Jackie: Madhuri And I Shared A Lot Of Our Attraction Through Our Eyes
On her 48th birthday, Madhuri's Khalnayak costar reminisces their good, old days
In a space of 11 films, Madhuri Dixit Nene has played every possible role to Jackie Shroff his girlfriend, his wife, his bhabhi... So on her birthday today, who better to talk about the gorgeous actress than Jackie himself? When SpotboyE.com called him up this afternoon, the sporting actor readily agreed to walk down memory lane and revisit the Madhuri magic. Read on...
Let’s start from the beginning do you remember your first meeting with Madhuri?
The first time I heard about Madhuri was while we were making Karma. Sridevi and I were shooting for a song together. The team was looking for a girl who will sing this song in the valley. The scene was that Sridevi and I look at this girl singing and then we go into a dream sequence. So Subhashji (Ghai) and Sarojji (Khan) were saying, “Woh nayi ladki aayi hai Madhuri. Usko bulaate hain.” That was where I first heard her name. Then they didnt call her. They said, Usey koi aur picture mein le lenge. I finally met her while filming Uttar Dakshin.
Of the many films youve done with her, which is your best film?
Sangeet. She had a double role she played a blind girl and the mother also. It was her best role. We have done so many films, she has played every role in my life. She has played my wife in 100 Days and Khalnayak, my girlfriend in Vardi, my bhabhi in Ram Lakhan...she even played my nautch girl in Devdas.
In spite of working so closely on so many films, you two were never linked...
Madhuri and I shared a lot of our attraction through our eyes. There was no question of being linked up as such. Ive been linked up with other leading ladies but Madhuri was someone I really cared for and she cared for me a lot. We respected each other too much.
Is she your favourite co-star?
Everyones my favourite, darling. Im not being diplomatic. My Dimple (Kapadia), my Juhi (Chawla), my Dinky, my Kajol my heart is full of all my leading ladies and definitely Madhuri has a special corner in my heart.
Madhuri is one of the most talented actresses Bollywood has seen. Having seen her from her initial days, how do you rate her as an actress on a scale of 1 to 10?
As an actress, I think she is the finest I have seen. I cant rate her. She is simply superb. No doubt, Dimpleji is fabulous. Meenakshiji (Seshadri), Manishaji (Koirala) and Kajol are all outstanding. All these girls have their own mark. But what sets Madhuri apart is that she is a dancer actress.
Do you prefer Madhuri, the dancer or Madhuri, the actress?
I think she is a better actress because she is a lovely dancer (laughs).
She had taken a sabbatical from films and had moved to US for 4 years. Her fans sorely missed her during this period. Did you also feel the same way?
I prayed the hardest that she comes back (laughs).
What do you think of the current crop of actresses? Does anyone remind you of Madhuri?
I think they all have their own standing. Deepikaji (Padukone) has her own style. I dont want to comment on other girls and say that they lack something. They dont lack anything. But Madhuri is in a league of her own. These young girls have just walked in, give them time. I think they will also shine brighter. Lets not compare them to Madhuri yet. She is a legend who has been around for so many years.
After ruling the big screen for so long, she has moved to the small screen and was seen judging Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa. Do you think it was a step down for the actress?
Small screens have entered in a big way in everyones hearts (laughs). Today, big screens have very small shelf life. 3 din hote hi they want to recover their money, go home and start a new film. I think the charm of big screen is there. She has been doing Gulaabi Gang and Dedh Ishqiya. But today, television is ghar ghar ki kahani (laughs).
Coming to the personal space, have you interacted with her husband, Dr Nene?
Yeah.
Do you think he complements her perfectly?
Thats for her to decide. Whatever her choice is, it has to be good because she has to live her life with him. I dont know Mr Nene so closely. Whenever I interact with the couple, its Madhuri who obviously takes my attention more than Mr Nene. No offense to Mr Nene (laughs).
Finally, your son Tiger is a fabulous dancer. What does he have to say about Madhuri? Has he met her?
I dont know if they have met or not. But my son thinks she is one of the finest dancers. Whenever he sees her songs, he is like, ‘Dad, she is such a fantastic dancer. And its not just her feet and her hands but also her eyes. Likewise, Madhuri also talks a lot about my son. Even at the recent launch of her dance app, she was all praises for him. So Tiger and Madhuri have a mutual admiration club.
(Tune in to SpotboyE.com The Show on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 9 pm and Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 1 pm on 9XM)
Let’s start from the beginning do you remember your first meeting with Madhuri?
The first time I heard about Madhuri was while we were making Karma. Sridevi and I were shooting for a song together. The team was looking for a girl who will sing this song in the valley. The scene was that Sridevi and I look at this girl singing and then we go into a dream sequence. So Subhashji (Ghai) and Sarojji (Khan) were saying, “Woh nayi ladki aayi hai Madhuri. Usko bulaate hain.” That was where I first heard her name. Then they didnt call her. They said, Usey koi aur picture mein le lenge. I finally met her while filming Uttar Dakshin.
Of the many films youve done with her, which is your best film?
Sangeet. She had a double role she played a blind girl and the mother also. It was her best role. We have done so many films, she has played every role in my life. She has played my wife in 100 Days and Khalnayak, my girlfriend in Vardi, my bhabhi in Ram Lakhan...she even played my nautch girl in Devdas.
In spite of working so closely on so many films, you two were never linked...
Madhuri and I shared a lot of our attraction through our eyes. There was no question of being linked up as such. Ive been linked up with other leading ladies but Madhuri was someone I really cared for and she cared for me a lot. We respected each other too much.
Is she your favourite co-star?
Everyones my favourite, darling. Im not being diplomatic. My Dimple (Kapadia), my Juhi (Chawla), my Dinky, my Kajol my heart is full of all my leading ladies and definitely Madhuri has a special corner in my heart.
Madhuri is one of the most talented actresses Bollywood has seen. Having seen her from her initial days, how do you rate her as an actress on a scale of 1 to 10?
As an actress, I think she is the finest I have seen. I cant rate her. She is simply superb. No doubt, Dimpleji is fabulous. Meenakshiji (Seshadri), Manishaji (Koirala) and Kajol are all outstanding. All these girls have their own mark. But what sets Madhuri apart is that she is a dancer actress.
Do you prefer Madhuri, the dancer or Madhuri, the actress?
I think she is a better actress because she is a lovely dancer (laughs).
She had taken a sabbatical from films and had moved to US for 4 years. Her fans sorely missed her during this period. Did you also feel the same way?
I prayed the hardest that she comes back (laughs).
What do you think of the current crop of actresses? Does anyone remind you of Madhuri?
I think they all have their own standing. Deepikaji (Padukone) has her own style. I dont want to comment on other girls and say that they lack something. They dont lack anything. But Madhuri is in a league of her own. These young girls have just walked in, give them time. I think they will also shine brighter. Lets not compare them to Madhuri yet. She is a legend who has been around for so many years.
After ruling the big screen for so long, she has moved to the small screen and was seen judging Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa. Do you think it was a step down for the actress?
Small screens have entered in a big way in everyones hearts (laughs). Today, big screens have very small shelf life. 3 din hote hi they want to recover their money, go home and start a new film. I think the charm of big screen is there. She has been doing Gulaabi Gang and Dedh Ishqiya. But today, television is ghar ghar ki kahani (laughs).
Coming to the personal space, have you interacted with her husband, Dr Nene?
Yeah.
Do you think he complements her perfectly?
Thats for her to decide. Whatever her choice is, it has to be good because she has to live her life with him. I dont know Mr Nene so closely. Whenever I interact with the couple, its Madhuri who obviously takes my attention more than Mr Nene. No offense to Mr Nene (laughs).
Finally, your son Tiger is a fabulous dancer. What does he have to say about Madhuri? Has he met her?
I dont know if they have met or not. But my son thinks she is one of the finest dancers. Whenever he sees her songs, he is like, ‘Dad, she is such a fantastic dancer. And its not just her feet and her hands but also her eyes. Likewise, Madhuri also talks a lot about my son. Even at the recent launch of her dance app, she was all praises for him. So Tiger and Madhuri have a mutual admiration club.
(Tune in to SpotboyE.com The Show on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 9 pm and Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 1 pm on 9XM)
