Still mad about Madhuri...

MADHURI DIXIT' PROWESS OF MESMERISING VIEWERS HASN'T WANED. TANZIM PARDIWALLA TRIES NOT TO BE A FANGRIL WHILE INTERVIEWING THE ICON

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Like the rhythm of a timeless song that one cannot get enough of, Dhak Dhak girl Madhuri Dixit Nene keeps growing on you. The grit of Tezaab's Mohini, the fire of Devdas' Chandramukhi and the charm of Hum Aapke Hai Koun..!'s Nisha flow through her even today. It's a Sunday afternoon and I'm on the phone with the legendary actress. She has a way of putting you at ease, the warmth in her voice envelopes you like a blanket. The tinkle of her laughter assures you that all's well with the world. Call her an icon and she graciously thanks you. For someone who has been on top of her game for ages now, she has no airs. The actress talks about how Bollywood's landscape has evolved over the years. She tells me how working with new people still excites her and that the phenomenon of a female-led film dominating box offices has been a long time in the making. Excerpts from an insightful conversation with the dancing diva of Bollywood:

What do you look for in a role at this stage of your career?

When I did The Fame Game, I thought it was interesting and different for me. It was the story of an actress with a family, children to protect and so many things weighing on her and how she stands up for herself in the end. I thoroughly enjoyed doing that. Then there was Maja Maa, in which I played an LGBTQI role. It was about love, the freedom to choose who you want to love and live your life with, and not excluding the family from it. You want their support; you want the family to move with you. Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 is different. It's a spooky horror comedy. So you can imagine how different this is for me. That's why I chose to do it.

Vidya Balan praised you for supporting her. Tell us about women supporting women when there's so much talk of competition.