It was in 1988 while walking down the markets one got to hear a chartbuster song number Ek Do Teen Char blaring in full volume from various music stores which used to sell film audio cassettes , it raised the curiosity to find out from which film is this from and which actress was it picturised on that had the nation swinging to its tune.
The film as I found out later was N Chandra’s Tezaab with Anil Kapoor the lead actor. This was the first time that one got to see Madhuri Dixit on screen. Little did one realise then this would be the beginning of the road to stardom for her and eventually becoming in the years ahead the Box-office queen and a superstar.
After the blockbuster success of Tezaab there was simply no stopping her . Madhuri had established herself as the numero uno actress with her dazzling performances and one hit after another followed – Ram Lakhan (1989) Parinda (1989), Ilaaka (1989), Tridev (1989), Thanedaar (1990) and Khalnayak (1993), Kishen Kanhaiya (1990), Prem Pratigyaa (1989), Saajan (1991) and Raja (1995).
Madhuri Magic was on a roll – Dil (1990), Beta (1992),Anjaam (1994), Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! (1994), and Dil To Pagal Hai (1997),Mrityudand (1997), Pukar (2000), Lajja (2001), Devdas (2002).
In her heydays , she was power house on screen with her magnetic presence, charming smile , dialogue delivery and add to that a fabulous dancer. If this was not an attribute of a superstar what was ? She simply lit up the screen with her dance moves and brought in sensuality and oomph when needed to scorch the screen. Who can ever forget the sensuous hot – Dhak Dhak Karne Laga from the 1992 Film Indra Kumar’s Beta or for that matter outclassing a much younger Aishwraya Rai in Dola Re Dola in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Devdas.
If this was not all she could dance to the western beat too – See her in Tamma Tamma Loge from the film Thanedaar ( 1990) with Sanjay Dutt. Both set the screen on fire. The gen next Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt tried to recreate the song in their film – Badrinath Ki Dulhania (2017) – named Tamma Tamma Again . But it was no where near to the original and popular chartbuster song featuring superstars- Sanjay Dutt and Madhuri Dixit.
Madhuri has had a phenomenal career and acted opposite all the big stars during that time. Madhuri teamed up Anil Kapoor in 18 films and later on went on to do several films with Sanjay Dutt. Both her pairing with Anil Kapoor and Sanjay Dutt were liked by the audience. In the 90’s these two pairings were the superstar pairs and every director wished to bring them on screen.
The superstar is now 53 and with films like Total Dhamaal (2019). and Kalank ( 2019) she has showed the eagerness to stage a comeback in Bollywood. All she now needs is a good script that suits her age and a director who can bring out the best in her. After all films – Tezaab , Beta, Devdas prove that she is director’s actress and a peerless one too .
