The dancing diva of Bollywood, Madhuri Dixit Nene celebrates her 49th birthday on May 15. The ‘dhak dhak’ girl has proved her mettle in industry and of course her fans love the versatility she has exhibited on-screen.
The actress with the ‘1000 watt smile’ has aged gracefully over the years, and we all know that she is a trained kathak dancer. But there is much more about her and on her birthday, let’s take a look at some lesser known facts about the ‘Mistress of Magical Moves’.
Born to Shankar and Snehlata Dixit on May 15, 1967, Madhuri wanted to be a microbiologist. But it was Bollywood calling for her.
She made her debut with Rajshri Productions’ ‘Abodh’ in 1984. However, the film did not do well at the box office, following which she
gave a series of flops including Awara Baap, Hifazat, Manav Hatya Mohre, Swati and Uttar Dakshin. She tasted success and became the
star only after ‘Dil’ opposite Aamir Khan.
It is said that Madhuri is only actress in Bollywood with the most Filmfare award nominations, with the total count – 13.
In 2008, she was honoured with the Padma Shri, while she was awarded the National Citizen’s Award on August 25, 2001.
Reportedly, Madhuri was romantically linked to Sanjay Dutt. According to a report on Daily.bhaskar.com, it is said that Sanjay’s TADA arrest was the reason for the couple’s split.
A report on IMDB.com states, Madhuri’s salary for Hum Aapke Hain Koun…! was reportedly Rs 27, 535, 729. And in the song ‘Kahe Chedd Mohe’, Madhuri Dixit’s costume weighed 30 kgs.
At the peak of her career, she married Dr. Shriram Madhav Nene, a Cardiovascular Surgeon and moved to Denver, Colorado.
Madhuri Dixit has two elder sisters, Rupa and Bharati, and an elder brother, Ajit.
In 2013, the dancing diva launched her own online dance academy called ‘Dance with Madhuri’, which is accessible to 172 countries.
Madhuri is Goodwill Ambassador Advocate for child and equal woman’s rights, along with a Goodwill Ambassador and a patron for Emeralds for Elephants – a charity project for the conservation of Asian Elephants and other endangered species.
Well-known painter MF Hussain was so smitten by Madhuri’s beauty that he watched ‘Hum Aapke Hain Kaun’ 67 times, and when she made her
comeback with ‘Aaja Nachle’, he booked an entire theatre.
Madhuri is only actress of her time to be choreographed by Kathak guru Pandit Birju Maharaj.