Madhuri Dixit was every teenager’s dream in the 90s; her smile has lit up many hearts over the years. She achieved legendary status not just with her mesmerising dance and enchanting beauty but also with her grace and acting prowess. Fondly known as the “Dhak Dhak Girl,” Madhuri captivated audiences with iconic performances in films like Tezaab, Ram Lakahan, Dil, Beta, Saajan, Hum Aapke Hain Koun!, Dil To Pagal Hai, and countless more. Her expressive eyes and infectious smile made her an icon and a timeless symbol of beauty and talent.
Early Life
Madhuri Dixit was born on May 15, 1967, in Mumbai, into a middle-class Marathi family. Her father, Shankar Dixit, worked in a government office, while her mother, Snehlata Dixit, was a homemaker with a keen interest in music. Madhuri was the youngest of four siblings, with two older sisters, Rupa and Bharati, and an older brother, Ajit. Growing up in Mumbai’s Andheri suburb, she was exposed to the city’s vibrant cultural scene early on. At the age of three, she began training in Kathak, which laid the foundation for her future as a celebrated dancer. At nine years old, she got a scholarship for Kathak. She learned Kathak for the next eight years, which later became a defining element of her film performances.
Madhuri attended Divine Child High School in Mumbai, where she was a diligent student and actively participated in school plays and dance events. After completing her schooling, she enrolled at Parle College (now Sathaye College) to pursue a degree in microbiology. However, her passion for the arts led her to drop out during her first year to focus on acting full-time.
The Humble Beginning
Madhuri Dixit’s entry into the entertainment industry came in 1984 with her debut film Abodh, a drama produced by Rajshri Productions, where she played a naive village bride opposite Bengali actor Tapas Paul. Despite positive reviews for her performance, the film flopped at the box office
She followed it with films like Awara Baap (1985), Swati (1986), Manav Hatya (1986), Hifazat (1987), Uttar Dakshin (1987), and Khatron Ke Khiladi (1988), but none of her films worked for her. She was noticed in a small role in “Dayavan,” opposite Vinod Khanna.
In 1988, N. Chandra cast her as “Mohini Dhanyekar,” a girl who was abused by her father and forced to work as a dancer in the blockbuster “Tezaab.” The film turned her into an overnight sensation. Her portrayal of Mohini not only showcased her acting prowess but also her exceptional dancing skills, especially in the song “Ek Do Teen,” which became a nationwide hit. It also earned her her first nomination for Filmfare Best Actress. The film started her collaboration with celebrated dance director Saroj Khan and also Anil Kapoor.
Making of a Superstar
Next year, she was cast by Subhash Ghai in “Ram Lakhan” opposite Anil Kapoor. Her the song ffrom the film “O Ramjee,” went on to become a rage at the time. The same year, she got her second Filmfare Best Actress nomination for “Prem Pratigyaa,” opposite Mithun Chakraborty. She gets rave reviews from critics for her grounded and natural acting as Laxmi Rao, a positive woman facing the harsh realities of life.
Her next was Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s intense criminal drama “Parinda,” with Anil Kapoor, Jacky Shroff, and Nana Patekar. Madhuri impressed everyone with her girl next door, acting in a small role. Her song “Tumse Milke” has been a go-to romantic song for three decades now.
In Dil (1990), a romantic drama directed by Indra Kumar, she played Madhu opposite Aamir Khan, delivering a performance that won her first Filmfare Best Actress Award. The film’s commercial success solidified her position in the industry.
Dhak Dhak Girl
Madhuri Dixit received immense critical acclaim for her films like T. Rama Rao’s Pratikar (1991), which also gave her a fourth Best Actress nomination at Filmfare, Nana Patekar‘s “Prahaar (1991),” and Sudhir Mishra’s “Dharavi (1992).” Her next big success was “Saajan (1991),” a love triangle with Sanjay Dutt and Salman Khan. The film was a musical blockbuster with songs like “Bahut Pyar Karte Hain,” “Tu Shaayar Hain,” “Jiye To Jiye Kaise,” and “Mera Dil Bhi Kitna Paagal Hai.”
In 1992 she starred in Inder Kumar’s musical “Beta,” opposite Anil Kapoor. The film gave her the title “Dhak Dhak Girl” after her immensely popular song “Dhak Dhak Karne Laga.” In the films, she played Saraswati, a woman standing up to her oppressive mother-in-law, earning her a second Filmfare Best Actress Award.
Madhuri reunited with Subhash Ghai for the crime drama “Khalnayak” with Sanjay Dutt and Jackie Shroff, which cemented her place as the numero uno. Her performances and dances, like “Choli Ke Peeche,” were equally praised. In 1994, Rahul Rawail’s disturbingly violent “Anjaam” pitted her against Shahrukh Khan. Her portrayal of a revenge-seeking wife and mother, Shivani, earned her a seventh Filmfare Best Actress nomination.
Madhuri Dixit The Darling of India
Her next film will reunite her with Rajshri Productions in the remake of “Nadiya ke Par.” The resulted film “Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! (1994)” became a cultural phenomenon, changed the course, and started the trend that lasted almost a decade. Hum Aapke Hain Koun! went on to become the biggest blockbuster of all time and also fetched her a third Filmfare Award for Best Actress. She was the first actress to charge a fee of one crore, a sum unheard for eve an A-list heroes.
Next year she acted in Inder Kumar’s “Raja,” opposite Sanjay Kapoor. Such was the stardom of Madhuri that critics said that the film should be named “Rani,” as she was the real hero of the film. Her next was David Dhawan’s “Yaraana,” which earned her another nomination—the Filmfare Award for Best Actress.
1996 was a bad year for her, as both of her films, “Premgranth” and “Rajkumar,” didn’t do well. But the critics agreed on one thing: that she was the only good thing in otherwise bad films. In 1997, she starred in Rakesh Roshan’s “Koyla,” Reema Rakeshnath’s “Mohabbat,” and Prakash Jha’s hard-hitting “Mrityudand.” Mrityudand saw her playing the fierce and independent “Ketki,” who mobilised the village woman against the nexus of politicians and criminals.
Her last film of 1997 was Yash Chopra’s “Dil To Pagal Hai,” which also had Shahrukh Khan, Karishma Kapoor, and Akshay Kumar. Film featured her as Pooja, a dancer torn between love and duty. The film was the biggest hit of the year and earned her the fourth Filmfare Award for Best Actress. Her next Filmfare Best Actress nomination came in 2000 for “Pukar,” where she played a character with grey shades.
Other Work
She starred in Raj Kumar Santoshi’s Lajja (2002). In the film she played the role of Janki, a fierce theatre artist who was abused on the pretext of insulting the holy scriptures. In Devdas (2002), directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Madhuri played Chandramukhi, a courtesan with a heart of gold. The film was an adaptation of of Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay’s novel Devdas. Her performance, especially in the song Kahe Ched Ched Mohe, where she wore a 30-kg lehenga, was widely praised. Her scintillating performances, earned her the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress.
Some of her other notable films are Vardi, Ilaaka, Mujrim, Tridev, Kanoon Apna Apna, Kishen Kanhaiya, Izzatdaar, Deewana Mujh Sa Nahin, Sailaab, Jamai Raja, Thanedaar, 100 Days, Khel, Sangeet, Sahibaan, Dil Tera Aashiq, Phool, Aasoo Bane Angaarey, Wajood, Aarzoo, Yeh Raaste Hain Pyaar Ke, Hum Tumhare Hain Sanam, and Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani.
After a hiatus of five years, Madhuri returned to the silver screen with “Aaja Nachle.” In the filmshe played Dia, a dancer who returns to India to save her dance theatre from real eastate mafia. The film was a avarage grosser and her performace earned her a nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actress.
Personal Life of Madhuri Dixit
Madhuri Dixit met Dr. Sriram Madhav Nene, a UCLA cardiovascular surgeon, through her brother in 1999. They married on October 17, 1999, in a traditional ceremony. She relocated to Denver, Colorado, where they lived for over a decade. The couple has two sons: Arin, born on March 17, 2003, and Ryan, born on March 8, 2005. Madhuri has often spoken about the challenges of balancing her career and motherhood. Her children initially found it strange to see her on-screen, especially in intense roles.
Legendary M.F. Husain considered her his muse, and made a artistic film “Gajagamini” as a tribute to her beauty. He also paints her extensively on canvas.
Later Career
In 2011, the family moved back to Mumbai, allowing Madhuri to resume her career. After coming back, she starred in critically acclaimed films like Dedh Ishqiya (2014), Gulaab Gang (2014), Bucket List (2018), and Maja Ma (2022). She also appeared in films like Total Dhamaal and Kalank in 2019, reuniting with her co-stars Anil Kapoor and Sanjay Dutt. In 2022, she starred in the Netflix series “The Fame Game.”
She and Nene founded RnM Moving Pictures, a production company. The company produced Marathi film 15 August (2019) and Panchak (2022). Beyond acting, Madhuri launched an online dance academy, Dance with Madhuri, in 2013. It is accessible to 172 countries, reflecting her passion for dance. She has also been a judge on dance reality shows like Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa for multiple seasons and Dance Deewane. A committed humanitarian, she was appointed a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in 2014, advocating for children’s rights. She actively supports many initiatives for women and children.
Madhuri Dixit on IMDB
