Madhuri Dixit has long been admired not just for her talent, but also for the grace with which she has handled the highs and lows of a life in the spotlight.
Recently, the Mrs Deshpande actress looked back on the early days of her career and spoke honestly about the criticism she faced over her appearance when she first entered the film industry in the mid-1980s. Those comments, she admitted, were difficult to deal with, especially at a time when she was still finding her footing.
In a conversation with Mashable India, Madhuri Dixit recalled how people around her were quick to offer unsolicited opinions about how she looked.
“A lot of people told me when I had just started do this, how is your nose, your this, your that. I used to go and say, ‘Mom, they’re saying this.’ And my mom would say, ‘Don’t worry about it. Once you have a successful movie, that’s the very thing they’ll love about you,” she shared.
Her mother’s calm reassurance became a source of strength, even when the doubts felt overwhelming.
At the time, it was hard for Madhuri Dixit to imagine that success would change perceptions so completely. However, everything shifted with the release of Tezaab. The film transformed her career overnight, and the criticism she once faced quietly disappeared. Reflecting on that change, she said, “After Tezaab, nobody said anything about being skinny or being this or that. People just accepted me for who I am.”
Those experiences shaped the advice she now gives younger actors. “Even today, I tell the new girls—Don’t try to be in a mould. Don’t say this is how a heroine should look. If you’re different, that’s a uniqueness you have. Play on that,” she added, encouraging authenticity over conformity.
Even decades into her career, Madhuri Dixit continues to challenge herself. Her recent role in the web series Mrs Deshpande, directed by Nagesh Kukunoor and streaming on JioHotstar, saw her step into the unsettling role of a serial killer.
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