Mumbai: Bollywood diva Madhuri Dixit is set to make a comeback on the screen in a never-seen-before avatar in ready-to-release Dedh Ishqiya, a hinterland-based thriller, and thanks Indian cinema for evolving and making way for strong female characters.
“The more depth in the character, the more fun you get to perform,” Dixit said when asked how comfortable she was with the bold role in Dedh Ishqiya, which brings her out of her comfort zone.
“I am so thankful that our cinema has come a long way, and I am happy that women are portrayed as characters and not just eye candy in films. [Women are] very beautifully portrayed on the screen,” the actress said in an interview.
A combination of glamour and talent, Dixit rose in the film industry in the late 1980s and 1990s with blockbusters such as Tezaab, Ram Lakhan, Dil, Beta and Saajan.
She is also known for her acting prowess in offbeat films such as Prahaar and Mrityudand, which saw her in a non-glamorous avatar.
Last big hit
After ruling the roost for years, Dixit shifted base to Denver when she married US-based doctor Sriram Nene in 1999. Her last big hit was Devdas.
In 2007, she attempted a comeback with Aaja Nachle, which bombed at the box office, and she went back. Four years later, the actress returned to India for good and she hasn’t had to hunt for work.
First, she got busy as one of the judges in the fourth and fifth seasons of the dance reality show Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa and then two films — Dedh Ishqiya and Gulaab Gang — fell into her lap. In both the films, female characters are central to the story line.
In between, she did a cameo in the Ghaghra song in Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani.
Her role in Dedh Ishqiya is a giant leap for the actress. Director Abhishek Chaubey is presenting her as a widow on the lookout for a husband, who organises a poetry competition in her house every year where prospective grooms come and try to woo her.
Appealing role
“For women, it’s a great time to be in the industry. When they narrated the script to me, I was very excited. It’s a role that appealed to me,” said Dixit, who has some bold scenes with Naseeruddin Shah in the film, which also stars Arshad Warsi.
“Begum Para is a beautiful character written by Abhishek. She is a poetic woman. She is a widow and her late husband’s wish was that if she ever marries again, she should marry a poet. So every year, she organises a swayamvar [choosing a husband contest] for her. She has been completely unimpressed for two years, but in the third year, Babban [Arshad] comes,” she said.
The role of Begum Para in Dedh Ishqiya marks Dixit’s second innings in the film industry post marriage. On how important the film is for her, Dixit said: “Everybody wants to see me after a gap. Begum is a strong character. She is a multi-layered kind of a woman. How the film does is very important.”
Dedh Ishqiya is a sequel to Ishqiya, a film that made its lead actress Vidya Balan a name to reckon with. Co-produced by Vishal Bhardwaj and Raman Maroo, Dedh Ishqiya will release in the UAE this month.
Is she getting cold feet? “I am not nervous, I am very excited about it. The script is very good and I think it’s a complete entertainer,” a confident Dixit said.
