Bollywood actress Madhuri Dixit Nene takes one for the women out there grappling with identity crises in her slice-of-life Marathi debut feature, Bucket List, out in the UAE now.
The award-winning actress, who has acted in more than 60 Hindi films and was hailed as a certified superstar in the 1990s, believes life has come full circle as she’s now back to her roots.
The 51-year-old Maharashtrian plays housewife Madhura Sane, who embarks on a journey of self-discovery when life jolts her with a few unexpected twists, including a heart transplant.
The life-altering medical procedure gives Sane a new lease of life and pushes her on a quirky quest of fulfilling her young donor’s last wishes.
“Madhura Sane is a housewife who seems to have forgotten her own individuality and purpose… Bucket List is that feel-good film that brings a smile to your face,” said Dixit Nene in an interview with Gulf News tabloid! over the phone from Mumbai.
Here are excerpts from our interview with Dixit, where she talks about the evolution of Marathi cinema, the empty nest syndrome that awaits mothers and her experience of riding a bike for the first time.
Do you feel like a newcomer since Bucket List is your first Marathi feature?
It’s my first Marathi film and I am keen to know how my Maharashtrian fan base are going to react to my role. It’s my sincere effort to create the character of Madhura Sane in an earnest, believable manner. Madhura Sane is a housewife who is so lost in her own family that she’s constantly doing stuff for them. In the process, she has forgotten her own individuality. But then a few events in her life pushes her to re-discover herself. And, as she finds her individuality and her voice, the people around her also change the way in which they view and perceive her.
Is the film likely to resonate more with housewives, whose services are often taken for granted?
It’s not just the housewives who will identify with my film. Women who work full time and are professionals will also relate to Bucket List. There are a lot of times when women are guilty of not wanting to do anything for themselves. They forget their own aspirations as they get busy fulfilling the wishes of those around them. All we are trying to say is that it’s good for women to have small aspirations that help them find their own happiness. Those small joys often add a sparkle to your lives. Trust me, having a bucket list improves your life and strengthen relationships that you have with people around you.
Do you think women can have it all?
The big question remains whether the women out there want to have it all. Aren’t small joys good enough? For instance, if you put in your bucket list that you want to visit a certain place one day and you work towards that ‘X’ place, won’t you feel a sense of achievement when you go visit it some day? It’s your everyday life that gives people a sense of happiness. Every woman needs to take a little time for herself so that she isn’t lost in all that surround noise.
What does your bucket list look like?
My bucket list is dynamic and constantly changing. Doing a Marathi film in my career topped my bucket list. Turning a producer with the Marathi film, 15 August, was also a part of my list and I am happy that I have ticked those two dreams off my list. I finish one thing and I quickly add another one to do.
What’s the most bizarre thing on your bucket list?
When I was little I used to watch this advertisement for the cologne Old Spice with a surfer riding the waves [hums the tune of that ad]. Since then, I have always wondered what it would be [like] to try balancing myself on a surf board and ride the wave. Recently, I went on a vacation with my kids to Kovalam beach [in Kerala] and I tried my hand at surf boarding. It was difficult but the moment I stood on it successfully, I felt a sense of achievement and joy. Plus, all that dancing gave me a good core strength and helped me find my balance on that board.
What took you so long to venture into Marathi films?
I was never offered a Marathi film until now. When I was offered my first film by Rajshri Productions [in 1984], I didn’t even know that I wanted to enter the world of movies. It was never my dream to be an actress, but the producers had heard that I dance and emote well. But after my first film [Abodh], there was no looking back.
I was doing three shifts per day and was busy doing one Hindi film after the other. I was so involved in that and there was no time to look back. It was only in 1995, after Hum Aapke Hai Koun… ! released, that I decided that I will only do one shift a day.
In 1999, I got married and I had my children, which meant I was in a different phase in my life. It was during that time that I acted in films like Devdas and TV show Jhalak Dhikla Jaa by travelling back and forth from the United States [where her doctor husband was based].
Later, Dedh Ishqiya and Gulaab Gang happened. I have also observed that [the] Marathi industry has dramatically changed over the year. The subjects for films now are not your usual saas-bahu [daughter-in-law vs mother-in-law dramas] or plain comedies. They began tackling different subjects and are technically sounder now. The audiences have also increased due to subtitling. So when the content and your makers are terrific, you are bound to get scripts that you want to do.
When director Tejas [Vijay Deoskar] came to me, I found the premise and idea of Bucket List intriguing. Also, I identified a lot with my character. I have seen so many Maharashtrians, including my maasis [aunts], wake up at four o’clock to look after their family and then teach in a school. She gave up her whole life for her family, but once the kids grew up, there was an emptiness in her life. Bucket List dwells into all of that.
Don’t miss it!
Bucket List is out in the UAE now.
