Re: When Madhuris son didnt recognize her
My kids laughed at Me…
…when they saw me with war paint on, says Madhuri Dixit, in conversation with Ram Kamal Mukherjee
The charisma, charm and that million-dollar smile is intact, only now she speaks with an American twang and sports some extra weight. Seven years after her marriage to Dr. Shriram Nene and settling down in the US, Madhuri Dixit’s fan following has not reduced. Some things never change, and that is her commitment to the task at hand. When she was acting in films, her roles were on the top of her agenda. Now, as a wife, and mother of Arin and Ryan, Madhuri’s priorities have changed.
DANCING AT THE FILMFARE AWARDS
“I could hear fans whistle and cheer while on stage for my performance at the Filmfare Awards. It made me feel so special,” says Madhuri, keeping an eye on her children who are busy playing with their toy cars. Was she nervous going on stage after so many years? “Yes, there was some sort of nervousness but Sarojji (Khan) is my morale booster,” she says.
MAMA MIA
Madhuri is mother to three-year-old Arin and a year-old Ryan. This is the first time that Ryan is visiting India, Arin was here when he was eight months old. Currently, she is revelling in motherhood and domesticity. “Motherhood is the best thing that has happened to me,” she says. “I enjoy every bit of it – even changing nappies and pushing the pram around in crowded Times Square. I think I am enjoying myself more in the US because people don’t recognise me and I am not mobbed.” On March 17, Ryan turns a year old and she is expecting her husband to join in the birthday celebrations. “We might have a small family get together then,” she says. However, Madhuri is particular about her kids being photographed. “They are too young, I want to keep them away from all the glam sham,” she says.
Madhuri is visiting India after three years. “It was snowing in Denver when I boarded the flight to India. But it’s so humid here… my kids were jet-lagged and they couldn’t cope with the climate, so I was really worried. But now they are enjoying their vacation,” says Madhuri. Do the children squabble with each other? “There is not too much age difference between the two. I think in two years they will be the best of buddies,” she explains. Incidentally, Madhuri left immediately after her Filmfare performance to be with her kids. “I never leave my children alone. So I didn’t hang around afterwards,” she says. “I was missing them. However, the moment I entered home, Arin looked at me and started laughing. I realised I had forgotten to take off my make-up. He hadn’t seen me like this before. Ryan couldn’t recognise me with the lehenga choli and stared blankly at me.” Who are the children more attached to? “It depends. The elder one was crying for his father the other day. Ryan is too young to miss his father. They are both fond of Ram,” she says.
**HEAVY WEIGHT **
The actress, known for her svelte figure, has put on some weight. “It happens when the focus shifts from you to your kids,” she laughs. “I am absolutely fit and fine. I am a dancer so I will never put on weight. Once both my kids grow up and join school, I will be able to give time to myself again.” But doesn’t she miss the adulation and fan-following she enjoyed when at the top? “Motherhood is a full-time job. When I was an actress I gave a hundred per cent to my profession. Now that I am married, I want to give a hundred per cent to my husband and my kids,” she explains.
**AT THE MOVIES **
Even after staying away from the limelight, film-makers have continued to woo her with offers. “You will be shocked to know that in last three years I have seen only one film, and that is Parineeta. I think Vidya Balan is a fantastic actress,” says Madhuri. "I have seen certain portions of Bunty Aur Babli and I liked the comedy. In the US even though I get invites for the Indian film premieres I can’t attend because my kids are too young to sit in a theatre for three hours.”
In her three months here Madhuri plans to catch up with the films she has missed watching. “I plan to watch Black and Rang De Basanti. I haven’t seen Rituparno’s Chokher Bali, Aparna Sen’s Mr And Mrs Iyer, Madhur’s Page 3 and Nagesh’s Iqbal either,” she says. “I would love to watch these films.”
A few years ago Somnath Sen (of Leela fame) wanted to make a film with Madhuri and Amitabh Bachchan, but the film was shelved after Madhuri backed out of the project. “I didn’t back out of the project. I got pregnant and I decided not to strain myself. Later, I heard that Somnath shelved the film. It’s unfortunate that he didn’t make the film. I always wanted to work with Mr Bachchan and would love to work with him if I get another chance. In fact, Baghbaan was offered to me, but I couldn’t do the film because of my kids,” she says.
It was also reported that Yash Chopra had approached her for his next? “Not just Yashji, many other directors have approached me. Even Rituparno Ghosh wants to narrate a story for which he is coming from Kolkata to meet me. I have been approached by eight renowned directors, but I will do only one or two films. That too, the films will have to be completed in one schedule and preferably in the US,” she clears the air.
SABBATICAL OR VOLUNTARY RETIREMENT?
“I’m on a long sabbatical. Unless I get a role that I am interested in, I will not act,” she says. “Frankly, I don’t miss Bollywood, I miss acting, but that is because I am an actor. I guess I have done everything an actress can dream of in a lifetime, now I will only do substantial films.”
OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF MIND
Does anyone from the industry keep in touch with her? “I’m not really out of touch. Otherwise you would not have been interviewing me. It proves that people are still interested in me. I will not do films just to stay in the mind of my fans,” she justifies.
LOOKING AHEAD
It was reported that she might start her dance academy in the US. “My sister is already training students there. I might start my own dance academy in the near future. I want to do so much in life; there is a lot to do. At the moment I am busy with my kids, but I will not disappoint my fans. I will come back soon,” she says.
- Not just Yashji, eight other directors have approached me to act in their films
She has been forgotten and this sounds like a threadbare publicity strategy to find something to do in films after being out of the limelight for some years. There is loads of new talent in the industry and she deserves to remain retired.