MADHURI DIXIT NENE

Shilpa Dubey asks the legendary actor what makes her tick

- Shilpa Dubey

It's nearly impossible to not stare at Madhuri Dixit Nene when you see her in person. She has that effect on people. Everything they say about her beauty and charm, and, oh, that smile - it's true. MF Hussain wanted to paint her. Kar martyr and posthumous Param Vir Chakra awardee Captain Vikram Batra, whose life was featured in the 2021 movie Shershaah, lobbed a hand grenade towards the enemy, saying, "To all of you with love, from Madhuri Dixit!" Such is the fandom the diva commands.

You can't talk about '90s Bollywood without mentioning her. There's a bit of Madhuri in every girl from that period. We all copied whatever we could - from her thick fringe in Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! to her bushy curls in Tezaab, from the orange backless blouse she wore in her DhakDhak song to her iconic, bright pink off-shoulder crop top and colourful skirt in Ek Do Teen. No wonder Ram Gopal Varma made Main Madhuri Dixit Banna Chahti Hoon! - starring Antara Mali - about a young, small-town girl who aspires to be as famous as the revered actor, in 2003. She is a phenomenon.