The epitome of beauty and grace in Bollywood, Madhuri Dixit on the one constant in her life

She taught every 90’s kid to count with her breakout number, Ek Do Teen (worked for me!) while her billowing ghagra is always breaking news, right from Baghdad to Delhi, Madhuri Dixit, for decades, has always done the talking through her dance. The acting legend and dancer par excellence, seems to be ageing like fine wine, one that only gets better with time.

In an exclusive interview with Bazaar India, Dixit speaks about how dance will always remain an integral part of her identity and invigorates her every single day, like it has done from the time she discovered joy in movement. 

 

Harper’s Bazaar: From the start of your career, to the present day, dance has been a constant in your life. We see that even in Maja Ma? Is that something that you look for in the scripts that come to you?  

Madhuri Dixit: No. There’s nothing like that. Dance was an integral part of Maja Ma’s script. Even in The Fame Game, they had a small song because she’s an actress and there’s a big production she’s shown to be a part of. For Maja Ma as well, you’ll see why dance is an important part of the story. It was not added because I’m in that. That was never the intention. 

HP: You’ve proved that age has nothing to do with craft. Everyone wonders how you still manage to dance so well? So, how does Madhuri Dixit do it?  

MD: I think I love it (dance). It’s never a chore when you do something that you love. I enjoy doing it and I think people should try it. Age is just a number. Anybody can dance. Once you put your mind to it, you’ll see how much joy you get from it. And you give joy as well when you dance. 

HP: How does dance help you in life and does it make you a better actor? 

MD: Well, I learnt dancing at a very early age. I was three when I started learning kathak. And abhinay (acting) is a part of this dance form. I think, to a large extent, it does teach you how to have a very mobile face and be your expressive best. Of course, it’s a different language when you’re acting and working in a movie. It has to be true to life. It cannot be otherwise. Dancing does teach you a lot of things. 

HP: You made a return after three long years early in 2022 with Netflix’s The Fame Game. How much of a confidence boost was it for you to see the show do so well?  

MD: It was heartening to see the response and love showered by the audience for the series. That’s what I took into Maja Ma. Seeing and hearing about people loving its trailer, the songs, makes me very very happy. That’s what we work for. 

HP: What do you want the audience’s takeaway after watching a film such as Maja Ma?

MD: Maja Ma (the film will be streaming on Prime Video from October 6) is the story of Pallavi Patel, and I remember this dialogue where she tells her daughter that besides being a mother, daughter, and wife, I do have my own identity. That’s why I’m doing this film. Along with the script, I think Anand (Tiwari) is a fantastic director. It’s a great team of actors. When the team around you is good, they make you look good too. Maja Ma has its funny moments and is a warm film, but one with a very strong core. It’s a brave film, it has a message, but it’s not preachy. It’s told in a very sensitive manner.