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Madhuri!

V S Srinivasan

Madhuri Dixit. Click for bigger pic!

Sorry Aishwarya and Sushmita, you may be most shapely, even have won many awards to testify your beauty, but then you can't compete with the most pulchritudinous of them all, Madhuri Dixit. This lady looks stunning even at 36, and is pretty comfortable playing a college girl in her upcoming Wajood, written, produced and directed by N Chandra.

And with her fans felled by such devastating prettiness, especially in close-up, she found it difficult to make her way through the thick of those reluctantly parting bodies to SNDT College, Juhu, for her last shoot in Bombay before she left for Alaska. Thereafter, she has a long holiday planned in the US too.

We are left waiting within for some time, wondering when the lady will turn up. Someone tells us she's dubbing for N Chandra. Would have been reassuring, hadn't N Chandra been standing with us.

After three hours of waiting, the lady pops up, only to disappear quickly into the puff and polish department -- but then, even the prettiest of ladies have to powder their nose, don't they?

But the waiting continues. But those who've met Madhuri face on will tell you, it's always worth the experience, even better than in the films -- in metaphorical excess, could call it finding the oasis after a week in the desert.

So there are 10 television crews are huddled there, awaiting the queen of the marquee. Also perched there alongside are hordes of journalists, some of whom, not having had an eyeful, are slowly beginning to slip away. But we have, and so wait, mulling over her recent record:

After a career slowdown, in 1997, Madhuri gained praise from the critics for her role in Mrityudand and from the public for the one in Dil To Pagal Hai. But this year has been a fallow one, with Wajood, slated for a Diwali opening, her first release of the year...

There's a commotion outside the make-up room. Naturally, that must be because Madhuri has either stepped out of is expected to. Oh, she already has. And already autograph-hunters have flocked around her like around free caviar in a drought.

A couple of lady journalists have even brought along their husbands to let them eye Madhuri Dixit too. Generous of them but a little dangerous, we thought. Could set their sights permanently too high.

A still from Wajood. Click for bigger pic!

Madhuri proceeds for her shoot first before coming back for the interview. She was wearing a lavender outfit, and to say Madhuri looked stunning would be plain watering down the truth. And, regardless of gender, every interviewer has eyes only for her as she begins talking. But first she flashes that 100,000 watt smile. And once we dazedly picked ourselves from the floor after that knockout, we began putting together the questions we wanted to.

Slowly the number of questions increased, to the point that we wondered if the journalists were asking purely for the pleasure of having her speak to them. But that would be transference, wouldn't it?

Half of them can't even see the woman as the cameramen have used the opportunity to close in.

Madhuri continues, laughing at questions that she finds amusing, and answering every single question directed at her.

Earlier, she used to be cagey about the press, but as the demand weakened, she relented. So on her 36th birthday, she threw a lavish party for journalists. And now this... Excerpts from the interview:

What is Wajood all about?

I play a very rich girl in the film. I'm from the upper strata of society... Chandraji could elaborate my role in detail... I'm playing an ambitious journalist. I am so serious about my work that I would lay down my life in the line of duty. I host talk shows and go on the streets, too, with my video camera. It is that paparazzi kind of a role, not a simple, goody-goody girl one.

Any inspiration for that, among us journalists?

I have observed many over the years. I have seen journalists who have fire in their eyes, a desire to get the job done. I would say there are shades of some of them. I have observed the way journos carry themselves...

How will you describe your film with M F Husain, Gajagamini?

It's a film more of the experimental kind. It is being made on a large canvas, and comes up to international standards. The story is about a woman's journey through mythology and history. The philosophical, literary and religious aspects are dealt with by Husainji in a highly aesthetic style. I would call it a celebration of womanhood in Husainji's style. Everyone working in this project feels very different.

Click for bigger pic!

Did you expect Dil to Pagal Hai to give a boost to your career?

I committed myself to DTPH three years ago, after Hum Aapke (Hai Koun). So there is no question of a boost. It's just that everything finally worked out between Yashji and me. I was able to give him dates.

How did it feel to be nominated for best actress in the same year, for different films in different awards?

I just felt on top of the world. The Screen awards are decided by a jury. They watch every film, every nuance. In that sense, it is a critics' award. Whereas in Filmfare, the people vote. It's a vindication of your commercial success. In India, commercial success for an artiste is very important. But since I love this art very much, my artistic nature is very satisfied with critical acclaim. So these awards are an ideal combination.

Personally, which role gave you more satisfaction, Mrityudand or DTPH?

Both really. For me, every film I do is very important. I love to get carried away by the character of Ketaki (Mrityudand). People can also identify with Ketaki to the point where it's not Madhuri anymore, but Ketaki. Dil To..., on the other hand, is a commercial film. I was working with a man of Yashji's stature for the first time. I knew he has the reputation of presenting his heroines very aesthetically.

But Pooja's role was more difficult to essay, Ketaki's role was well-defined. Her character was author-backed. Pooja's role was vague. I had to work on her role, along with Yashji, to make her believable. Ketaki was a real woman, Pooja a dreamer. She was also called Maya by Shah Rukh for some time.

Haven't you proved your calibre as an actress with Mrityudand?

See, there is nothing to prove. I haven't done anything in life to prove anything to anybody. It just so happened that when Prakash Jha narrated the story, I liked it. Ketaki's convictions matched mine. I do believe that women are equal to men; neither of them should try and prove that they are superior. It does not make sense.

A still from Mrityudand. Click for bigger pic!

Ketaki is how an Indian woman should be. She was the epitome of a quintessential woman. She loved her husband even though she realised that he is of a wayward kind. Rather than give rise to dissidence and divorce him, she understood that she is a part of the family and she has a particular role to play. She made sure that she is on the right track and then corrects her husband without trying to rebel.

Mrityudand established you as one of the greats of Hindi cinema. Don't you think you deserved a national award for that as well as Dil To Pagal Hai? Karisma got a national award for DTPH...

There is nothing called a great. As of the national award, I feel, there is still time. I have not stopped acting in films, na? Anyway, the other awards that have come my way for Dil To Pagal Hai and Mrityudand make me feel happy anyway.

What are you working on this year?

I'm working on five films this year - Pukar, Wajood, Arzoo, Gajagamini and Hum Tere Hai Sanam. All are very important to me. There is also a Tamil film which I am working on, Engineer, which should be released at the end of this year.

Where is it from here? There's been a lot of talk of your supposed plans to marry and settle in the US. Are you going to US to finalise your wedding?

That's been going for four years now! Every time I go to the US for a holiday, this happens. Once there were even reports in the press that I was already married. It took quite an effort from our side to convince the press that I had not. It looked like an attempt to sabotage my career. I am not feeling any urge to marry now. I feel the day it is destined that I will marry, that day I will.

So now you have set your mind totally on your career?

It's been that way for all these years. I am fully committed to my career. No one tells me that I have to do something in particular or not. I set my own rules and love to live my life my own way. If I meet some guy who I feel is good and right for me, I'll marry him at the time.

Click for bigger pic!

Then why aren't you signing new films?

If I haven't signed any new films of late, it is because I do not wish to sign a film unless I have an exciting role. I think I have reached a stage where I can afford to be selective and choosy about my roles. In future, I want to do only those roles that have substance. Moreover, I am keen to complete the backlog. I have half-a-dozen films under production. No more double-shifts for me.

How do you feel about M F Husain's adulation? Since you must be used to adulation, do you feel it's just some more.

Husain is an achiever who has established himself internationally. Now it must be easier since the world has opened up, but before it must have been quite difficult. When one achiever acknowledges another as an achiever, it's definitely a big boost, not just mere flattery.

How does it feel to be working under him now?

It's a different film. Husainji has won a national award for a film he made a few years back. He is a wonderful maker. I feel like a painting he's making.

And your fans...

They have been unflinchingly loyal. They have shown me the same love again and again. They have been with me through the triumphs and the lean times. If any negative thing is written about me, they send letters to the editor!

When some child says to me, "I really liked you in that dance," I feel so lucky. You must be really fortunate to be the object of such liking. The loyalty is a major plus.

What is it like to be a woman in the industry?

I believe that whatever a woman is -- be it a doctor, lawyer, journalist... -- she must create her own personality, create a niche for herself. People treat you exactly the way you want to be treated. If you chooses to compromise, then no one can be blamed for the consequences. I have always done things my way.

What kind of a person are you. When you get some time off for example.

A poster from Wajood. Click for bigger pic!

I love to meet people, talk to them. I am aware of what is happening around me, of people and their lives. When I do get some time, I love to travel, meet my friends, play with my nieces...

What about discos, or parties?

It's nice to go sometimes if one is with a group of friends. But I love to read or listen to my music. I would rather stay home with my music or watch TV.

You celebrate your 36th birthday this year with the press? People said that it was a PR exercise and you were using the media like Amitabh did?

A lot of people in the media are my friends. I have been in the industry for a very long time, but have never mingled freely with the press. Moreover, I'd never given any party. So I thought this would be a great idea and the occasion to do so.

Why weren't you signed by Sooraj Barjatya for Hum Hain Saath Saath. You were involved with him in the making of one of India's biggest hits of all times, Hum Aapke Hain Koun?

Soorajji will never hesitate to approach me for a role, if he has one. Probably, the film did not have a role for me. So he didn't call me for it.

Your other films are...

Pukar with Anil Kapoor is a total woman-oriented role. It is of a very mature character, which has certain negative shades. The film has shaped very well, though it has taken some time in the making. It is a very intense film.

Arzoo is a light love story with Akshay (Kumar). There are a lot of song and dance sequences in the film.

K C Bokadia's Hum Aapke Hain Sanam is an interesting love-triangle with Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan paired opposite me. It is a remake of a Tamil hit film. The same director Adiyaman is directing the Hindi version too.

Engineer with Arvind has also shaped up well...