. No wonder he tried his luck elsewhere and fared much better with Manisha Koirala, who turned in a brilliant performance-even though the role was actually written with Madhuri in mind.

Now,the same Madhuri has signed on to star in Devdas, directed by the same Sanjay Leela Bhansali. What made her accessible? Obviously, Bhansali's success. The young director is said to be philosophical about her change-of-heart. He claimed to have dreamed of working with her from way back. But even now, his path to filming with her seems to be fraught with problems: Word is that Madhuri might be pregnant. Which means that if it's true, Devdas will just have to wait. Along with all her other commitments and producers.

This last alleged occurrence is a perfect example of Madhuri's other side. As with her marriage, her rumoured pregnancy came as a sudden shock to her co-stars and producers. While nobody can deny her right to have a family, the least the industry expected was a little fair warning. After all, it's films that gave her the wealth and fame that allows her to enjoy her life, including being a contented mother.

Surely she could treat the same industry with a little more respect and consideration? If not by planning her marriage and pregnancy with more foresight, but at least by informing her colleagues of her plans? But according to some, she told nobody about these sudden, life-changing decisions until they were fait accompli, costing producers millions of rupees in lost time and creating havoc with the schedules of co-stars.

Even Subhash Ghai, the mentor who did as much for her career as Saroj Khan and Anil Kapoor, openly revealed his cooling off towards Madhuri in her later, prima donna phase. After raising her star-value immeasurably with superhits like Ram Lakhan and Khalnayak, he might have expected more from her.

But, like so many others, he made the mistake of believing that she was truly the screen goddess of her media image. Whereas she actually seemed to have more in common with a screen vamp.

Khalid graduates to Madhuri from Karishma
 25th Oct 2000   13.16 IST
By Tanuka Chakraverty

Fiza may not have done what Khalid expected it to do. But the film surely got noticed and Khalid Mohamed became a household name.

This yet-to-be-titled venture is going to be a serious film with two stars playing the two main roles. Sources say that talks are on between Khalid and Madhuri Dixit for the actress to give a nod to the film.

The other star of the film has to be finalized. Whether it is going to be Hrithik or not is a smart guess. We remember Hrithik saying at Fiza's press conference that he would kill Khalid if he did not take Hrithik in his next film. Do you get a cue there?

These days the erstwhile Ms 'Dhak Dhak' has stopped accepting glamour roles. She is more into substantial roles that offer scope for histrionics. Khalid's offer may just be the right kind of opportunity for Mads too, as it would be for our Khalid saab.

Hussain's 'Indian woman' gets an American twang

So, Mrs Nene is done with picking up all the tricks as a good actress and an even better dancer. So, what's left to learn? Plenty, if you are a good 'student'. No, no — Madhuri Dixit is not picking up tricks in producing films or wielding the megaphone, as many 'senior' stars are wont to do. Rather, these days apna dhak dhak queen is polishing up her persona to fit a very different scene — patidev Sriram Nene's home in LA.

From what we heard, Madhuri is picking up the right accent to fit into LA society, matching the firangs gab for gab. A faint American twang, swears anyone who's spoken to her of late. So, for starts, Mads is rolling her 'R's and imbibing that faintly nasal tone that is heard abundantly in Uncle Sam's land.

All very fine for Mr and Mrs Nene. But we wonder if that bit of acquired accent is giving sleepless nights to director Sanjay Bhansali, who's hellbent on casting Madhuri as Chandramukhi in his forthcoming Devdas. After all, novelist Sarat Chandra Chattopadhaya (for the uninitiated, he wrote the original novel in Bangla) would be turning in his grave if Chandramukhi indeed turns hip!

And whatever about good ol' M F Hussain?! Isn't Madhuri's biggest fan sure to get hiccups over this Americanization of his 'all-Indian woman'?

Madhuri: still the first choice!
Komal Nahta (10/12/00)

Turns out that the makers of Sawaal Dus Crore Ka turned to Anupam Kher as host of Zee TV's answer to Kaun Banega Crorepati, after cutting no dice with Madhuri Dixit.

There was even talk of actor Paresh Rawal being approached to host the show. But the honours, for now, go to actor Anupam Kher.

Rikku, Madhuri's secretary, explains why the actress will not pose a threat -- for now -- to the big B: "Dates were a problem. She simply wasn't available. Besides, at the moment, she is determined to spend her fast-approaching first wedding anniversary with Dr Shriram Nene. For the moment, she is no hurry to face the camera."

The point, though, if reliable sources are to be believed, is that Madhuri is Zee's first choice and there is no move being made to replace her. Though Anupam Kher has been finalised for the first three months as host of SDCK, in all likelihood, negotiations are still on to get Madhuri to dazzle contestants.

Madhuri's dream role
10/06/00

Actress Madhuri Dixit says her 'great role' is yet to come and that she is still searching for it.

"It is still to come. I'm looking for it. Searching for the right role, something exciting," she said in an interview in Face To Face on BBC recently. This was in response to the question whether she had got her one great role which, at the end of the day, great actresses are identified with (like Rekha in Umrao Jaan and Nargis in Mother India.)

To whether it would be a particular director, script or something tangible within her, she replied it would be a combination of all three, adding, "I don't think Rekha, when she did Umrao Jaan, or Nargis when she did Mother India were aware that those films would be landmarks in their career."

Madhuri, who shot to fame in the early 1980s and went on to become the heart-throb of millions, said she still felt like a juvenile when facing the camera and still got butterflies in her stomach.

"I still feel passionately about my work. It is the perfectionist in me," she said.

The character closest to her, she revealed, is Nisha in Hum Aapke Hain Koun? "I was brought up with traditional values in a joint family."

Madhuri admitted to being suspicious initially about her first hit number, Ek do teen: "I thought, 'What kind of a song is this? It's just counting.' But it was great fun when I did it!"
PTI

Madhuri to host Sawaal Dus Crore Ka
Oct 5, 2000

New Delhi: Close on the heels of talks about Zee tying up with Madhuri Dixit for `Sawal Dus Crore Ka', BBC World has announced that it would be having Mads on its `Face to Face' programme today (Wednesday - October 4), not as the host but as a guest. To be sponsored by Maruti Suzuki Baleno, BBC World is starting a series on personalities in the entertainment and glamour industry in `Face to Face'. The 13-episode series on the entertainment industry will begin today (October 4), the first guest being Bollywood queen Madhuri Dixit. According to a BBC spokesperson, many prominent stars will feature in this programme, but not all names have been finalised yet. Recordings are still on, said the spokesperson.

Among the people who are certain to feature in this entertainment series are Shamik Davar, Meera Nair and Ritu Kumar. The programme is telecast every Wednesday at 10 p.m. and repeated on Thursday at 12 noon and 6 p.m., on Sunday at 1 p.m. and on Monday at 6 p.m. The entertainment industry series is the second trend series in `Face to Face'. Earlier, it ran a series on cricketing heroes which featured Pataudi, Ravi Shastri, Bishen Singh Bedi, Ajit Agarkar, Robin Singh and others. The cricketing series was sponsored by Philips India. Encouraged by the response to the cricketing series, BBC World decided to run a similar one on the entertainment industry.

While `Face to Face' started in July 1999 as a general personality-based interview programme, the first trend series - Indian Cricketing Heroes - began a year later in July 2000. And now, it's the turn of the second trend series - Indian Entertainment Industry. Face To Face is presented by Karan Thapar and produced in Delhi for BBC World by UTV. It is a part of BBC World's dedicated India-specific programming slot telecast at 10 p.m. everyday.
Copyright � 2000 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.

Is Madhuri pregnant?
By Mohan Deep 9/25/00

Madhuri Dixit's 'no' dents Upendra's ego

Upendra, the superstar of the Kannada film industry is upset with Madhuri Dixit these days.

The buzz around the Kannada industry is that Madhuri Dixit was offered a role in a Kannada blockbuster Kaveri opposite Upendra. The Bollywood superstar, however, turned down the offer. And her rejection has offended the superstar.

Madhuri's version over the whole episode is something else. "This is news to me!" she exclaimed. "As a matter of fact, no one approached me with an offer for a Kannada film. So far, I have said yes to only one South Indian offer, Engineer, opposite Arvind Swamy, which has landed in the cold storage," the lady clarified.

However, the producer of Kaveri Dhanaj is also let down over Madhuri's 'rejection'. The last we heard, he is now hunting for a new face for Kaveri.

Madhuri Dixit - Nene: 'Not Pregnant' … Her Secretary Rikku Says So!
Filmfare, Sep 22, 2000

Banish the thought guys and gals. The rumor is just a rumor. Madhuri Dixit - Nene is not pregnant - as reported in certain sections of the media. In fact, when we spoke to her secretary-turmed-producer Rikku to check out the rumors, he vent a lot of steam at the 'gossipmonger' presswallas. "What nonsense! Madhuri is not pregnant. She will tell the world if any such good news happens. But right now she is not in the family way. In fact she is very much doing her film work. She is in the US and will return in November. You can ask her yourself and even see for yourself!" Yes. Of course. In the meantime, she still looks as gorgeous as ever, stork or no stork. Unless Rikku's anger frightened away the poor bird too.

Madhuri shatters admirer's dream — again!
Sep 09, 2000

Director Sanjay Leela Bhansali's long-cherished dream, it seems, has once been shattered. And this time it maybe for good.

Ever since Bhansali launched his career as an independent director, he has been dying to work with Madhuri Dixit. First, he couldn't get the actress to say yes for his debut directorial venture, Khamoshi-The Musical. And though Manisha Koirala stepped in to do a great job, after the film was rejected by his next choice Kajol, Bhansali still maintains one of his greatest regrets in life is Madhuri not working in Khamoshi.

And when Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam happened, Bhansali made the rounds of Dixitville once again. It was a literal action replay of events — rejected by Madhuri and then rejected by Kajol, the role was scooped up to glory by Aishwarya Rai this time.

Post Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, of course, Bhansali's stakes are at an all-time high. So, no surprises that Madhuri did not think twice before giving the nod to Bhansali's new film, Devdas. The film was announced with fanfare — and why not, when you have Shah Rukh Khan playing Devdas, Madhuri Dixit playing Chandramukhi and Aishwarya Rai playing Paro (interestingly, the director had approached Kajol for this role, and the lady refused Bhansali for the third straight time!).

But to get back to Madhuri and Bhansali's dream, just when you thought the dream would turn real, some blabbering gab leaked a rumour around that our dear Mrs Nene will be expecting the stork's visit in a few months' time!

While Madhuri has not yet officially confirmed reports of her pregnancy, a shattered Bhansali, we heard, is holding talks on the sly with Sushmita Sen for the Chandramukhi role — just in case the li'l gossip about Mads turning mom is true.

Que sera sera, Bhansali, what will be, will be. You simply can't change the course of fate, can you? Not even with the power of your most fervent dream.

After Gajagamini, Madhuri tries to find a place in Hollywood
Berlin, Sept. 10: 

Top film actress Madhuri Dixit, settled in the United States after marriage, says she has 
no plans to quit acting in films, and would consider a debut in Hollywood films if offered
suitable roles’’.

Though I live in America, you will see more of me in films. I love acting and I am not not 
going to give up (acting) so easily,’’ Madhuri Dixit said here on Saturday night.
Looking resplendant in a multi-coloured silk sari worn in typical Marathi style, glamorous 
Madhuri made these comments when asked about her future plans after the world premiere of eminent painter Maqbool Fida Hussian’s Hindi film Gajagamini. Hussain, who has conceived, written and directed the film, told the packed audience at the arsenal theatre located in the ultra modern sony centre complex that the film was planned to be released in India in November.

Madhuri plays the lead role in the 130-minute film essaying different forms of women 
spanning several centuries. Sharukh Khan, Naseerudian Shah and Shabana Azmi are also in the starcast in what film critics here said was out and out a Madhuri film’’.

Asked whether she would take up Hollywood films, Madhuri said if I get offers for roles to 
my liking, I would consider making a Hollywood debut.’’ But, she was quick to point out,’’ 
I am not following a strategised approach to work in Hollywood films.’’

To a question whether she likes India or US, her new home, Madhuri diplomatically replied 
that India is where I grew up and got fame, but my Husband is in the US and I love my 
husband.’’ About acting in Hussian’s directorial venture, she said it was a great 
experience,’’ different from acting in mainstream Bollywood films.

To act in Hussain’s film was a learning process for me and Gajagamini’ has added another 
beautiful movie to my repertoire of my films,’’ Madhuri, who is on her first visit to 
Germany, remarked.Madhuri said she decided to act Gajagamini impressed more out of its 
content than the form.

The film’s a unique one and does not fall into any particular category like a Bollywood 
film or arty film or parallel cinema,’’ she said.The Bearded Hussain said he chose Berlin 
for the world premiere of his directorial venture because of emotional reasons and special 
attachment to the german capital.

Hussain recalled that a short film made by him 30 years, ago was first shown in a berlin 
film festival where he got recognition’’ as a film maker. He said the theatre release of
his film will be synchronised with holding major painting exhibitions featuring his works.

Madhuri Dixit: 'Contract'ulations !

Just reminding you that Madhuri Dixit, now more rightly Madhuri Nene, has two things to be congratulated about, one is of course for carrying a tote (or should I call the kid coke, kyonki 'woh Madhuri ke coke se janm hone wala hai' a PJ I know, and the latest thing she signed  contract with the beauty FMCG company, 'Emami'. Well, what's noteworthy out here is that this contract spans over a period of eleven years and what's more…the products will be christened after the Queen Bee herself. It's going to be called the "Madhuri Emami range" of products…here's to the fairer sex with Madhuri leading the way.

Madhuri on way to Ma-hood
25th Aug 2000   12.50 IST
By Tanuka Chakraverty

Folks it’s official! It has been finally announced that Madhuri Dixit Nene is on her way to be a mother.

After a lot of speculations, it was confirmed that Ms Nene will deliver in seven months from now.

The actress had just returned from a long holiday from the US where her husband lives. She had resumed shooting for films that she had signed and was in particular, looking forward to the shooting of Devdas.

It was Madhuri's long time wish to be seen as 'Chandramukhi' on screen. Now with the stork visiting her, it is doubtful whether she will be able to do a role that demands plenty of dancing. But giving up a mere role in a film for motherhood is too small a sacrifice. And we're sure Mads will agree with us on that.

The buzz this week is that the mesmerizing Madhuri Dixit is already two months pregnant. The news has thrilled the Dixits and the Nenes (her husband's family), but has left her producers shaken. Sanjay Leela Bhansali, who had earlier extracted a promise from Madhuri that she would not get pregnant before his film 'Devdas' was completed, has perhaps received the biggest shock.

Madhuri Dixit may be in the family way
Monday 21 August 2000

We have reason to believe that Madhuri Dixit Nene may be in the family way. What are you saying? Abhi to shaadi hui thi, right? Hey, it's been nearly a year since she tied the knot and it's about time, as most dadis and dadas would feel.

Madhuri, though has not been around to confirm or deny this news and her family too appears to maintain a 'pregnant' silence on the issue. Oops, did we just say the wrong thing? It's only a matter of time before we find out. Watch this space for details!

Yakkin' of beauties, we may add that Madhuri Dixit has become spokesperson for the cosmetic conglomerate, Emami. Yehi hai right choice baby, we'd like to add. Meanwhile, Mads has been house-hunting in America with hubby. One house they rather liked belonged to singer Yesudas. Dunno what came of the negotiations but Maddy's finally gettin' rather serious about settling down in Yum-rica. Boo hoo.

What's Madhuri Dixit upto these days?
 21st Aug 2000   16.38 IST
By Tanuka Chakraverty

Heard that Mrs Nene is back in Mumbai from a long vacation in the US, very much a busybody again.

She is concentrating on her film assignments and is in the finishing stages of post-production work in Lajja.

Madhuri Dixit's trim and slim body indicates that the actress has been spending time on herself also, apart from work.

The actress gets a trifled annoyed when we ask her about her hubby. ''All the time people ask me about my husband'' she says with a smile though. ''Yes, I go there to spend time with my husband, but I also do other things. Like I exercise with him a lot, since he's a health freak. I play with my nephew and do many other things''. The actress was busy in Florida hunting for a house, by the way.

Madhuri again gets annoyed with the craze for Net. And she herself is not a Net freak. ''I like to be technology friendly but do not approve of the idea of compressing the world on the Net'' says the actress. She hates the way kids remain glued to computers. ''It snatches away their childhood and they learn things which they ought not learn at their ages''.

Excited about her role in Sanjay Bhansali's Devdas, Madhuri says ''I hope I do justice to it.'' Her fans already miss her and want her to be back on the screens. The last that she was seen was in Boney Kapoor's Pukaar. Madhuri's next release is going to be Lajja.

Madhuri: More ‘Elephantine’ Problems!
24st Aug 2000   16.38 IST

You know already that M.F.Hussain's debut directorial venture starring his muse, Madhuri Dixit has found no takers. There is absolutely no distributor in the largest film-producing nation who would want to buy the film. So, Hussain saab will now be releasing a book on the film. Huh? What was that you said? A book on a movie that was never released? Yeah, well! You can't have it all, right? But, hey, the good news (for those of you who miss Madhuri Dixit) is that it will be premiered on TV. Watch out for that one!

Madhuri Dixit: Beauty And The 'Best'!

It had to be Madhuri Dixit. When it comes to endorsing beauty products the gorgeous lady takes the cake. And considering that the product is from the Emami stables, it simply sealed the Dixit factor into the deal. If you remember Madhuri was among the select list of celebs who had been invited by the Calcutta based Emami family for the grand wedding of their daughter this January. So there could be no other choice for the brand line which, incidentally, will be called 'The Emami-Madhuri Line'. It's a triumph for the beautiful lady alright,especially against all those who cruelly wrote her off after her marriage to Dr. Nene of LA. It just proves that this beauty is the 'best'!

... Pukar goes silver ...

Mrs. Nene may act in a Kannada film
 27th July 2000   15.05 IST


Bollywood heartthrob Madhuri Dixit is likely to act in a Kannada film titled Cauvery.

Producer of the film Dhanraj has sent the script to the much sought after actress and is awaiting a positive response from her.

Based on the Cauvery riot that took place in 1993 in Karnataka, the film also casts Upendra and acclaimed Tamil actor Prabhu Deva.

The project if it materializes may likely cause another problem as the subject is related to Cauvery riots on the sharing of Cauvery river water between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. And one has to wait and watch how the Tamil film Industry will react on the presence of Prabhu Deva in a Kannada film.

Will Mads redefine DD as dhak dhak zone?
13th July 2000

It could be a blitzkrieg. It could be a pleasant surprise. Depends upon the way you look at it. But the buzz is strong on the Bolly vine that Madhuri Dixit has just given the nod for a starring role in a forthcoming TV serial.

To set the record straight, our mole on the grapevine informs us that Mads of the million hearts has expressed her willingness to do a serial called Swar Sadhana, due to hit Doordarshan in the near future. And that too, not a one-episode guest appearance but as the serial's full-fledged heroine, in the role of a classical singer. While sexy Dixie has herself been tight-lipped over the topic, she has actually not gone ahead and denied the rumour on record. So, assuming there is no smoke without fire, all this talk about Madhuri's foray into the small screen could be a reality, after all.

By the way, one naughty tongue couldn't help thinking aloud over one tiny issue: given that no Madhuri starrer is complete without that scorching dhak dhak number, will the classical singer in the serial also gyrate to a classical song or two in every episode?!

Of bills and cooing
19th June 2000

Madhuri's wonder years
19th June 2000 As told to Lata Khubchadani

She won the hearts of millions as soon as she sang, ek, do, teen and from then on Madhuri Dixit has been one of the most loved actresses to hit Indian cinema halls. Her passion for song and dance came at a very early age, she tells us all about it

"As a teenager I was a fairly good student. But more involved in extracurricular activities, like, dancing and singing. The one thing I have always been very astute about are my aims and goals in life. I never succumbed to peer pressure, I never followed the trends which were the in thing. I guess you could say, that I was not the average confused teenager. I loved acting in plays, but dancing was my passion. I was always this dreamy, head in the clouds teenager. I remember sitting up in my room and imagining myself performing on stage."

"But like all teens, I also did silly things for the heck of it. I once, went and got myself this fabulous unruly haircut because I wanted to be a pop singer. I attended lectures at Parle college, which was this really Maharashtrian college. I remember belting out this great English number on the college day, it was really dreamy. I dreamt a lot and I did a lot too. Life has been very kind to me. Things which were unfair always made me unhappy, but that didn't stop me from playing the occasional prank. The funny part was that, my teachers never could believe that I'd be the one playing mischief, even if I owned up."

"One such incident sticks out clearly in my mind. A group of us got into this giggling fit and the teacher asked us to stand up. I stood up too, sheepishly, because I'd been laughing too but she said `not you' you sit down! This made my friends mad and they said `she'd been giggling too'. The teacher replied, `keep quiet don't tell me what she was doing'. I got away with punishment, most of the time."

"My family meant a lot to me, I've always been protected by my brothers, sisters and parents. They pampered me to some extent but not to an extent where I was spoilt."

The 85-year-young M F Hussain
16th June 2000   17.16 IST By Tanuka Chakraverty

Fit and energetic, the man seems to roller coast through life even when he is nearing 90. Continues to ride an all-time high, including on his latest obsession, Madhuri Dixit, a severe butt of jokes, laughter and criticism from almost all quarters.   Yesterday, that is, on June 15, 2000, Maqbool Fida Hussain turned 85. A frail soul surviving on brushes, color and passions, the zeal with which Hussain leads life is laudable.

Flak from critiques, refusals from distributors, glum response from film trade pundits and magazines, have not been able to stop the incurable dreamer. People who have watched his tribute to the Bollywood queen vouch for his devotion to the actress.

Reportedly, every reel of the film has been used to pan Madhuri's face, her smile, her eyes, her body and her grace through dance movements. In short, 'Gajagamini' is a canvas in motion with Madhuri as the subject.

M F Hussain held his first exhibition in the US in 1963. With a friend in politician, ex-union minister and current CWC member Natwar Singh, Hussain just landed in New York in Singh's apartment without any preparation. When Singh asked with bewilderment about the art that he was going to exhibit Hussain answered: ''I will paint them".   Hussain painted 30 pieces in 10 days and as he was not a famous name then, his exhibition was held at India House, 3 East 64 Street between 5th and Madison Avenues.

Sometime in the late 60s, Hussain wanted to paint a portrait of Indira Gandhi. Again with some help from friend Natwar Singh -- Singh was in Indira Gandhi's secretariat then -- he worked on Mrs Gandhi, sitting with her in her South Block office.  Hussain was elected to the Rajya Sabha in 1986. Lost in thoughts and impulsive that he is, the artiste unmindfully went into the Lok Sabha and occupied a seat there. Later of course he was told of the mistake he had committed.  Logical reasoning does not convince the extraordinary painter. And that's where Hussain derives his brand. Zaniness, of which he is proud, peculiarities like painting on rhythm, on dance, on-the-spot, on stage, barefoot, anywhere.

Walking around with Kolhapuris and jeans, running up to daises, openly flaunting his infatuation for Madame Dixit at 80 something, the man has not cared for anything.

What is really worth mentioning about the individual Hussain is his pledge for secularism. The artiste continues to work unaffected by the divides that make or break the humdrum world.

Maddening Mads
June 14, 2000

Mads is living up to her nickname now by maddening all the producers who want to sign up the newly wed Mrs Nene. She has laid down the condition that any producer who wants to sign her up should also pay for her air-tickets, to and from the US to tinsel town. That, along with the huge market price she commands. All this is enough to make any producer's budget go completely out of hand. And though Pukaar failed to make a big impression and convince all distributors that Madhuri is as hot as ever, her current box-office standing is still very sound, and there is little the producerwallahs can do than pay up - through their noses or otherwise.

Big B leads the race for being waxed at Tussaud’s
London, June 12 (Vijay Dutt)

Superstar Amitabh Bachchan looks set to beat his much younger Bollywood rivals yet again.   He is leading comfortably over film stars Shah Rukh Khan, Madhuri Dixit and Aiswariya Rai in the votes being taken for nominating an Indian star for being made in wax by the legendary Madame Tussaud’s wax museum on Marleybone Road, London.

The Tussaud’s website has so far received 2539 votes for Bachchan, with Shah Rukh trailing at 1103, Madhuri Dixit at 837 and Aiswariya Rai close at her heels with 780 votes.

It is also interesting to note that Bollywood legend, the late Raj Kapoor, has got as much as 405 votes.

The final count will be known by June 20, when the voting officially closes. The name of the chosen one will be announced on June 24 at the first International Indian Films Awards at the Millennium Dome.

Over two million people visit the world famous museum every year. It has life-sized realistic wax statues of famous personalities, past and present.

These include members of the Royal family in Britain, presidents, prime ministers, film and theatre personalities, sportsmen and intellectuals throughout the world.

Indians selected for the museum in the past include father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi, former prime ministers Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and P.V. Narasimha Rao.

Benazir Bhutto had also been honoured by the world’s best wax museum.

The Bollywood star chosen for the Tussaud’s will come to be known to the people in every nook and corner of the world.

Will it be Big B or Madhuri at Madame Tussaud?
22nd May 2000     19.25 IST By N K Deoshi

The waxwork museum of Madame Tussaud in London and the British Tourism Authority have shortlisted five Bollywood stars (Amitabh Bachchan, Raj Kapoor, Shah Rukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai and Madhuri Dixit) to adorn the walls of the famous museum.

Every year Madame Tussaud adds 15 new statues to its collection.

These names were shortlisted after consultation with a panel of Indian movie-buffs, trade pundits and leaders in the entertainment industry. Of the shortlisted names, only one celluloid star will be immortalized in wax, and find a place among the 400 wax statues of the eminent personalities. For the final selection the museum is relying on fans to make their choice by voting online or by post.

There is great speculation about Big B’s making it to the top. Or it could be Madhuri.

Once the final selection is done, the wax modeler’s will spend six months creating a replica of the chosen star. And to help the modelers to come up with a perfect replica, the chosen star will have to undergo extensive photo-shoots, and participate in sittings for the sculptors.