Gajagamini: The show stopper!

This 2000 film directed by famous painter M.F Hussain is a tribute to
Madhuri Dixit. M.F.Hussain in reality is an ardent fan of the actress
and decided to make a film on her.

Title means one with walk like that of an elephant.

The central figure of the film is represented by a mysterious figure
called “Gaja Gamini” (Madhuri Dixit), who inspires, arouses, and
confuses the common man. “Gaja Gamini” is the inspiration behind
Leonardo Da Vinci’s (Naseerruddin Shah) ´Mona Lisa´, Kalidas´ poem
“Shakuntala”, and photojournalist Shah Rukh’s (As himself)
photographs. The mysterious “Gaja Gamini” appears as four characters,
one of them being Sangeeta, a blind girl from Banaras at the beginning
of time, who inspires village women (Farida Jalal, Shilpa Shirodkar,
and Shabana Aazmi) to revolt against a male-dominated system and carve
a niche for women forever. Another character is Shakuntala, who is the
subject of Kalidas´ poem of the same name. Shakuntala incites jealousy
in the women and love in the men around her, charming humans and
animals alike in the forests of Kerala. “Gaja Gamini” is also Mona
Lisa during the Renaissance, the object of painter Leonardo Da Vinci’s
obsession. Finally, Monika, the most confusing sector of the film, is
supposed to represent the woman of the New Millennium.

Problems that the film faced

Even before M.F. Hussain, Mads, Rikku and co. could let out a whoop of
joy to celebrate Gajagamini escaping the edge of the Censors’
scissors, they were faced with another dampener. The recently held
American premiere of the film turned out to be a fiasco. Apparently
just when everything had been set according to schedule, the
auditorium was packed to capacity and the show was about to roll, the
bomb was dropped. The print of the film hadn’t arrived! After much
haranguing backstage, an embarrassed Hussain came onstage to announce
the sorry state and apologise for a no-show. According to the crew,
the serious communication gap between the painter and the producer duo
of Mads-Rikku resulted in the fiasco. Of course, the fact that the
incident led to yet another showdown between them, is another story
altogether!

Gajagamini foxes Shabana too!

Is M. F. Hussain’s magnum opus Gajagamini purely the master painter’s
cinematic translation of his often hard-to-comprehend paintings? Well,
if the star cast of the film is any authority, it certainly looks the
case! After Naseeruddin Shah confessed to being unable to understand
the film, it is now Shabana Azmi, who has voiced similar thoughts. The
actress recently admitted to a glossy that she had no clue what she
was doing in the film. “For me to do something without understanding
was challenging. Believe me, it wasn’t easy,” stated the actress. Boy!
These are intelligent actors like Naseer and Shabana talking. Imagine
how the poor, immature Indian viewer – as the Censor Board reiterates
time and again – can ever hope to understand Hussain’s ambitious dream
saga. Or is this why the painter is shying from a commercial release
of the film?

Madhuri Dixit’s Filmy Feat

Madhuri Dixit has played a successful feat in her filmy career. Trace the best and the biggest hits of Madhuri Dixit’s career as an Indian bollywood actress.

Tezab (1988) Tezaab was the first commercial success Mad’s enjoyed at the box-office. The film opposite Anil Kapoor is remembered for Ek Do Teen…number of Madhuri, more than anything else.She received her first Filmfare nomination for Tezaab.

Parinda (1989) Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s movie was among the turning point in reality in Hindi cinema, as the theme of the film discusses the real life of Indian underworld gangsters and the general life of residents in the city of Bombay (now Mumbai), first time ever. Madhuri (as Paro) as the love interest of the male protagonist was superb in the romantic song Tumse Mil Kar…

Dil (1990) Dixit starred in Indra Kumar’s romantic-drama Dil , alongside Aamir Khan. She played the role of Madhu Mehra, a rich and spoiled young girl who falls in love with Raja, played by Khan, and later leaves her house in order to marry him. The film became one of the biggest box-office hits of the year in India, and Dixit’s performance earned her the first Filmfare Best Actress Award of her career.

Saajan (1991) The musical hit was incomplete without Madhuri Dixit’s songs and dances. Saajan really belonged to Madhuri.

Prahar – (1991) This film was hard-hitting and realistic mockery on corruption, extortion, apathy, greed prevalent in society. Madhuri palyed the role of Shirley, a young woman who loses her fiancee in war.

Beta – (1992) The film featured the pairing of Madhuri Dixit with Anil Kapoor, who were previously paired in Tezaab and Parinda. The film is perhaps best remembered for the hit song “Dhak Dhak Karne Laga “, which earned Madhuri Dixit her nickname as the “Dhak-Dhak Girl” (“dhak-dhak” =heartbeat) . Beta won four Filmfare Awards including Best Actress Award for Dixit.

Khalnayak – (1993) The film is remembered for Sanjay Dutt’s impressive bad boy performance, and the hit, yet controversial song “Choli ke peeche” which is deemed as the one of the Best Sensuous songs of Indian cinema. The 8 minute song was appreciated for Madhuri Dixit’s swaying dance moves.

Hum Aapke Hain Koun – (1994) Hum Aapke Hain Kaun! became one of the biggest grossers ever in the history of Hindi cinema. It went on to collect over Rs. 650 million in India and over Rs. 150 million overseas , and won Dixit her third Filmfare Best Actress Award.

Raja – (1995) The film marked Sanjay Kapoor’s debut in Bollywood, and was appreciated by critics as well as audiences, becoming one of the biggest hits of the year. Madhuri Dixit received a Filmfare Best Actress Award nomination, and won the Star Screen Award Best Actress.

Dil To Pagal Hai – (1997) After an unsuccessful year in 1996, Dixit appeared as Pooja in Yash Chopra’s Dil To Pagal Hai (1997). The film was a major national success, both critically and commercially, and Dixit won her fourth Filmfare Best Actress Award.

Devdas – (2002) “Maar Daala” song from Devdas, have received abundant critical acclaim for Madhuri’s dancing prowess.

Madhuri opens up on Anil Kapoor’s Oscar win

Madhuri Dixit is in Denver now. After a month long holiday in India with her two kids, Madhuri has finally left for her home back in USA.This time around she had some really fond memories to share with all her fans.

She got in a candid mood and disclosed her feelings on the first ever Oscar win of people from bollywood. The movie that made it big on
international scale Slumdog Millionaire had Anil Kapoor on board. Madhuri and Anil Kapoor have been among the hot pairs of bollywood and have worked in an array of films in eighties and nineties.She was mighty excited and happy that Anil has come a long way since then.Expressing her feelings on her all time favorite co-star, Madhuri really got emotional.

Madhuri said that, “Anil always wore his excitement on his sleeve”. Anil Kapoor , my co-star, who got that deserving accolades for his role as “Prem Kumar”- the host of a game show in television is genuinely brilliant, like always. Considering we have given so many hits together, I was genuinely happy for his achievements. I admire and respect him a lot for his dedication to his work. I am probably one of the few people who’s seen Anil work really hard.”

Added Madhuri,” sometime, I envy him. Even today, he has the same enthusiasm, and gusto towards work. And to top it, he has maintained himself so well, that is a feat. The way he has chosen his roles and , is noteworthy. I have learnt that one has to be good in your craft no matter how bad or boring the job is. He taught me that our performance is everything.”

Anil for me will always be this big movie star, concluded Madhuri. For Madhuri Dixit , recently, it was heartening to see him, like a child jumping with joy when we won the Golden Globe awards and the rest of the awards. I wondered why everyone was surprised. That’s him. He has always been like this. Isn’t there a saying , happiness shared is double happiness? We all feel happy but we are scared to flaunt it for the fear of being judged by people around.

Out of the many films that they did together, Madhuri Dixit’s personal favourite film with Anil has to be Tezaab and Pukar, as they got a lot of scope for performing.In Tezaab, Anil is her rescuer whoshe fell in love with and in Pukar, Madhuri play this jealous girl who secretly loves him and will go to any extent friend to harm him, so that he gets her.

Probably he was one of those rare actors who Madhuri has well synchronized with in thoughts and performances on screen.They really hit it off very well, were looked upon as a good onscreen pairs, because they had a great off screen rapport too.

‘Padma Shri’ – Mrs. Madhuri Dixit Nene

Padmashree should have been bestowed upon her much earlier, may be when she was at the zenith of her career? But it came late…in 2008, The President, Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil presented the Padma Shri Award to Mrs. Madhuri Dixit Nene.

It was a well-deserved honour that came Madhuri’s way. She accepted it with all the humility and expressed her gratitude to a number of people for it. Apart from family, she thanked her hair dressers to the make up to the technicians…almost everybody, and shared her award with all of them.

An actress, a substancial woman, with so many shades to her persona, Padmashri-awarded, Madhuri has delivered some remarkable performances in her career. “Didi tera devar” is still a rage, thanks to her. Humility is the crown of good disposition. Madhuri Dixit accepted ‘The Padmashree‘, very humbly. Madhuri is surely an inspiration to a lot of women and they don’t shy to say “Main Madhuri Dixit banna chahati hoon…”

Yash Chopra to direct Madhuri Dixit!

Though Madhuri Dixit’s comeback vehicle AAJA NACHLE under Yash Raj banner could not click at box-office but that didn’t stop the ace actress to spell her charm. In fact she is gearing up for her other projects. According to the latest buzz in media she will soon be seen once again showcasing her acting performance par excellence in yet another Yash Raj project.

According to the latest gossip it is heard that Yash Raj banner is once again producing a film featuring Madhuri as lead and the details are being worked out. But the striking fact which will make this news more exciting is that Yash Chopra may direct this project himself. And whenever this leading director is at the wheel of affairs he is a sure shot winner. His last directorial venture was VEER ZAARA starring SRK, Preity Zinta , Rani Mukherji bagging almost all the awards in Yash Raj kitty.

So all you Yash Raj film buffs, your enthusiastic await will finally come to an end and hope we will rejoice once again in the old magic with the combination of Yash Raj and the Date of Birth-MAY 15th

Latest about the ‘Dhak Dhak’ gal

Bollywood’s very own Dhak Dhak girl was present to inaugurate make-up and hair styling duet, Bharat and Dorris Godambe’s, fashion show. The pair have prettied up many Hindi film actors, including Deepika Padukone, Ranbir Kapoor and Sonam Kapoor.

“I am truly glad that the make-up and hair stylists, who’ve been like family to me for so long, are finally getting a platform to showcase
their talents,” says Madhuri. Well, it’s about time that those who create magic behind the scenes are familiar and celebrated in the industry. But the rising star, Ranbir Kapoor who now may be smitten by actress Deepika Padukone’s sen sual beauty, but the list of crushes he had before he met the Om Shanti Om leading lady, goes a long way.

Recently, Ranbir revealed that he had a huge crush on actress Madhuri Dixit when he was in his teens. On a TV chat show hosted by director-turned-actor Farhan Akhtar, Ranbir admitted to having secretly adored Madhuri when he was younger. He had even pasted posters of the actress in his room, the star of Bachna ae Hasino. At that time, Ranbir says, he had never expected he would one day see his father Rishi Kapoor romancing his pin-up queen Madhuri. Apparently, Ranbir had accompanied his father to the sets of Prem Granth, which starred Rishi and Madhuri. When he witnessed this scene, it left him speechless.

Madhuri Dixit in a perfect feminine figure!

If things go as planned Madhuri Dixit might act in a unique Bollywood comedy about acquiring the perfect womanly stature. In keeping with its theme, the film is aptly titled ‘36-24-36’ and is the brainchild of director Meghna Gulzar, who showed signs of immense maturity as a director in the short film ‘Pooranmaasi’ in Dus Kahaniyan .

‘36-24-36’ is a situational comedy about female figures, obesity and weight loss. Meghna reportedly gave a script narration of the film to Madhuri when the actress was in Mumbai recently. Meghna says Madhuri kept laughing at the funny elements in the script and sounded very interested in doing the movie.

But there is one big problem. Madhuri has made it crystal clear that her family, her kids and her husband, are her first priority. She can’t leave them in the US and come to Mumbai to shoot a film. However, production house Pritish Nandy Communications, which is producing the flick, is figuring a way out. If need be, the producers are prepared to shoot the entire film in the US and that too at the time suited to Madhuri.

However, Madhuri is presently busy with the upcoming leg of ‘The Unforgettables’ tour in the US. She would give a final word on the project only after the tour. Meanwhile, many producers and directors in Bollywood are eager to have Madhuri in their films. The likes of Indra Kumar , Anil Kapoor , Subhash Ghai and even Shimit Amin want Madhuri for their respective films.

Madhuri Dixit twirls 41

Bollywood actress Madhuri Dixit celebrated her 41st birthday quietly at her Mumbai home on Thursday.

There was no formal celebration to mark the day, said her secretary Rakesh Nath.

Madhuri, who now lives in Denver, came to India last week, accompanied by her husband, Sriram Nene, to receive the Padma Shri, an honour the government of India accords annually to distinguished personalities from different walks of life.

The actress, with more than a dozen hits in her kitty like Tezaab , ‘Ram Lakhan’, ‘Khalnayak’, Beta , Dil , ‘Saajan’, Dil To Pagal Hai and Devdaas , was given the honour for her contributions to Indian cinema during her two-decade-long career in movies.

Although her comeback film Aaja Nachle failed to become a commercial success, Madhuri was nominated in the best actress category for the Filmfare Awards this year for her performance in the movie.

Trained in the Indian classical dance form Kathak, Madhuri plays the role of a dance teacher in the movie.

The actress, who has two sons, Arin and Ryan, has not taken up any new Bollywood assignment at present because she wants to spend time with her family.

‘Dhak Dhak’ girl want to have a dozen kids

Bollywood actress Madhuri Dixit Nene, loves children, not awards. Winning a Padma Shri would certainly be a dream for many, but it is not that important for Madhuri, who was conferred the award for her contribution to Indian cinema. The actress, who received the fourth highest civilian award in India says, “I have never aspired for awards.

Bollywood’s ‘Dhak Dhak’ girl confessed that she has never aspired for awards but she only wanted to have kids, and that too, a dozen of them. Neither Madhuri, nor hubby Dr Nene is very excited for the Padma Shri. “When I got the letter from India, my husband asked me what is Padma Shri. When I explained the honour, he was so awed”, she said.

Madhuri reveals that as a kid, she talked of growing up and having many kids, as she loves children. “I used to tell my mother that I want to have 12 kids. But after two, I just gave up the idea,” she laughed. Madhuri is a proud mother to five-year-old Arin and three-year-old Ryan. According to the actress, her kids make her feel beautiful.

“When I was carrying Arin, I was nervous, apprehensive and very happy. But the first time I held him in my arms, it all felt so worth it.”

Women- centric Madhuri Film: Mrityudand!!!

Women rule!!! That is what you feel while watching powerful performances of Madhuri Dixit, Shilpa Shirodkar, and Shabana Azmi in MRITYUDAND. MRITYUDAND is a movie that released in 1997. It was directed and produced by Prakash Jha and stars Madhuri Dixit, Shabana Azmi, Ayub Khan, Mohan Agashe and Om Puri. A different (but brilliant) plot and excellent acting from all the players has made this movie what it is.

MRITYUDAND story was set in Bihar. It was the story of three village women revolting against their husbands and ultimately rushing to their doom. Madhuri played a girl who has just gotten married to a well to do business man (played by AYUB KHAN) and has been absorbed into all his family problems. Madhuri watches her hired help’s (SHILPA SHIRODKAR) husband forced to leave the village to pay off a debt, forcing Shilpa into prostitution and other such dealings to help her husband. Madhuri views her husband’s sister in law (played by SHABANA AZMI) crumble pitifully when her husband made the decision to leave her to become a pandit. She also watches as her own kind husband becomes an abusive drunk because of a bad buisness deal. Finally, deciding to do something about the bad treatment of the female gender, she teaches the women to fight back. Madhuri starts fighting her husband while the man handles her. Shilpa revolts against an antagonist and his gambling partner when she calls them both pimps and shows them what women are capable of (a great scene in the movie). Shabana fights back in a less violent way by falling in love and having sex with the family’s kind hired help (OM PURI) while still being married to her pandit husband.

The rest of the movie deals with their efforts to break out of this morass, both within their relationship as well as outside of it, and bloody struggle to confront and defeat the forces of oppression and male domination in the village. Acting on the part of the three heroines is fabulous. Maduri Dixit proved aptly in the movie that she has acting skills as well as dance talent. Shilpa Shirodkar really surprises with her bold and polished acting talent. She is truly a brilliant actress. Shabana Azmi and Om puri have done a marvelous job playing the doomed lovers. Ayub Khan is good in his small role, though not as good as the other performers. Music is brilliant by the recovering Anand Milind. Lyrics are excellent by Javed Akhtar. Prakash Jha’s screenplay and directing is excellent. Nothing was shabby about this film.

Awards bestowed on Mrityudand!!!

• Special Jury Award, Best Feature Film, Cinéma Tout Ecran, Geneva (1998)
• Audience Award, Best Feature Film, Bangkok Film Festival (1998)
• Best Actress, Madhuri Dixit, Screen Awards (1998)
• Best Supporting Actress, Shabana Azmi, Screen Awards (1998)
• Best Actor In A Negative Role, Mohan Joshi, Screen Awards (1998)
• Best Director, Prakash Jha, Zee Cine Awards (1998)
• Best Dialogue Writer, Prakash Jha, Zee Cine Awards (1998)
• Best Sound (Re-recording), Zee Cine Awards (1998)
• Best Feature Film (Critics’ Choice), Prakash Jha, Sansui Awards (1998)
• Best Actress, Madhuri Dixit, Sansui Awards (1998)