Madhuri Dixit’s career nearly ended after multiple flops and a blunt rejection for being 'thin'

Madhuri Dixit’s rise to superstardom didn’t come easily. Before becoming a household name, she faced rejection after rejection, including one where a playback singer turned her down for being "too thin", as revealed by veteran actor Raza Murad.

In a recent conversation with The Filmy Charcha, Raza Murad opened up about the early years of Madhuri’s career. He stated that she had done several insignificant films, such as Abodh and Awara Baap, which failed to grab attention. “Nobody cared for her, nobody noticed her,” he said. At that point, her parents reportedly considered marriage as a safer future for her. “Her parents decided to get her married because her career was at rock bottom,” Murad recalled.

He revealed a particular incident where she was introduced to a playback singer as a potential match. “He looked at her and said, ‘She’s too thin,’” Murad recalled. The rejection was a blow, reflecting how appearances often influenced judgment, even off-screen.

Madhuri's story turned a corner in Kashmir during a film shoot with Rajesh Khanna. Subhash Ghai was also shooting nearby. As per Murad, it was Madhuri’s hairdresser who first introduced her to Ghai. “He asked what film she was working on and then asked to meet her. He had a good sense. He saw something in her,” said Murad. This meeting reportedly led to Ghai relaunching her in Bollywood.

Although she debuted in 1984 with Abodh, the film didn’t do well. Her subsequent releases—Swati, Manav Hatya, Hifazat, Uttar Dakshin, Mohre, and Khatron Ke Khiladi—also tanked. It was Dayavan that gave her some recognition, but Tezaab and Ram Lakhan truly marked her breakthrough.

Madhuri, now a celebrated name, recently appeared in Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, sharing screen space with Vidya Balan, Kartik Aaryan, and Triptii Dimri. The film, directed by Anees Bazmee, earned ?389.28 crore globally. She is set to return in Mrs. Deshpande, a psychological thriller where she plays a serial killer. The show is helmed by Nagesh Kukunoor and adapted from a French series.