Madhuri: I want to do good films

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Mala

@Malashetty

Voyager

Posted: 19 years ago

Madhuri: I want to do good films
By: Upala KBR
March 2, 2006

Madhuri Dixit

Madhuri Dixit is glowing. She's in Mumbai after a long break, with her two baby boys, three-year old Arin and year-old Ryan.

Hubby Dr Shriram Nene, will soon be joining them and the family picture will be complete. A chat with the beautiful actress on her plans here:

Is it true that you are doing a Yash Raj film?
Yes but everything is at the discussions stage. It's too early to talk about it. Only once everything is finalised, will I be able to talk about it.

You want to do films full- time now?
I can't be doing plenty of films as my babies are still very small. But yes, I would definitely like to do at least a couple of good films with good makers.

Will you be staying back in India to shoot?
No, that's not possible. A lot of films are shot abroad so I am looking at films that could be shot in the USA or something that could be shot in one schedule. Nowadays, there are lots of films that are shot there. I am here for two months out of which 15 days have already gone.

What kind of roles are you looking at?
I want to do something challenging roles. It will mean time away from my babies so it has to excite me enough. Also the maker should feel inspired to work with me to do a subject they feel suits me. They should also want to work with me. I haven't watched a single Hindi film in the last two years as its time consuming to look after two small children. Now my kids have settled down I have decided to take up acting again, and have fun!

Your performance at the Filmfare was awesome.
The reaction has been amazing! When I was asked to perform, I was very apprehensive. By the time I went on stage I was having palpitations. Then they announced my name and I went on… and I kept hearing the 'oohs!' and 'aahs!' of the audience. I finally settled in. When I met up with everybody it was just like meeting up with my family once again. I have grown up with these people…. The last time I danced it was for Dola re but you know what? Dancing is like swimming or cycling and you can never forget it. Of course, Sarojji (Khan) was there and helped me a lot.

You performed despite having flu.
At the awards night when I was feeling unwell, Ash (Aishwarya Rai) did something so sweet. I was touched. She sent some ginger tea over for me as she knows I like it and it's good for my cold.

Did your children accompany you?
No, they stayed back home with my parents and best friend. They are too young to go for an event like this. You know, the strangest thing happened…. My younger son didn't recognise me with my make-up on when I reached home. They haven't seen me with this much make-up on in USA, so it was a first. The older one was laughing when he saw me with heavy make-up and ghaghra and Ryan just looked blankly at me. He didn't come to me as he couldn't understand who I was.

How are your babies liking Mumbai?
Now, they are loving it. Initially they were not used to the pollution and dust and they both got sick and suffered from colds and coughs. But now that they have recovered they have settled in — so many people walking in and out of home — they love that.

They must be missing their dad a lot.
Yes, they are both missing Ram very much, especially Arin. He's so used to my husband that when he's upset he keeps asking, 'Where's daddy? I want him'. Ram is also missing us a lot. He told me he's missing us so much that he's plastered the entire home with our photographs so that he sees us everywhere. Ram will be joining us in Mumbai shortly.

Till then?
I am missing him too. I am so used to depending on Ram for everything, all my decisions that I don't know what to do…here of course I am dependent on my parents for everything. They are so much more responsible than me that's it's natural for me to leave everything to them.

Madhuri plans a comeback!

Madhuri

The former queen bee of Bollywood says she is having a close look at the 'incredible' offers pouring her way.

She's thrilled to be back in "amchi Mumbai," the place where she was born and brought up in and where she reigned as an actor. But the star, who made many hearts go 'dhak dhak' with her super dance moves in her hey day, was actually nervous before performing at the Filmfare Award's ceremony last weekend.

"I was really anxious and worried to be performing after such a long gap. When I was rehearsing, I told Saroj (Saroj Khan, the choreographer) that I might not be able to carry it off," she reveals. Of course, the applause she received from the audience the moment she stepped on the stage put her fears to rest almost immediately. "I was in the midst of people who still love me. I was greeted like a family member. I really feel blessed to be loved like this."

But wasn't she unwell when she performed? "Yes, I was really sick. The change in the weather must have affected me. You know, it was snowing in Denver and it's really hot here. I had severe cold and cough, but once I started dancing, it didn't matter."

What about her two sons - are they enjoying their stay in Mumbai? "The kids too had some initial health problems because of the temperature change. Also, it took them a while to get used to new people. Now they are okay. (Laughing) Looks like I can start enjoying the holiday now."

Madhuri, who will be in India for a month, says it's great to be back with her parents. "I will be watching movies, taking my kids around Mumbai. Though they are too young to understand too much, I want them to know where their mother comes from," she says, adding that hubby Dr Sriram Nene will be joining the family soon.

As with all her visits to the country, this one too is generating lots of curiosity vis a vis her Bollywood comeback. But while she has being inundated with film offers ever since she's landed, Madhuri is being cautious. "I want to take up a role which inspires me and also which I can do comfortably. Since it will take up time away from my kids, it has to be worth it. I have worked for so many years, but the only thing I miss is my craft. The other perks like fame and money I can do without."

Madhuri says it's nice to see that the industry has gone through quite a bit of change. "People are coming up with new and exciting ideas. I have received some incredible offers. I will take up one of them."

Mads busy with home productions

It always feels good to be back. This time, it's been after two years," she adds.

Speaking about her rehearsals with Saroj Khan for the same performance, Madhuri says, "Dancing under Sarojji is always a pleasure. The last time I worked with her was for Devdas during the Dola re song. It's been four years since then. This time she told me, 'You turn red in your cheeks when you are dancing and you remind me of a 14-year-old, all excited about putting her best performance'." The dhak dhak actor says she has had no time to "bond with my colleagues" because "after the awards I rushed back home to my sons who were fast asleep. No, they didn't watch me dance on TV. It's their bedtime at 11.30 pm," she says. So has she seen any films like Black or Rang De Basanti? "Haven't had the chance but now my fun time has started, my vacation really begins now, because I am freer and my kids too have got used to Mumbai." Talking of 'mommyhood' she says, "The two are more than a handful. They are my two home productions. It's a 24x7 job and I am loving every bit of it." And will she return to the arclights? "Yes, I'm hearing scripts. If something is really interesting, I'll be back."