New Delhi: A couple of months ago, I got the chance to watch 'Abodh', Madhuri Dixit's debut film. The quintessential Madhuri spunk was there, and to be very honest it didn't look like her first film. Though her childlike face was full of curiosity, but the love for the camera was there. It was that kind of confidence which many of us don't possess in our teens. Not that I am trying to draw a comparison between lesser mortals and the original diva, but it was just her first film. You see, this was that sort of emotion which you experience while watching Amitabh Bachchan in 'Saudagar'.
A Hindi film actor operates on an island and his inability to bridge the gap between stardom and critical success takes a toll on their choice of films. The dilemma of 'not making it large' remains there till 'shelf life' (To play the lead) ends. But, sometimes we find actors who make swift transitions from one phase to another with such aplomb that you stop to speculate about their latent potential.
If you will take a closer look at Madhuri and her initial performances you will come to the conclusion that she wasn't tailor made for typical Bollywood glamour girl roles. She modified herself into the girl the entire India started cheering by 1988. It took her 4 years and 8 films to transform herself into the actor who was a blend of mass and class.
I assume you remember the style sense of late 80s and early 90s. The style icons had to be aware of the worldwide trends and then they were needed to dilute it down with Indian sensibilities. Just imagine those wall calendars which had the faces of 12 actors on different faces. Most of those heroines used to wear salwar-suit, in fact all the top heroines found it difficult to strike a balance between conventions and trends.
However, Madhuri Dixit kept thriving as she was learning the tricks of the trade really fast. Her pairing with Anil Kapoor was like an advertisement of youth and energy. Put them together in any story and their chemistry will make it a memorable collage of scenes. I have met several people who remember 'Tezaab', 'Ram Lakhan', 'Parinda', 'Beta', 'Kishan Kanhaiya', 'Jamai Raja', 'Khel', 'Zindagi Ek Jua', 'Pratikar' and many more films scene by scene.
Later, Anil Kapoor was replaced by much younger actors such as Shah Rukh Khan and Akshay Khanna, but Madhuri kept marching forward. 'Pukaar', 'Gaja Gamini', 'Wazood', 'Hum Tumhare Hain Sanam', 'Devdas', 'Lajja', roles were written for her till she decided to settle down with Dr Nene.
She was out of the limelight for 4-5 years and several newcomers arrived meanwhile. In normal circumstances, a former lead is forced to take up sisterly roles to stage a comeback, but there were characters awaiting Madhuri. It also happened because new heroines were more about glamour than substance. The period in which Madhuri was abroad couldn't produce more than 2-3 really good actresses. 'Aaja Nachle' failed and she was written off. I recall some reviewers saying that she can't compete with the younger lot because her face has lost that 'Abodh' charm. Probably, they failed to envision rather anticipate Madhuri's actual calibre.
The gift of well tuned dancing was always with her and 'Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa' got benefitted from it. Everytime she came on the stage to flaunt a step or two, the crowd cheered, the 20 something TV audience jeered at her every move. These were the people who had been missing an Indian-ised and dignified film actress since some years. The way Madhuri conducted herself on the show made elderly audience her fan. Her politeness, grace, elegance and mischievous smile, everything worked in her favour, so much so that started capturing the fantasies once again. It was a grand comeback in terms of its success. You may call it her second comeback but it's an arguable issue. Was she even out of our minds all the while?
The latest phase of Madhuri Dixit's career is beginning with 'Dedh Ishqiya'. Most of the reviews are praising her and she looks stunning in the film. The experience of 30 years in showbiz reflects in her performance. Now, with the unveiling of Gulaab Gang's first trailer, she is once again ready to charm the audience. She is playing the characters that suit her age and off-screen persona, and this makes her an important actor to watch out for. It's like standing like a man in the crowd of boys who are still struggling with their adolescence.####
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