Madhuri Dixit-Nene: We must continue to break stereotypes to remain relevant | Hindi movie news



[ad_1]

She burst onto the big screen with her first commercially successful movie, "Tezaab" (1988). Thirty-one years later, Madhuri Dixit-Nene's infectious smile drives people to go dhak-dhak and a million hearts catch fire every time she goes to the dance floor. In a freewheeling conversation with BT, the star actor, who will soon be seen in the movie "Kalank" of Abhishek Varman, talks about working with the younger generation, teaming up with the old actor Sanjay Dutt in the drama of the coming period, and remain relevant even after so many years in the industry. Extracts …

You are one of the few actresses of your generation to work with young people. Do you find that their game school is different from yours?

I do not think there is any difference in gameplay. We are all spontaneous players, whether Varun (Dhawan), Alia (Bhatt) or myself. I have never been someone who lives with the role. I turn on and off with the camera. But, today, the actors are much more informed than we were when we started. I was not part of the industry and I really did not know how things were going on here. But the basic spirit is the same for all of us: we want to do a good job and do our best. I have more scenes with Alia and Varun than with Aditya (Roy Kapur) and Sonakshi (Sinha) in "Kalank". All are such good actors. full of life and energy. It was wonderful to work with them because there was a lot of exchange of notes. I think the way they approach their roles is very real, but nuanced.

At a recent event, Alia mentioned that she had had to pinch herself several times to believe that she was facing the camera with you. She also said that there were times when she stood out to watch you. Were you aware of that?

(Smiles) … I'm usually very normal on the set, just like Alia. I did not really know her before we started working on this movie. I saw his movies, Highway (2014) being his best. She is spontaneous, professional and arrives on the board without luggage. I like this attitude. That's how I was. When it comes to dancing, people are like, "Oh! They did not dance together. But then, we have to follow the script. At this point, it was not possible for us to dance together on this song. I think she did a very good job, especially for someone who did not learn ballet. She was so gracious that it was me who admired her.

Today, it is your second multi-starrer after "Total Dhamaal". Do you like to be one of the actors of a set rather than being the solo heroine like you were at the beginning? In this case, the pressure of the success of the film is also divided …

It is always the case with the multi-characters, because everything does not rest on your shoulders. The same is true for & # 39; Kalank & # 39; When I heard his screenplay, I knew it was a love story between the youngsters. But there are so many other elements in the movie that I am not yet free to reveal. There is much more to expect in history.

The role of Bahaar Begum was originally offered to Sridevi. After arriving on board, you mentioned that it was very difficult to replace her. The first day of shooting must have been emotional …

Of course. When I came in, I knew it was the role she was going to play and now I was doing it. What happened was very tragic and sudden. Even today, it's amazing. In that sense, it was very emotional. It's more at the personal level that I felt all these things when I started shooting for the film. We remembered her all the time on the set. But then, of course, when the shot is on, you have to block all that and play the role.

You find Sanjay Dutt on screen after 21 years. You both played together titles like "Saajan" (1991) and "Khalnayak" (1993). Do you feel any pressure to recreate the magic?

No. We have just followed our plays according to the script. We can not think, "Oh, we have to recreate the magic." What we need to do is create the magic contained in the script.The first scene we have together was quite dramatic, but that's enough. It's a pleasure to work with actors with whom you've worked before, because there is a report, it was seamless.

He continued to call you at the launch of the movie trailer?

Yes, it's a joke now. He calls me ma'am and I call him sir (laughs!)

With films like "Bucket List" (2018 Marathi film), "Dedh Ishqiya" and "Gulaab Gang" (2014), you try to push the boundaries and play roles that have surprised the audience because you have seen in avatars never seen before. Often, the actors of your generation do not have the right roles for their age …

All the roles I badumed suited me. For example, in Gulaab Gang, I played the age that I was supposed to have or even Dedh Ishqiya. Total Dhamaal was total dhamaal. It was a typical commercial with a comedy and it was so much fun. Now, the success of a movie depends on luck and other factors. When you take a script, you give it everything. You want to do your best, but what happens eventually once the public sees it, is not in your hands.

Is it discouraging not to have as many important roles in Indian cinema as in Hollywood, where older actresses are hiding in such amazing roles …

think it's a misfortune everywhere, be it Hollywood or Indian cinema. Yes, actors like Meryl Streep have to play fleshy roles, Helen Mirren has to play different characters in Hollywood. I think that will happen in India as well, eventually. People have loved me in "Total Dhamaal" and this proves that age is only a number, if the movie and the role are well managed. Sometimes, even if you run well and the script is good, other things do not work out. How did the film come out, with what is it competing, did you have the right place to enter … all that matters. Now that I'm a producer, I understand this dynamic.

The fact that heroes have a longer lifespan, while actresses do not enjoy this type of longevity is often a topic of debate …

Well, c & # 39; is because of the way people look at a woman. They think that when she has reached a certain age, it's over for her, but that's not the case. Each generation will be different. I see a lot of changes in the industry today. When I played Tezaab, I was the only woman on the set, apart from my co-actresses. All others, including makeup artist, cameraman, light persons and badistant directors were men. But now, when I walk in a setting, I see women everywhere. It gives power. There is a lot of hope because many female filmmakers present themselves and win prizes, like Meghna Gulzar or Zoya Akhtar, who make such beautiful films that are not necessarily female. I see a lot of hope and change in the industry and it's for the best. There will be more roles in the future for everyone.

Was it difficult to get a foothold when you returned from the United States to India, where you had changed base to get married? Have you had to make an extra effort to stay relevant after so many years?

I had so much love on my return. Relevance depends on the type of roles you choose. I've always chosen to do something different. & # 39; Dedh Ishqiya & # 39; was a bit ironic and 'Gulaab Gang' was a movie of action. I was asked how I could do something at this age. Do they ask such questions to the heroes – in fact, some of them, who are older than me, are still acting today. I want to break these perceptions. In "Total Dhamaal" I did everything, including dancing, and people accepted me and loved my performance and comedy in the movie. I think that we must continue to break stereotypes to remain relevant.

Now that your sons (Arin and Raayan) are teenagers, should they have an opinion about the type of cinema you have been badociated with? Have any of them expressed interest in following in your footsteps?

(Smiles) I am their mother at home. I do not think that they see me different from that. Of course, when they go out with me, it's different and they say to themselves, "Oh! Mom, you're so cool. There was this time they saw me dancing with Prabhu Dheva and were very impressed. My youngest son has a more scientific mentality. The older guy loves music and produces his own stuff. He loves theater and theater and looks at it from a critical point of view. I recently saw him play at school and I was very impressed. Today's generation thinks and knows a lot. I'm surprised my sons are discussing scripts with me now. I did not think too much about scripts when I started. They tell me why a scene is made that way, why was it shot in this way, and what is the continuity. That said, my sons are just growing up, so let's see what they end up doing. Children are like the water they keep changing direction and ending up.

Have you ever considered a career in Hollywood while living in America for so many years?

Well, I went to the United States with a different project. I got married and wanted to start a family. Although I had an offer for a role in "The West Wing", I was already pregnant at that time. Even here, a lot of diversity is now seen with Hasan Minhaj, Aziz Ansari and Priyanka Chopra, who are creating a niche for themselves. We have actors of Indian origin, who are no longer stereotyped.

[ad_2]
Source link