Madhuri Dixit Nene: Roles written for women these days are dynamic; she isn’t just a wife, girlfriend or malicious woman

Actor Madhuri Dixit Nene expresses delight over the kind of roles being penned for female actors in present time. She also talks about her nearly four decade long journey in the industry.

With a career spanning nearly four decades in the Indian film industry, actor Madhuri Dixit Nene feels it’s a good time for “women to be in films” as interesting female-oriented narratives are being penned and there is a wide acceptance of such films too.

Actor Madhuri Dixit Nene’s, who was last seen in the Bollywood film Kalank, is presently shooting for her Netflix series, which also marks her OTT debut.

“Times are changing and women are getting good roles. And these films, be it Badhaai Ho (2018) or Shakuntala Devi, have also done well. It’s a great time for women to be in movies as there are so many films that are being made around their stories,” she says.

The actor goes on to add that there “is a new sensibility” and the roles written for women these days are dynamic. “She’s not just a housewife, girlfriend, malicious woman… the characters are grey like we really are, similar to those we see in life and society. I think that’s great,” says the actor, whose last Bollywood project was Kalank (2019).

Indeed, for the actor, what matters the most is her work, which she loves unequivocally.

“What mattered is being in front of the camera, being able to emote and play various characters. Everything else that comes with it is baggage. I mean the glitz and glamour part of it. These things never interested or bothered me. I was just someone in a profession which happens to be acting. My mom encouraged me and gave the right feedback and said when you’re in the limelight people will both praise and criticise you, so don’t let the praise go into your head and the criticism ever disappoint you. Just be true to yourself and your work. That has been the principle of my life,” adds the actor, who is presently shooting for her debut web series. While she shot from home during the lockdown, it was only earlier this month that she stepped out to shoot.

“It’s wonderful to get back to work, but of course the set is a different place now. These are unprecedented times that call for unprecedented measures. We’re tested before we started shooting, the staff, directors, camera person… all wearing PPE outfits, masks and shields. We all are being very careful,” shares Dixit, who has also been doing her bit to help people in these trying times. Recently, her online dance academy Dance with Madhuri hosted a dance workshop for underprivileged children.

Talking of it, she says, “If we can extend support to others, then why not? These are the times when you realise that everybody needs to be responsible. Apart from wearing mask, following social distancing and proper santisation, we’ve to be there for each other in whatever way possible.”

Follow @htshowbiz for more

Author tweets @Shreya_MJ