It was a mad, mad, Madhuri world! |
Decoding the ’80s and ’90s to figure how the ‘Dhak Dhak’ dancing queen defined a full decade on the big screen
Madhuri Dixit as the titular character in a still from the web-series ‘Mrs Deshpande’; the actress in a still from ‘Tezaab’
It’s a piece of desi pop-culture history, yet seldom told from the horse’s mouth, I figure — as actor Madhuri Dixit, upon being prodded, reveals to me how she became India’s sensation on the big screen.
While still in college, Dixit would do non-lead roles in films that allowed her to pursue both studies and an onscreen hobby.
One such was Sohanlal Kanwar’s Awara Baap (1985), starring Meenakshi Sheshadri. Director Kanwar and ‘showman’ Subhash Ghai were friends.
The former spoke highly of Dixit. Upon which, Ghai got young Dixit to dance for a scene in Karma (1986), which segues into a dream sequence, with the film’s actual hero-heroine imagining themselves in the same song.
When Ghai saw that final footage, fully flabbergasted, he first pulled Dixit out of the walk-on part. He sent that same “showreel”, originally shot in Kashmir, off to every producer he knew.
Telling each of them, that if they wished to sign on Dixit — they could send him over a cheque for Rs 5,000.
Soon, there were eight such cheques on Ghai’s desk — who, in turn, released a multi-page ad in Screen (popular film-trade) magazine, announcing the new talent in town!
“Funny thing is, I didn’t........