Akshay Kumar:
Aarti Chabria:
"My favourite! I love her!"
"It was during the shoot of Swati. I remember seeing a sweet girl sitting at the corner of the sets with her mother all the time. I didn't know who she was. I was the hero of the film and my heroine was Meenakshi Sheshadri, who was a big star then. The girl was a reflection of perfect Indian beauty. I could see some kind of magic in her eye, but I didn't introduce myself. I only felt that she had the beauty of three great Indian heroines - Madhubala, Nargis and Vyjantimala. When I asked about her, I was told her name was Madhuri Dixit. She had the role of a tomboy in the film and was playing Meenakshi's stepsister.... Madhuri had an insignificant role but, while shooting, I found that her body, eyes and acting really synchronized well. It was unbelievable for me to see a first timer give such a brilliant performance. She rose from nowhere to become the biggest star of Indian cinema. No actor today can match her peak. One of my biggest regrets in life is never getting a chance to work opposite her or direct her. I hope to get a chance to do that in this lifetime. I think what set Madhuri apart from other heroines of her time was her sincerity. She has a million-dollar smile that resembles that of Madhubala and the actress Nimi. She manages to look sensuous in whatever she wears -- Indian or Western. She is also an amazing dancer. I can't think of any actress today managing to do what she did. I envy other heroes who got a chance to act with her. If Leonardo Da Vinci were alive today, he would have painted Madhuri instead of the Mona Lisa."
Amod Mehra:
"Madhuri Dixit was easily the last female superstar we had."
Amrita Rao:
"She was the most perfect face for the screen."
"Don ´t compare me with a legend like Madhuri!"
Anil Gupta:
"Celebrity I'd like to spend a day with? Madhuri Dixit! She has modern charm coupled with traditional loveliness. Her resemblance to Madhubala makes her an eternal beauty."
Aseem Bajaj:
"I was doing a film with Subhash Ghai when he suggested that Madhuri should act in it; she was his discovery. When I saw her at the shoot on the very first say I thought that she must have already done 15 or 20 films. Her level of work was always very high and I knew that some day she would become this huge superstar. I think she is a fantastic actress. She was always on time and would do her work properly. Madhuri was very jovial. She would fool around and crack jokes with the cast and crew. Her mom would sometimes come to the sets with her as well. Everyday was a fun day for us because we would enjoy ourselves so much. It was more like a picnic than work! I think Madhuri has improved with every film. She realizes her faults from her previous film and works on them for the next. She is a great student of acting."
Ashutosh Gowriker:
"I have watched all her films. Her face can speak a million words. She danced well too. She had sex appeal but never used it in. Her smile was her charm. "
Aswathy V. Nair:
"She is the finest dancer Indian cinema has produced. She is such a natural that she could have been a great classical dancer if she wanted to. Her innate grace, sense of rhythm and expressions... When Madhuri dances, we too become a part of her dance."
A.K. Hangal:
Baradwaj Rangan:
"Perhaps Madhuri knows now that she has nothing left to prove, and that she´s the last of the all-in-one female stars who could do drama and comedy and dance and also flash a smile that looked like a million bucks. You sense that confidence in her now - that almost regal imperiousness, born from the realisation that the instant she enters a scene, all eyes will turn to her - and she´s wonderful in this part where performer and person fuse into one."
Biddu:
"It was quite some time back. I met Sonu (Nigam) the first time at Holiday Inn in Mumbai. We were sitting at the restaurant and I saw an attractive girl wearing jeans and tattered T-shirt walk past. She was with an older man who could have been her dad. Just when she was leaving, Sonu told her 'I love your films'. She smiled and turned towards me and said, 'I love your music. I am a big fan.' I asked her, 'What's your name?' She replied, 'Madhuri.' 'What do you do?' I asked her. 'I act,' she said, '...in films.' After she left Sonu told me she was Madhuri Dixit. Madhuri Dixit! I felt like such an idiot!"
"The milestone in the career of any photographer today is a session with Madhuri Dixit. I had worked with a number of known names but, till I shot with Madhuri, I continued to question my existence. She was like a cult figure for me, someone unique and incomparable. My biggest joy was when she agreed to work with me. As happy as a child with a new toy, I reached the set. I was struck dumb when we came face-to-face. Absolutely awe-struck! She was quick to realise this and put me at ease. She's magic in front of the camera. A beautiful face with a million-dollar smile. She has a problem with her weight and the occasional zit. Her dressing has improved drastically of late. One of our best shoots was at one of Delhi's monuments. For security reasons, Madhuri had a whole lot of commandos following us around with arms. I felt like a king. Today Madhuri can take the risk of looking different, trying out experiments with photography. She will always be accepted and appreciated because she is simply incomparable."
Darshan Jariwala:
"The down-to-earth professional that Madhuri is, makes her a dream to work with."
Daya Shetty:
"Madhuri is an icon of our time; a great actress and a fantastic dancer."
Deepa Karmalkar:
"I worship Madhuri, I love the way she emotes while dancin. I haven´t missed a single fim dance of hers. But I like her best in Devdas, she says a million things wih her eyes in it. I am completely inspired by her."
Deepika Padokone:
"I have grown up watching Madhuri Dixit, she is like a legend to me and one of the finest our industry has seen."
"During Dil To Pagal Hai, I was shooting with Shah Rukh Khan, Madhuri Dixit and Karisma Kapoor. Karisma took a mirror and gave some final touches to her makeup. SRK asked Madhuri whether she too wanted a last glimpse. She told SRK, "My mirrors are here," and pointed to Mickey Contractor (make-up expert) and me. I was overwhelmed and quite shaken. Mickey told me to enjoy it because we would never get such a response again."
"She is so flexible, you can do what you like with her. She undergoes a metamorphosis in front of the camera."
"You know, there is something about Madhuri that is eternal. For one, there is a lot of peace in her eyes. In fact, I met her after Aaja Nachle and I found her looking even better than she did when she started the film. I don't know…maybe she was buoyed by the confidence of the fact that she could still face the camera and got such wonderful response from her co-stars, director and cameramen. Confidence gives you the most beautiful glow on your face, which I've seen in all artists. They all maybe good but the moment they taste the blood of success and adulation, that's when they begin to flower. And I found that in Madhuri right now."
"She looks like Michellangelo´s Madonna, serene face, large eyes, chisselled lipline and aristocratic expression. Somewhere along the line, she begins to enjoy her work, that´s what makes her different."
Geeta Basra:
"I am not starstruck otherwise, but I am a big fan of Madhuri's. I recently met her on her birthday and I actually touched her feet. That was the most memorable and wonderful moment of my life."
Geety Sahgal:
"If you mention Madhuri Dixit to someone who has never met her the question is always the same. Is she really so lovely? And the answer is 'yes'! Ever since the first time I met her on the sets of Tezaab when she shooting for the Ek do teen song, and now as a wife and mother, Madhuri was and will remain a stunner! Tell her that, and she laughs 'I don't think I am beautiful, I am simply photogenic'! The other was her taking pride in her Maharashtrian roots. Despite achieving a super star status Madhuri never hesitated to talk in her language, or hide her love for the simple fare of aloo poha or varun bhat! In fact her modesty, and her touch with reality always added to her charisma. Traits she unhesitatingly attributed to her family! With one of her parents always being present in her make-up room, her regular trips abroad to meet her siblings, and they dropping in for lunch when she was shooting in Mumbai had kept her grounded, she had laughed once. This was apparent even now when she made sure her children were around on the sets when she was recently shooting for Aaja Nachle, her comeback film. Indeed it is unbelievable that someone so beautiful could have this 'every person' quality."
Govinda:
"My favourite actress is Madhuri Dixit."
"Our Madhuriji is a great and charismatic artiste."
Hansika Motwali:
"She is someone I have always looked up to and she is easily the most talented and most beautiful actress in our industry."
Harneet Singh:
"Unforgettable: that's what Madhuri Dixit has come to stand for in the minds of anyone who loves the movies. And why not? After all, she was, for more than a decade, the closest thing Bollywood had to a female superstar, her popularity transcending class barriers and leaping over art and mainstream fences. Small beauty salons that dot the city where Madhuri became famous still have her posters in their windows."
Ishaa Koppikar:
"For me, Madhuri, Sridevi and Juhi were the only great modern day heroines. Of course, Nargisji and Madhubala were icons. Today, there is no actress as versatile as them."
"Obviously very professional lady. We had a very good rapport with each other.... She´s never ever made me realize that she´s such a big, huge star and I´m just kind of a newcomer in front of her. Neither has she ever made Saif (Ali Khan) realize that."
Aamir Khan:
"Madhuri is like a beautiful gift. She´s very talented, very hard-working, very good looking and very easy to work with."
"Madhuri is a wonderful co-star. I've really enjoyed working with her and if and when the opportunity comes up again, I'd love to repeat that."
"Fantastic actress, very beautiful."
Anil Kapoor:
"I was fortunate enough to come close to her through all my films. I wooed her and married her. I fell in love with her and she reciprocated...on celluloid at least. I think we made the best screen-pair."
"Madhuri Dixit is the best dancer of this country."
"Madhuri - you´re not a good actress. You´re not a good dancer and you´re definitely not a good human being. Because I feel that you are a fantastic actress. An outstanding dancer. And a fabulous human being. And that is from the bottom of my heart."
"Madhuri was very, very special. Fantastic actress, beautiful girl with a lovely smile, and most importantly very good person. We got professionally very close as we did about 14 films together, and that raised jealousy in many people, because everybody wanted to know her, everybody wanted to date her."
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan:
"I think we all are great fans of her acting and dancing. Even before I joined the industry I was a fan of hers and then for me to get a chance to work with her...it was a privilege. She´s a Goddess at it."
"I completely admire her. It was an honour for me working with her. "
Aarti Chabria:
"My favourite! I love her!"
Ajay Devgan:
"I wanted to work with Madhuri since I debuted in cinema, but never got the opportunity. She is perhaps the most complete actor hindi cinema has today. I always felt dwarfed while acting alongside her."
Aditi Sharma:
"I admire Kajol and Rani Mukherji. However, my inspiration comes from Madhuri Dixit."
Aftab Shivasdani:
"My favourite actress is Madhuri Dixit, nobody compares to her."
"I must say that I am a big fan of Madhuri Dixit. I love her smile and I think she has really gorgeous eyes."
"I am a big fan of Madhuri Dixit. She exudes charm and oomph with her smile and eyes. I would love to work with her in future."
Akbar Khan:
"It was during the shoot of Swati. I remember seeing a sweet girl sitting at the corner of the sets with her mother all the time. I didn't know who she was. I was the hero of the film and my heroine was Meenakshi Sheshadri, who was a big star then. The girl was a reflection of perfect Indian beauty. I could see some kind of magic in her eye, but I didn't introduce myself. I only felt that she had the beauty of three great Indian heroines - Madhubala, Nargis and Vyjantimala. When I asked about her, I was told her name was Madhuri Dixit. She had the role of a tomboy in the film and was playing Meenakshi's stepsister.... Madhuri had an insignificant role but, while shooting, I found that her body, eyes and acting really synchronized well. It was unbelievable for me to see a first timer give such a brilliant performance. She rose from nowhere to become the biggest star of Indian cinema. No actor today can match her peak. One of my biggest regrets in life is never getting a chance to work opposite her or direct her. I hope to get a chance to do that in this lifetime. I think what set Madhuri apart from other heroines of her time was her sincerity. She has a million-dollar smile that resembles that of Madhubala and the actress Nimi. She manages to look sensuous in whatever she wears -- Indian or Western. She is also an amazing dancer. I can't think of any actress today managing to do what she did. I envy other heroes who got a chance to act with her. If Leonardo Da Vinci were alive today, he would have painted Madhuri instead of the Mona Lisa."
Akshaye Khanna:
"She is wonderful. She is a treat. Just like you give chocolate to a child, for us actors it´s Madhuri Dixit. She is a delight to work with. It´s a pleasure to watch her onscreen. She is an actress, dancer and a performer. She is a very lovely person. She looks the same like what she looked like in Mohabbat. I cannot make out thedifference between her age in Hum Aapke Hain kaun and Aaja Nachle. I think she is the same. She has maintained herself so well that she is looking just as young. I think she is just the same and a very simple person. She is very down to earth and lovely to work with."
"I like Madhuri Dixit the most. Her style, her facial expression... bahut kamal ki actress hai, kamal ki actress hai."
Alka Yagnik:
"I have sung most songs for Madhuri and Juhi. But if I have to pick one, it will be Madhuri. She just adds so much expression, that I always felt that all the expressions I had put in song were justified. In fact she used to better it. I loved to see my songs enacted by her."
Alok Kumar:
"After watching her in Gaja Gamini, I´m completely shocked that an actress as graceful and talented as Madhuri Dixit could be mentioned in the same sentence as newer girls like Aishwarya Rai -- girls who are beautiful, no doubt, but have not one iota of the talent or charm of Madhuri. To say that Aishwarya has dethroned Madhuri is a joke in itself."
Amitabh Bachchan:
"It has been a great pleasure in having Madhuriji on the USA leg of the (Unforgettable) tour. She has been an icon in the Indian film industry and we´re very happy that she could be with us on this tour."
"It (shooting of a song with Madhuri for Bade Miyan Chhote Miyan) was simply fabulous. I always wanted to do a film with her, but unfortunately we never got chance to work together and even when offers came they never materialised, for one reason or another. After doing a dance number with her in Bade Mian Chhote Mian I am even more eager to work with her. She is a marvellous dancer and actress. I hope some producer will soon offer as a good film."
"While working with Madhuri in Chhote Miyan, first thought that crossed my mind was that I should have born 20 years later." Amod Mehra:
"Madhuri Dixit was easily the last female superstar we had."
Amrita Rao:
"She was the most perfect face for the screen."
"Don ´t compare me with a legend like Madhuri!"
Anil Gupta:
"Celebrity I'd like to spend a day with? Madhuri Dixit! She has modern charm coupled with traditional loveliness. Her resemblance to Madhubala makes her an eternal beauty."
Anil Mehta:
"What Madhuri brings... is her incredible, incredible sense of dancing. It is not a type of dancing that she can´t do.... Sometimes it is just a walk, sometimes just a gesture, sometimes just a look, but because her body is that one of a born dancer everyting she does is a musical theatre."
"She is an iconic figure of our times. For me she is a special performer. At the end of the day it was an enriching experience. She is a fantastic person to work with. When she started working, she worked with ease and grace. She is a very easy person to get along with. What started off as a huge task, just got simplified."
"When you see Madhuri dance, it can't be spoken of, it just connects. These things can't be articulated. I had to watch the footage of her dancing again and again in the post production stage. But I was never tired of watching her dance. She is a very very special performer. She is a trained Kathak dancer. Grace is a part of her."
"She was always doing everything with perfection, a quality you associate Madhuri with."
Ankita Lokhande:
"Madhuri is so cute. She is beautiful and a great actress."
Antara Mali:
"I have been this huge Madhuri fan for as long as I can remember. Honestly, name me one girl who doesn't want to be like Madhuri Dixit. She's pure magic on screen. She's the most perfect star. She ruled the industry for over a decade while many other actresses came and went. Her success story is remarkable."
"There is only one Madhuri Dixit and it is very hard to match up to her. Copying her looks, and dressing style was easy but there is a certain charm that she has, certain expressions, which are very Madhuri."
"She is so warm, you know. You see her on screen and there is so much of charisma. It's magical the way she smiles and moves. Even if you see her back move, there is something about it. There is some intangible energy about her. She is graceful and dignified. She never looks cheap or vulgar. She can do anything, yet look so pure. I have worked with people who know her as a person. They have great stories to tell about her. They would keep telling me stories, 'She is so great', 'She is so good', 'She does it so well' and 'She is an amazing person'."
Anuj Sachdev:
"Favorite Actress is Madhuri Dixit, she's not just a great actress but an awesome dancer too!"
Anupam Kher:
"Madhuri is a delightful person, a brilliant actor and effortless in her work. She is simple yet sharp as an actor. She is a very good co-actor."
Apra Mehta:
"On the first day on the sets (of Devdas), where we were shooting a Mujra scene, she was very sweet to me. I introduced myself to her and then she also introduced herself by saying "Hi, I'm Madhuri Dixit." I told her that there was no need to introduce herself as she was a famous star."
Archana Gupta:
"I like her because she is a great artiste and a nice person"
Aroona Irani:
"Madhuri looks so sweet even now. She has maintained her grace and my best wishes are always there with her. She is a very talented girl."
Aseem Bajaj:"Both she and Madhubala have the same enigma. The stars today have no dignity off screen and they are so available. This is a fantasy-land the stuff of dreams. You idolise your stars, you pretend to be like them. That's where the fun comes in. You can't bring out dirty linen in public and yet hope to remain a star. To me, Madhuri is the last number one heroine in the Hindi film industry and that comes from her iconic status."
Asha Parekh:
"With everything turning more Westernised, even the concept of glamour has undergone a vast change. But even now there are several heroines like Madhuri Dixit, Kajol and Rani Mukherjee who have their own indigenous glamorous style and are not merely copying the West."
Ashmit Patel:
"Madhuri Dixit with her classical Indian good looks, her politeness, charm and aura is very desirable."
Ashok Khanna:
"I was doing a film with Subhash Ghai when he suggested that Madhuri should act in it; she was his discovery. When I saw her at the shoot on the very first say I thought that she must have already done 15 or 20 films. Her level of work was always very high and I knew that some day she would become this huge superstar. I think she is a fantastic actress. She was always on time and would do her work properly. Madhuri was very jovial. She would fool around and crack jokes with the cast and crew. Her mom would sometimes come to the sets with her as well. Everyday was a fun day for us because we would enjoy ourselves so much. It was more like a picnic than work! I think Madhuri has improved with every film. She realizes her faults from her previous film and works on them for the next. She is a great student of acting."Ashok Kumar:
"Madhuri is the only complete actress that Indian cinema has produced in 100 years."
Ashok Mehta:
"She has the X-factor. It's not like I've done any magic on her to capture her beauty. Madhuri is a good actress who has achieved a lot because of her commitment and no ego."
Ashok Thakeria:
"The beauty of Madhuri is she can fit in any slot."
Ashutosh Gowriker:
"I have watched all her films. Her face can speak a million words. She danced well too. She had sex appeal but never used it in. Her smile was her charm. "
Aswathy V. Nair:
"She is the finest dancer Indian cinema has produced. She is such a natural that she could have been a great classical dancer if she wanted to. Her innate grace, sense of rhythm and expressions... When Madhuri dances, we too become a part of her dance."
"Last year, I accidently met Madhuri Dixit at Jaipur airport, when she was returning to Mumbai after shooting for Koyla, and I was returning after shooting for Zor. She, at once recognised me though we were meeting after nearly a decade, when we had worked together as father and daughter in Ilaaka. She took my bag from my hands, saying, " you are a senior citizen and should not carry this burden." What a noble gesture from a beautiful young girl who is a top filmstar today."
Baradwaj Rangan:
"Perhaps Madhuri knows now that she has nothing left to prove, and that she´s the last of the all-in-one female stars who could do drama and comedy and dance and also flash a smile that looked like a million bucks. You sense that confidence in her now - that almost regal imperiousness, born from the realisation that the instant she enters a scene, all eyes will turn to her - and she´s wonderful in this part where performer and person fuse into one."
Biddu:
"It was quite some time back. I met Sonu (Nigam) the first time at Holiday Inn in Mumbai. We were sitting at the restaurant and I saw an attractive girl wearing jeans and tattered T-shirt walk past. She was with an older man who could have been her dad. Just when she was leaving, Sonu told her 'I love your films'. She smiled and turned towards me and said, 'I love your music. I am a big fan.' I asked her, 'What's your name?' She replied, 'Madhuri.' 'What do you do?' I asked her. 'I act,' she said, '...in films.' After she left Sonu told me she was Madhuri Dixit. Madhuri Dixit! I felt like such an idiot!"
Binod Pradhan:
"I had shot Madhuri earlier, in Parinda. She was beautiful then, she is even more beautiful now."
Bipasha Basu:
"I think Madhuri Dixit is the ultimate symbol of sensuality."
Bharat Shah:
''Today Aishwarya is No. 1 because Madhuri is not doing films. Madhuri is by far the better actor."
Brij Mohan:
"Madhuri Dixit has bewitched the South Asian humanity with her beauty and grace. Men and women, young and old, and rich and poor all seemed to be hypnotized by this diva of erotic charm."
Chandan Arora:
''The name stands for so much-an industry icon, superb actress, brilliant dancer and charismatic personality. Nobody compares to Madhuri as yet.''
Chitrashi Rawat:
"I think Madhuri Dixit is the perfect actress: she is a fabulous dancer and she is so beautiful with a lovely smile. No one can take her place ."
Chunky Panday:
"Whatever step was shown to her it was piece of cake for her, it seemed she had done rehearsal one month before!!!"
"She looks great even at this age. I must say she has made Bollywood proud. I'm a great fan of hers.... She is as beautiful today as she was during the Tezaab days."
Cyrus Broacha:
"When we first heard that she was coming, different people reacted differently. Some started sweating profusely, some started screaming with joy, some broke into a prayer. I, of course, took a more seasoned and mature option. I started rolling on the floor, whilst simultaneously breaking into a song about numbers. Only Madhuri Dixit could have had this effect on our entire office."
Daboo Ratnani:"The milestone in the career of any photographer today is a session with Madhuri Dixit. I had worked with a number of known names but, till I shot with Madhuri, I continued to question my existence. She was like a cult figure for me, someone unique and incomparable. My biggest joy was when she agreed to work with me. As happy as a child with a new toy, I reached the set. I was struck dumb when we came face-to-face. Absolutely awe-struck! She was quick to realise this and put me at ease. She's magic in front of the camera. A beautiful face with a million-dollar smile. She has a problem with her weight and the occasional zit. Her dressing has improved drastically of late. One of our best shoots was at one of Delhi's monuments. For security reasons, Madhuri had a whole lot of commandos following us around with arms. I felt like a king. Today Madhuri can take the risk of looking different, trying out experiments with photography. She will always be accepted and appreciated because she is simply incomparable."
"The down-to-earth professional that Madhuri is, makes her a dream to work with."
Daya Shetty:
"Madhuri is an icon of our time; a great actress and a fantastic dancer."
Deepa Karmalkar:
"I worship Madhuri, I love the way she emotes while dancin. I haven´t missed a single fim dance of hers. But I like her best in Devdas, she says a million things wih her eyes in it. I am completely inspired by her."
Deepika Padokone:
"I have grown up watching Madhuri Dixit, she is like a legend to me and one of the finest our industry has seen."
Dharmendra:
"It's almost impossible to have another Madhuri. I am not God to predict but thinking to have someone as complete as her is beyond my imagination."
Dia Mirza:
"I'm an ardent admirer of this lady! Her smile says to hell with darkness, I bring light!"
Dilip Kumar:
"She´s such a good girl, so humble and well brought up, she deserves all the good things that hava happened to her."
"Madhuri reminds me of the beauty of Madhubala, Grace of Vaijantimalaa with the sensitivity of Nutan."
Dino Morea:
"One has to agree that Madhuri is magical. She is pure magic onscreen."
"I love Madhuri Dixit because there is something about her which is really amazing."
Divya Dutta:
"Every moment you watch her, you wanna watch her more and more and more, you just can´t have enough of her."
"Madhuri is so encouraging and concerned about people around her."
"It's shocking that inspite of being such a respected actress, she doesn't have any airs about her - she doesn't throw attitude at all. It's been like magic - I've always wanted to work with her."
Fardeen Khan:
"Madhuri Dixit is probably the most attractive face of Bollywood."
Feroz Khan:
"I had predicted back at the time of Dayavan making that one day this girl will be as good as, maybe even better, than Sridevi. And it's a prediction that has come true."
Frieda Pinto:
"Madhuri Dixit is the true symbol of versatility."
Fuad Omar:
"Critics argued that the film (Hum Aapke Hain Kaun) was too sweet and she left some with a diabetic syndrome, but the fact was that she mesmerised on screen and everyone's eyes were fixed on her throughout, following her unknowingly. Since her dramatic entry on roller-skates in the film, and as she sang and waltzed through the picture, handling professionally the most complicated and emotionally demanding role effortlessly, she had the entire audience enthralled and India captive to 'Madhuri Mania'. With her perfect lip-synching, an impeccable Urdu pronunciation (despite being of Maharashtrian origin) and her command of a galaxy of expressions as well as being pleasing to the eye, a shining star had seemingly been born out of a dwindling meteor. But then, given her enviable reservoir of talent, this was inevitable and she personifies the ultimate female Indian star."
Gautam Rajdhakshya:
"I saw her blooming into a flower from a blossom. A youngster, an actor, a mother ... I saw her living every roles because that is what she is, a quiet, straight forward, gentle and a benevolent girl. I never saw her getting tired in a shoot. Once Kajol saw her shooting for long hours and told me, she is like a perfect Hollywood Actress, a directors actress. She gives the director the shot he wants. She is a rare combination of beauty and immense talent. A perfect Hindi dilogue delivery voice, eyes and expressions as lucid as a mirror, a camera loving personality, dance and rhythm perfectly coordinated. And with such exceptional combination, she always stayed so simple at her heart. I never saw her with false pride or throwing star tantrums."
"When I asked M.F. Husain what he thought was so special about Madhuri (we were at the sets of Dil To Pagal Hai), he said to me, 'Just watch her, she's not noticing us, look at the way she sits, look at the way she reaches for a cup of tea, look at the way she flicks her hair…her body language, her feminity…the way she turns around, every bit of it is so Indian and feminine.' Also having seen the female sex for 90 years and for him to literally pick her out is a huge compliment.... So while it's not really fair to say that today's actresses are not talented or good-looking, the confluence of all that an artiste would need, we have not found in anyone since Madhuri."
"When I see her, I say 'Oh, my God, there's so much more to her'. It's not just that she is the best dancer or the fact that she is tremendously graceful or feminine but she has a fabulously expressive voice. She is so wonderfully mercurial in front of the camera."
"I have shot close to 2000 faces, Madhuri's is one of the best faces in my portfolio. She is like malleable clay. You just have to tell her what you want and she becomes that person. Temperament and talent made her the super star she was. I've had the opportunity to shoot her many times, from pre-Tezaab to pre-Aaja Nachle. There's never been another Madhuri Dixit."
"During Dil To Pagal Hai, I was shooting with Shah Rukh Khan, Madhuri Dixit and Karisma Kapoor. Karisma took a mirror and gave some final touches to her makeup. SRK asked Madhuri whether she too wanted a last glimpse. She told SRK, "My mirrors are here," and pointed to Mickey Contractor (make-up expert) and me. I was overwhelmed and quite shaken. Mickey told me to enjoy it because we would never get such a response again.""Madhuri has a supremely beautiful face, perfectly placed eyes, a wonderful mouth and small nose. Her body is proportionate, although not waif-like. She is a director's actor. I have put her in ice, made her sit on watermelons, made her go around in circles over a hundred times; without wincing, she has done it all. She has that quality about her."
"A great face, graceful, acting prowess and dancer. A consistent 10 year period at the top in an era when faces change every week. Ideal muse for directors, choreographers, photographers and even painters! A modern icon." "She is so flexible, you can do what you like with her. She undergoes a metamorphosis in front of the camera."
"You know, there is something about Madhuri that is eternal. For one, there is a lot of peace in her eyes. In fact, I met her after Aaja Nachle and I found her looking even better than she did when she started the film. I don't know…maybe she was buoyed by the confidence of the fact that she could still face the camera and got such wonderful response from her co-stars, director and cameramen. Confidence gives you the most beautiful glow on your face, which I've seen in all artists. They all maybe good but the moment they taste the blood of success and adulation, that's when they begin to flower. And I found that in Madhuri right now."
"She looks like Michellangelo´s Madonna, serene face, large eyes, chisselled lipline and aristocratic expression. Somewhere along the line, she begins to enjoy her work, that´s what makes her different."
Geeta Basra:
"I am not starstruck otherwise, but I am a big fan of Madhuri's. I recently met her on her birthday and I actually touched her feet. That was the most memorable and wonderful moment of my life."
Geety Sahgal:
"If you mention Madhuri Dixit to someone who has never met her the question is always the same. Is she really so lovely? And the answer is 'yes'! Ever since the first time I met her on the sets of Tezaab when she shooting for the Ek do teen song, and now as a wife and mother, Madhuri was and will remain a stunner! Tell her that, and she laughs 'I don't think I am beautiful, I am simply photogenic'! The other was her taking pride in her Maharashtrian roots. Despite achieving a super star status Madhuri never hesitated to talk in her language, or hide her love for the simple fare of aloo poha or varun bhat! In fact her modesty, and her touch with reality always added to her charisma. Traits she unhesitatingly attributed to her family! With one of her parents always being present in her make-up room, her regular trips abroad to meet her siblings, and they dropping in for lunch when she was shooting in Mumbai had kept her grounded, she had laughed once. This was apparent even now when she made sure her children were around on the sets when she was recently shooting for Aaja Nachle, her comeback film. Indeed it is unbelievable that someone so beautiful could have this 'every person' quality."
"My favourite actress is Madhuri Dixit."
"Our Madhuriji is a great and charismatic artiste."
Hansika Motwali:
"She is someone I have always looked up to and she is easily the most talented and most beautiful actress in our industry."
Harneet Singh:
"Unforgettable: that's what Madhuri Dixit has come to stand for in the minds of anyone who loves the movies. And why not? After all, she was, for more than a decade, the closest thing Bollywood had to a female superstar, her popularity transcending class barriers and leaping over art and mainstream fences. Small beauty salons that dot the city where Madhuri became famous still have her posters in their windows."
"Every film journalist who has met her has a favourite MD (Madhuri Dixit) story. MD stories are not about diva tantrums, eccentricity or mood swings. Instead everyone raves about her beauty. My favourite one is actually not my own but was told to me by a veteran film journalist who met Madhuri in the summer of 1997 on the sets of Dil To Pagal Hai. She was shooting the Arre Re Arre track and looked ethereal in white. Through his most memorable interview, he said, he didn't make eye contact with Madhuri. "I was scared," he said "that my gaze would stray."
Hema Malini:
"I like the way she dances. She has learnt Kathak, that´s what I hear. But basically with learning a little bit of Kathak or any form of classical dance it helps a lot in a film dancing. And we can see that in how beautifully she dances."
Himani Shivpuri:
"I first met her on the sets of Hum Aapke Hain Kaun and the moment she saw me she got up from her place. I was honored that she showed respect to me. During that time she was one of the top heroines of Bollywood but she never expressed it. She behaved as if she was a newcomer. Madhuri is very zabardast and a wonderful actress. I remember one incident that happened in filmistaan. I was going for my shoot and suddenly someone screamed 'Himaniji' on the top of their voice. The moment I turned around to check I felt someone's hand on my shoulders- it was Madhuri. After that we sat and chatted for a long time. This happened after her marriage. I mostly I get along with everybody but Madhuri will always be my all time favorite actress."
Himesh Reshamiya :
"Madhuri Dixit is a legend."
Iman Ali:
"It would be vain for me to say so, but they compare me with Madhuri in her time. For me that´s the ultimate compliment, because I´m a big fan of Madhuri´s. And in Pakistan they think Bollywood´s not have another star since Madhuri."
Imran Hashmi:
"The most beautiful actress have always been Madhuri."
Imran Khan:
"I think Madhuri Dixit is the best. She dances extremely well. I respect and like her a lot."
"Madhuri Dixit. I loved her in 'Dil' with Aamir mamu. You know, despite all those horrible frilly things that heroines in the 80s and 90s wore, they really could carry films on their own. Madhuri and Sridevi could get an opening (at the box-office) on the strength of their name. Today, the girls seem interchangeable. I don't know if it's the scripts or the audience." - Imran Khan to the question who is the most romantic Bollywood heroine.
Indra Kumar:
"I remember the first time I met Madhuri. Someone I know brought her to meet me. This is before I became a director and she a star. The first thing that struck me was her innocent, expressive face. She was just a child, and awfully thin. I actually recommended a diet for her so she could put on a bit of weight. I have no idea if she followed it, but she changed drastically soon after. That first meeting is still imprinted in my mind, particularly because I had no idea that the frail little girl would go on to become such a huge star. She was polite, quiet and very humble. I must be the only director lucky enough to have worked with her in three movies. I must say that she grew by leaps and bounds with of them. What is striking is that Madhuri, the person, remained the same throughout - always humble, friendly, sharing a good rapport with co-stars and the crew. She has been a fine actress to work with and, more importantly, a great friend. I just met her last month and we discussed a few ideas. I would love to make more films with her, if I get the right subject. Apart from wishing her a very happy birthday and best wishes, I would want to urge her to make a comeback quickly because this industry needs an actress of her calibre."
"She got 100% everywhere - in emotion, in anger, in comic,dance, whatever emotion you needed. That´s areason why she became such a big star."
"Jo Madhuri ke saath chemistry thi, woh kisi aur ke saath kahan? She's still my favourite. I've worked with Juhi Chawla, Kajol and Manisha Koirala. But the rapport that I shared with MD was missing with the others."
Indrajit:
"There's a tendency with the audience, specifically men, to lose interest in an actress after she gets married. But I believe that such stupendous talent like Madhuri's supercedes everything." Ishaa Koppikar:
"For me, Madhuri, Sridevi and Juhi were the only great modern day heroines. Of course, Nargisji and Madhubala were icons. Today, there is no actress as versatile as them."
Jackie Shroff:
"Comeback! What comeback are we talking about? She had never left the industry in the first place and continues to look as fresh as her Ram Lakhan days."
"Bollywood and Madhuri are synonymous with one another. You cannot talk about Bollywood without mentioning her. When she quit films and got married we lost our Kohinoor. I am absolutely mad about her, she´s got the most dazzling smile and her dance movements can give any actress a run for her money."
"People are only praising Karisma because it was Madhuri she was standing up to. It was like if anyone gave a good shot in front of Dilip Kumar people used to clap "Wow! What a performance!"
"Madhuri Dixit is the true energy of Indian films. She is the symbol of purity, divinity and sensuality. Unlike contemporary actresses Madhuri does not need to wear a one-inch skirt or a small top - her eyes and smile are enough incentive for a man to be fascinated."
"Madhuri is a celestial beauty. And it has always been a divine experience working with her. In fact, I haven't liked any other heroine after that. Hers is a void that can not be filled. As a person she's extremely grounded. In fact, she's almost a reflection of me as she treated everybody - be it a spotboy or producer - with respect. You know what I really loved about her was that she always had a very bashful look! She'd never look fully into my eyes and I loved that! It made her seem so feminine and honestly, that trait in a woman makes any man feel great."
"She never made anything look vulgar. She had that smile, which was pure, which was serene, which was absolutely divine."
"Madhuri-ji is a legend and will always remain a legend."
Jahan Bloch:
"I have always idolised Madhuri Dixit Nene. She is brilliant on screen."
Jaideep Sahni:
"She is a great artiste who is able to tap an unknown vibe from the atmosphere through antenna that nobody sees and bring them into the performance and create a kind of a subtext which raises every scene to a level much higher than what the conceiver had imagined."
"There's nobody like Madhuri."
Jaideep Sen:
"It is unfortunate that no actress in the present league is as good as dancing queens of yesterday like Madhuri or Sridevi. We have a serious dearth of quality dancing actresses now."
Javed Akhtar:
"I just love Madhuri."
Jitesh Pillaii:
"The camera merely rolls when other actresses emote. But when Madhuri Dixit gets into the act, the camera seems to stop dead in its tracks, watching her like an incorrigible voyeur. Time and again, she has worked with directors who can't equip her with the depth or contact that she's so capable of. Time and again, she has been crackerjack and the film a crashing bore. Obviously she hopscotches over the handicaps. What a Shyam Benegal, a Mani Ratnam or a Shekhar Kapur might do with her is a tantalising prospect. "
"Every time the barb or accusation hurt her she became more calm, no flicker of anger, the eyes would betray no trace of pain. Emotions were only meant for camera of the confinement of her three bedroom apartment in Juhu."
John Abraham:
"The only Indian heroine I like, really like, is Madhuri Dixit. And I think she´s gorgeous."
Juhi Chawla:
"No matter how hard I worked, Madhuri was always ahead of me."
JH Thakker:
"Madhubala was fairer, Madhuri´s duskier. But her eyes are as expressive and her smile is equally electric. However, I´d say Madhuri is more independent. She know her mind and gets her way."
Karan Johar:
"What do I say about the most beautiful woman ever? What do I say about the most magnificent smile ever? What do I say about the most fantastic actress ever? Whatever I say won´t be enough. All I am gonna say is: they don´t make them like her anymore."
"It is something you cannot help. You find yourself stupidly smiling every time Madhuri smiles. And that´s the kind of impact she has."
"Post Madhuri Dixit, I don't think there's been any queen bee. The crown lies, without the queen."
"Dancing is a blend of two thing, in cinema specifically it´s about your footwork - legworkof course and it´s about your face work. And Madhuri excells in both. And that´s a rare combination. She just adds so much expression - dance is expression - and her expression is just fantastic. And I think that is just Madhuri Dixit and nobody, I repeat nobody, on Indian cinema can move, dance and express in a song the way Madhuri Dixit does." "In the '90s, any sari worn by Madhuri Dixit would instantly spawn a million copies.Young girls shopping on Mumbai's Linking Road or in Delhi's Karol Bagh wouldn't hesitate to ask for the Hum Aapke Hain Kaun sari."
"Madhuri's someone I've known for years now, ever since Dil To Pagal Hai when I worked with Yashji. She just has to smile and that makes your moment that day... I feel really sad that I couldn't ever work with her. She was on her last couple of years when I started. I interacted with her on Dil To Pagal Hai and feel special because I did. I'm dying to work with her and Sridevi. They really were the last of the empresses. Everyone else now are buddies - we're on back-slapping terms. That whole euphoria, aura, status…"
Karisma Kapoor:
"You should see us on the sets. We're laughing all the time. It's like going on a picnic. Madhuri is a wonderful person. She is absolutely hassle free."
"It was a great pleasure to work with Madhuriji. I have been a big fan of hers. She was so down to earth and hassle-free in the film we did together. Our work ethic is the same - dedicated and focused, so it was very easy to get along with her. Even my Dad is extremely fond of her. "
Katrina Kaif:
"I find Madhuri Dixit a complete package. She is talented and very good looking. She is blessed with everything. "
"I look up to Madhuri for inspiration."
"I love Bollywood actresses very much. I grew up watching Madhuri Dixit, Juhi Chawla, Tabu, Karisma Kapoor and I admire them a lot."
"I am a fan of Madhuri Dixit. Her every dance, every expression, every movement, to me, is very aspirational ; especially expressions, which is very essential for an actor, where one can only try, try and try to get the perfect take. I don't think there's anybody like her. She is the most beautiful actress ever to come on screen. "
Koel Purie:
"At the tender age of 16 Madhuri started work in the film industry, which back then wasn't even an industry and was a nasty old place for a good little girl. She diligently worked cruel hours in brutal conditions without complain, never behaving like a diva, always grateful for the adulation. She knew no life outside of films and her family. She'd never enjoyed the ordinary pleasures of walking the streets or being a teenager or having a relationship or going on a shopping spree or getting tipsy at a party. All she had was the spell she cast over her gazillion fans."
Konkona Sen Sharma:
"I really really admire her. She´s beautiful, she dances amazing, she´s a brilliant actress. And she´s a great person. Like what else?"
"Sharing acting space with Madhuri didn't make me that nervous. I knew I could manage to hold my own in that department. But one has to be totally crazy to even attempt to match dance steps with Madhuri. I thought I'd faint when I had to dance with her."
"Madhuri Dixit is amazing! We had such a ball. We hung around together even when we weren't shooting. Madhuri is such a big star. But she's so chilled. So fun loving and totally unaffected."
"When you are on the sets working with Madhuri Dixit, you tend to forget that she is 'The Madhuri Dixit' because she is so normal. Honestly speaking, she is unassuming, very friendly, very considerate. There was a time when my knees were hurting and she came forward like any other friend and offered her help. Yes, it was special to be working with her because I never thought that my wish to work with her would come true one day. Madhuri shares screen space with not only me but all of us, whether it's Kunal, Ranvir, Vinay Pathak or Raghuveer Yadav. Sharing screen space with Madhuri is just so unbelievable. She is right in front of you and you tend to go speechless when she delivers her lines. She is an inspiration to watch."
Kunal Kapoor:
"To be in the same frame with her is really nice but to dance with her is a little embarrasing, because she´s exceptional. There can never be another Madhuri Dixit and nobody comes close to her."
"I've worked with a lot of actors whose fans I am. But Madhuri was extra-special. I told her I've seen Hum Aapke Hain Koun as many times as M.F Husain saab. It took me a while to realize she was a normal human being. For a while I'd be shocked when she would get sweaty while working. How can Madhuri Dixit feel the heat? She's too normal."
"Madhuri Dixit - the word weaves the magic."
Lakshmi Gopalaswamy:
"She's looking ravishing and is a great actress."
Leena Yadav:
"Each time she walked onto the set ready to give a shot, everyone just sighed! There was something so warm and friendly about her, layered with this distinct veneer of professionalism. She commanded a lot of respect."
Madhavan:
"I wish I had romanced someone like Nargis or Madhuri Dixit. There are lots of actresses who are women of substance, but I have this attraction for Madhubala. I think they have the ability to make a common man want to protect them."
Madhoo:
"Madhuri has always been my favourite because in my opinion she is the best. I always thought that the dancer that she is, the face that she is, the smile that she is.... She is just too good."
Madhu Sampre:
"Besides being well educated and a graceful dancer she is the only actress who is not hungry for publicity. Till now, in her interviews she never made a single stupid statement. She's very self-controlled."
Mahendra Soni:
"Madhuri is a very dedicated and co-operative artiste. She doesn´t fuss about anything."
Mahesh Bhatt:
"On Indian face an Indian mystique, but with extraordinary depth. She had the depth that none of us could explore. The filmmakers were limited, she was not. She was inexhaustible."
Malaika Arora Khan:
"My sister Amrita was a Sridevi fan, I idolised Madhuri. I've loved all her dances, from Dhak dhak to Choli ke peechey kya hai but the Tezaab chartbuster, Ek do teen and Hum ko aaj kal hai intezaar from Sailaab are my all time favourites. I've grown up trying to dance like Madhuri, talk like her and flash a smile that was as beautiful and warm."
Mallika Sherawat:
"I think how long an actress last is a very individual thing. It's about good planning. A lot of
people become insecure and sign films in a hurry and they have a lot of bad film which ultimately affect their careers.But see Madhuri or Juhi Chawla. They have lasted long because they have planned their careers well".
"It's so unfair to compare me with Madhuri. She is a legend, an expert. I am just someone who enjoys dancing."
Mamta Kulkarni:
"I'm pretty friendly to both Madhuri and Ash. And I think they are very good human beings ."
Manish Mahaldar:
"I think she has not lost out on all that energy and excitement that she used to have on the film sets. She is still the same, some stars always remain stars. They never change."
Manish Malhotra:
"I think Dil To Pagal Hai look really worked for her. No heavy jewelery, nothing. She is so beautiful that she doesn´t need it."
"Madhuri is simply fantastic. Her million dollar smile adds to her radiant personality. I think she's so beautiful that you don't need to do too much on the oufits, but keep them clean."
Manisha Koirala:
"Initially, I was a bit wary. Thanks to some of my earlier brash statements. But once she thawed, she was lovely. Oof, she's gorgeous. And I'm convinced she's an uncomplicated person. What you see is what you get. It took me ten years to realise that though. Know what? She even helped me out with my dance steps during the rehearsals for Lajja. I'm her biggest fan today."
Manjari Phandis:
"Madhuri Dixit is my greatest inspiration. I call her my guru. She´s the most complete actress we´ve had. Be it her performance, dance, grace, voice and her mesmerizing smile."
Masumeh Makhjita:
"I think that Madhuri Dixit, Mother Theressa and Indira Gandhi have really influenced all of us, so on the eve of Woman's day I wish all women from all field a very Happy Woman's Day."
"Madhuri Dixit is the only reason Why I am an actress today!"
Micky Contractor:
"If there are two faces, I would say, can be called as real Indian beauties then I would choose Aishwarya and Madhuri from this generation. With Aishwarya one sees immense natural beauty but Madhuri is something different. Madhuri's face is the same in real life and reel life and the reason she is "naturally" beautiful is because she is a very beautiful person as well. When she called me her mirror during the shooting of DTPH, I got the highest compliment of my life. I would never even dream of such HUGE star praising me. And only Madhuri does it because she is "beautiful"... and not only in her face... but in her heart as well."
Milind Gunaji:
"At the stroke of the morning hours, when all the crew members were tired, weary and were still in their sleeps, Madhuri was the only one who used to get up early and rehearse for her Mujras.... she used to practice each and every step so perfectly as is Pandit Birju Maharaj ji has just now taught her and went.... and more importantly, the tiredness of the last day´s shoot till late nights was never seen on her face."
"I was always a Madhuri Dixit fan. But after doing Devdas, I became her devotee. We used to shoot late at nights as almost all of Madhuri's songs in Devdas are in night. I used to see how engrossed Madhuri used to be while rehearsing the steps. We used to have food together. Me, Madhuri, Madhuri's mom and some people from crew. Even Shah Rukh sometimes. But then at the stroke of the morning hours of about 4.30 am, I again used to see MD, very fresh, calm and engrossed in her rehearsals... This shows her professionalism, her dedication to her work. Otherwise I have seen actors being extremely late on shoots or giving it a complete skip. Working with Madhuri was like a morale boast. If a superstar can work so hard, then why can't people like us?"
Milon Mukherjee:
"I would like to date her in a shikara. I can float in a shikara in my dreams, because in reality I am not getting her!"
Minisha Lamba:
"She's the entire package. You couldn't segregate her as an actress or a fine looker or a dancer. There was a charisma about her. She was the representative of the quintessential Indian woman in the post Nargis and Madhubala years."
Mithun Chakraborty:
"Madhuri Dixit is such a devoted actress and dancer that hardly anyone in India has come to her level."
"According to me - what a legend!"
Mumaith Khan:
"I simply adore few personalities and they have left a lasting impression on me. I simply love Madhuri Dixit - her dance style is mind-blowing."
M.F. Hussain:
"She is a complete actress. There were some like Nargis who were known for their performance, Madhubala for her beauty and Vyajayanthimala for her dancing, but Madhuri is 'all-in-one.' She is complete. A phenomenon. Ashok Kumar once said that she is one 'complete' actress that India has produced in 100 years. I totally agree with him. There is just one thing Madhuri lacks: a single memorable hit that can be remembered in future. The people who handled her work were wrong. She came from a middle class background and, therefore, the agents she had were not good. She went to the commercial industry, into the hands of the wrong people. She is talented and a dedicated professional, but she still doesn't have memorable roles like Nargis did. As we didn't have even one creative director then, she had to do all the commercial dance movies. And I arrived too late in the industry... We do not have any great creative directors here who can exploit her talent. We had Satyajit Ray in Bengal and Adoor Gopalakrishnan in the south. The only good director in Bollywood is Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Therefore, though she had a successful career, she doesn't have that one movie which will remind us of her exceptional work. I first met her in 1995, on my 88th birthday. She was in Boston giving a live performance. Due to her popularity, there were 40,000 people just to catch a glimpse of her. Even people on wheelchairs were there. The audience whistled during her dance. She was a craze. When I met her, she told me we could cut my birthday cake in her room. I told her she was in the wrong hands, only doing commercial movies and that I would like to do a lot of things for her, to which she replied: 'Aap bahut der se mile' (I met you pretty late). She was very humble, down to earth and would treat everyone equally. She had no airs. I once saw her meeting some of her fans, and being very friendly with them. I told her she shouldn't be so close to so many people as one never knew what intentions they had. She replied that she was where she was because of her fans. Now she is married and a mother, and doing justice to that role as well. After her first child, I had stayed at her home in America. She is a good wife. She takes care of every detail in the house. She takes care of her child on her own and doesn't have a nanny. And, she is a good host. When her husband asked me if I would like to go sightseeing, I told him there was no need to go out when there was such a nice movie at home - Madhuri playing the role of housewife and mother. It was a perfect picture. I feel Madhuri should make a comeback again. And I strongly feel people will appreciate it."
"She wasn't a typical Bollywood girl even at the height of her popularity. Often, I remember a small scene from Hum Aapke Hain Koun... it is shot by moonlight created in a studio. The way she performs, her total surrender to the camera is what beautiful heroines are about. "
"I dreamed of making a film when I was 15 years old. Then I waited 60 years till Madhuri was born, and it took another 25 years to make a film. I see Madhuri as the essence of Indian womanhood. My paintings were incomplete until I made Gajagamini. With Gajagamini, my paintings became complete."
"Nothing can dim my obsession for Madhuri Dixit. No one has surpassed her grace, her skills, her pure Indianness. "
"It's not that she's the only one in the whole world. But particularly for the big screen, in acting and how she used to play her roles - there, she was the master… a great artist. Certain actresses specialise in different things: tragedy, comedy and so on. But she was a complete actress. In that way, I think Indian cinema has not seen such a complete actress in 100 years."
"Madhuri is the most complete woman, the greatest star we have ever produced, the most amazing replica of Indian womanhood. The moment I saw her, I knew that Gajagamini had to be made. With her in the main role. She is beautiful, of course. But she is an actress of the kind we have never seen. It is her body language that is at the core of her art. Not just her jhatkas, her dhak dhaks. She is wonderful at that too but what I am talking about is much, much more. She has a sensuality that will redefine womanhood forever. Remember that song, Didi tera devar diwana? Remember how she bends down and takes those five steps backwards and bursts into song. I have never seen anything quite like this. It is outrageously sexy and yet almost spiritual in its impact. That is why I begin the film with her breaking out of a canvas of mine and becoming real. The real Indian woman."
"No one compares to her. I have painted Madhuri countless times but I've never shown her full face. I first met Madhuri in 1993 at a film award function. I was sitting between Jaya Bachchan and Parmeshwar Godrej when I was called on stage to present the Best Actress Award. I opened the envelope, I paused because I hadn't seen any of the winner's films, I had closed my ears to her song Ek Do Teen which was blaring from loudspeakers all over the country. I took a deep breath and announced: "The award goes to Madhuri Dixit." I was disappointed because I was quite fixated on Sridevi those days. Then I saw Hum Aapke Hain Koun!, I was converted. I saw the film over 70 times for her dances. She would take five steps back wards and shake her dynamite hips. Since I have never known my mother, I see her also as my Ma..dhuri. A sensible book should be written on Madhuri, her performances have been extraordinary but no critic has done her justice. If no one else writes the book, I will."
Kajol:
"She´s phenomenal in everything she does."
"Madhuri is a flawless actress. She is a director's actress. She can become exactly what the director wants. Take two films of her, Nana Patekar's Prahaar and Subhash Ghai's khalnayak. Can you see any similarity between the simple Madhuri of Prahaar with the Madhuri of Khalnayak? No you can't? Because the two directors had different demands. So Madhuri had become two completely different Madhuri. But again she has so much power that the directors are compelled to think about her. I am saying this from my own feeling. The first thing that amazes me is her beauty. Her body and her look is like a Greek goddess. I have rarely seen such expressions of eye. She can portray so many things by only her expressions! So many colours, sadness, so many questions, love play in those expressions. I will say with only such expressions an actress can bewilder so many audiences in the dark room. But her amazingly versatile expressions have not been used properly yet. Her many talents have not been used yet. Her another big asset is her dancing ability. Madhuri has superb power to change herself. Take six photographs from six Madhuri film, you will see six different Madhuri! You won't find any similarity among them, so much versatile she is! But then again, if you notice deeply, you will see the similarity because the face is the same only different shade is moving over them. It is an envying power. It will depend on the ability of the director how much he/she can use her versatility. Look at her face, like me you will also think God has not created a more beautiful face. It is so beautiful that I cannot think her in any vamp role. I would like to say finally that how much the actor Kajol tries to critic her beauty and talent, the viewer Kajol is obsessed with Madhuri mania."
"She´s phenomenal in everything she does."
"Madhuri is a flawless actress. She is a director's actress. She can become exactly what the director wants. Take two films of her, Nana Patekar's Prahaar and Subhash Ghai's khalnayak. Can you see any similarity between the simple Madhuri of Prahaar with the Madhuri of Khalnayak? No you can't? Because the two directors had different demands. So Madhuri had become two completely different Madhuri. But again she has so much power that the directors are compelled to think about her. I am saying this from my own feeling. The first thing that amazes me is her beauty. Her body and her look is like a Greek goddess. I have rarely seen such expressions of eye. She can portray so many things by only her expressions! So many colours, sadness, so many questions, love play in those expressions. I will say with only such expressions an actress can bewilder so many audiences in the dark room. But her amazingly versatile expressions have not been used properly yet. Her many talents have not been used yet. Her another big asset is her dancing ability. Madhuri has superb power to change herself. Take six photographs from six Madhuri film, you will see six different Madhuri! You won't find any similarity among them, so much versatile she is! But then again, if you notice deeply, you will see the similarity because the face is the same only different shade is moving over them. It is an envying power. It will depend on the ability of the director how much he/she can use her versatility. Look at her face, like me you will also think God has not created a more beautiful face. It is so beautiful that I cannot think her in any vamp role. I would like to say finally that how much the actor Kajol tries to critic her beauty and talent, the viewer Kajol is obsessed with Madhuri mania."
Karan Johar:"What do I say about the most beautiful woman ever? What do I say about the most magnificent smile ever? What do I say about the most fantastic actress ever? Whatever I say won´t be enough. All I am gonna say is: they don´t make them like her anymore."
"It is something you cannot help. You find yourself stupidly smiling every time Madhuri smiles. And that´s the kind of impact she has."
"Post Madhuri Dixit, I don't think there's been any queen bee. The crown lies, without the queen."
"Dancing is a blend of two thing, in cinema specifically it´s about your footwork - legworkof course and it´s about your face work. And Madhuri excells in both. And that´s a rare combination. She just adds so much expression - dance is expression - and her expression is just fantastic. And I think that is just Madhuri Dixit and nobody, I repeat nobody, on Indian cinema can move, dance and express in a song the way Madhuri Dixit does." "In the '90s, any sari worn by Madhuri Dixit would instantly spawn a million copies.Young girls shopping on Mumbai's Linking Road or in Delhi's Karol Bagh wouldn't hesitate to ask for the Hum Aapke Hain Kaun sari."
"Madhuri's someone I've known for years now, ever since Dil To Pagal Hai when I worked with Yashji. She just has to smile and that makes your moment that day... I feel really sad that I couldn't ever work with her. She was on her last couple of years when I started. I interacted with her on Dil To Pagal Hai and feel special because I did. I'm dying to work with her and Sridevi. They really were the last of the empresses. Everyone else now are buddies - we're on back-slapping terms. That whole euphoria, aura, status…"
Karisma Kapoor:
"You should see us on the sets. We're laughing all the time. It's like going on a picnic. Madhuri is a wonderful person. She is absolutely hassle free."
"It was a great pleasure to work with Madhuriji. I have been a big fan of hers. She was so down to earth and hassle-free in the film we did together. Our work ethic is the same - dedicated and focused, so it was very easy to get along with her. Even my Dad is extremely fond of her. "
Katrina Kaif:
"I find Madhuri Dixit a complete package. She is talented and very good looking. She is blessed with everything. "
"I look up to Madhuri for inspiration."
"I love Bollywood actresses very much. I grew up watching Madhuri Dixit, Juhi Chawla, Tabu, Karisma Kapoor and I admire them a lot."
"I am a fan of Madhuri Dixit. Her every dance, every expression, every movement, to me, is very aspirational ; especially expressions, which is very essential for an actor, where one can only try, try and try to get the perfect take. I don't think there's anybody like her. She is the most beautiful actress ever to come on screen. "
Koel Purie:
"At the tender age of 16 Madhuri started work in the film industry, which back then wasn't even an industry and was a nasty old place for a good little girl. She diligently worked cruel hours in brutal conditions without complain, never behaving like a diva, always grateful for the adulation. She knew no life outside of films and her family. She'd never enjoyed the ordinary pleasures of walking the streets or being a teenager or having a relationship or going on a shopping spree or getting tipsy at a party. All she had was the spell she cast over her gazillion fans."
Konkona Sen Sharma:
"I really really admire her. She´s beautiful, she dances amazing, she´s a brilliant actress. And she´s a great person. Like what else?"
"Sharing acting space with Madhuri didn't make me that nervous. I knew I could manage to hold my own in that department. But one has to be totally crazy to even attempt to match dance steps with Madhuri. I thought I'd faint when I had to dance with her."
"Madhuri Dixit is amazing! We had such a ball. We hung around together even when we weren't shooting. Madhuri is such a big star. But she's so chilled. So fun loving and totally unaffected."
"When you are on the sets working with Madhuri Dixit, you tend to forget that she is 'The Madhuri Dixit' because she is so normal. Honestly speaking, she is unassuming, very friendly, very considerate. There was a time when my knees were hurting and she came forward like any other friend and offered her help. Yes, it was special to be working with her because I never thought that my wish to work with her would come true one day. Madhuri shares screen space with not only me but all of us, whether it's Kunal, Ranvir, Vinay Pathak or Raghuveer Yadav. Sharing screen space with Madhuri is just so unbelievable. She is right in front of you and you tend to go speechless when she delivers her lines. She is an inspiration to watch."
Kunal Kapoor:
"To be in the same frame with her is really nice but to dance with her is a little embarrasing, because she´s exceptional. There can never be another Madhuri Dixit and nobody comes close to her."
"I've worked with a lot of actors whose fans I am. But Madhuri was extra-special. I told her I've seen Hum Aapke Hain Koun as many times as M.F Husain saab. It took me a while to realize she was a normal human being. For a while I'd be shocked when she would get sweaty while working. How can Madhuri Dixit feel the heat? She's too normal."
"Madhuri Dixit - the word weaves the magic."
Lakshmi Gopalaswamy:
"She's looking ravishing and is a great actress."
Leena Yadav:
"Each time she walked onto the set ready to give a shot, everyone just sighed! There was something so warm and friendly about her, layered with this distinct veneer of professionalism. She commanded a lot of respect."
Madhavan:
"I wish I had romanced someone like Nargis or Madhuri Dixit. There are lots of actresses who are women of substance, but I have this attraction for Madhubala. I think they have the ability to make a common man want to protect them."
Madhoo:
"Madhuri has always been my favourite because in my opinion she is the best. I always thought that the dancer that she is, the face that she is, the smile that she is.... She is just too good."
Madhu Sampre:
"Besides being well educated and a graceful dancer she is the only actress who is not hungry for publicity. Till now, in her interviews she never made a single stupid statement. She's very self-controlled."
Mahendra Soni:
"Madhuri is a very dedicated and co-operative artiste. She doesn´t fuss about anything."
Mahesh Bhatt:
"On Indian face an Indian mystique, but with extraordinary depth. She had the depth that none of us could explore. The filmmakers were limited, she was not. She was inexhaustible."
Malaika Arora Khan:
"My sister Amrita was a Sridevi fan, I idolised Madhuri. I've loved all her dances, from Dhak dhak to Choli ke peechey kya hai but the Tezaab chartbuster, Ek do teen and Hum ko aaj kal hai intezaar from Sailaab are my all time favourites. I've grown up trying to dance like Madhuri, talk like her and flash a smile that was as beautiful and warm."
Mallika Sherawat:
"I think how long an actress last is a very individual thing. It's about good planning. A lot of
people become insecure and sign films in a hurry and they have a lot of bad film which ultimately affect their careers.But see Madhuri or Juhi Chawla. They have lasted long because they have planned their careers well".
"It's so unfair to compare me with Madhuri. She is a legend, an expert. I am just someone who enjoys dancing."
Mamta Kulkarni:
"I'm pretty friendly to both Madhuri and Ash. And I think they are very good human beings ."
Manish Mahaldar:
"I think she has not lost out on all that energy and excitement that she used to have on the film sets. She is still the same, some stars always remain stars. They never change."
Manish Malhotra:
"I think Dil To Pagal Hai look really worked for her. No heavy jewelery, nothing. She is so beautiful that she doesn´t need it."
"Madhuri is simply fantastic. Her million dollar smile adds to her radiant personality. I think she's so beautiful that you don't need to do too much on the oufits, but keep them clean."
Manisha Koirala:
"Initially, I was a bit wary. Thanks to some of my earlier brash statements. But once she thawed, she was lovely. Oof, she's gorgeous. And I'm convinced she's an uncomplicated person. What you see is what you get. It took me ten years to realise that though. Know what? She even helped me out with my dance steps during the rehearsals for Lajja. I'm her biggest fan today."
Manjari Phandis:
"Madhuri Dixit is my greatest inspiration. I call her my guru. She´s the most complete actress we´ve had. Be it her performance, dance, grace, voice and her mesmerizing smile."
Masumeh Makhjita:
"I think that Madhuri Dixit, Mother Theressa and Indira Gandhi have really influenced all of us, so on the eve of Woman's day I wish all women from all field a very Happy Woman's Day."
"Madhuri Dixit is the only reason Why I am an actress today!"
Micky Contractor:
"If there are two faces, I would say, can be called as real Indian beauties then I would choose Aishwarya and Madhuri from this generation. With Aishwarya one sees immense natural beauty but Madhuri is something different. Madhuri's face is the same in real life and reel life and the reason she is "naturally" beautiful is because she is a very beautiful person as well. When she called me her mirror during the shooting of DTPH, I got the highest compliment of my life. I would never even dream of such HUGE star praising me. And only Madhuri does it because she is "beautiful"... and not only in her face... but in her heart as well."
Milind Gunaji:
"At the stroke of the morning hours, when all the crew members were tired, weary and were still in their sleeps, Madhuri was the only one who used to get up early and rehearse for her Mujras.... she used to practice each and every step so perfectly as is Pandit Birju Maharaj ji has just now taught her and went.... and more importantly, the tiredness of the last day´s shoot till late nights was never seen on her face."
"I was always a Madhuri Dixit fan. But after doing Devdas, I became her devotee. We used to shoot late at nights as almost all of Madhuri's songs in Devdas are in night. I used to see how engrossed Madhuri used to be while rehearsing the steps. We used to have food together. Me, Madhuri, Madhuri's mom and some people from crew. Even Shah Rukh sometimes. But then at the stroke of the morning hours of about 4.30 am, I again used to see MD, very fresh, calm and engrossed in her rehearsals... This shows her professionalism, her dedication to her work. Otherwise I have seen actors being extremely late on shoots or giving it a complete skip. Working with Madhuri was like a morale boast. If a superstar can work so hard, then why can't people like us?"
Milon Mukherjee:
"I would like to date her in a shikara. I can float in a shikara in my dreams, because in reality I am not getting her!"
Minisha Lamba:
"She's the entire package. You couldn't segregate her as an actress or a fine looker or a dancer. There was a charisma about her. She was the representative of the quintessential Indian woman in the post Nargis and Madhubala years."
Mithun Chakraborty:
"Madhuri Dixit is such a devoted actress and dancer that hardly anyone in India has come to her level."
"According to me - what a legend!"
Mumaith Khan:
"I simply adore few personalities and they have left a lasting impression on me. I simply love Madhuri Dixit - her dance style is mind-blowing."
M.F. Hussain:
"She is a complete actress. There were some like Nargis who were known for their performance, Madhubala for her beauty and Vyajayanthimala for her dancing, but Madhuri is 'all-in-one.' She is complete. A phenomenon. Ashok Kumar once said that she is one 'complete' actress that India has produced in 100 years. I totally agree with him. There is just one thing Madhuri lacks: a single memorable hit that can be remembered in future. The people who handled her work were wrong. She came from a middle class background and, therefore, the agents she had were not good. She went to the commercial industry, into the hands of the wrong people. She is talented and a dedicated professional, but she still doesn't have memorable roles like Nargis did. As we didn't have even one creative director then, she had to do all the commercial dance movies. And I arrived too late in the industry... We do not have any great creative directors here who can exploit her talent. We had Satyajit Ray in Bengal and Adoor Gopalakrishnan in the south. The only good director in Bollywood is Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Therefore, though she had a successful career, she doesn't have that one movie which will remind us of her exceptional work. I first met her in 1995, on my 88th birthday. She was in Boston giving a live performance. Due to her popularity, there were 40,000 people just to catch a glimpse of her. Even people on wheelchairs were there. The audience whistled during her dance. She was a craze. When I met her, she told me we could cut my birthday cake in her room. I told her she was in the wrong hands, only doing commercial movies and that I would like to do a lot of things for her, to which she replied: 'Aap bahut der se mile' (I met you pretty late). She was very humble, down to earth and would treat everyone equally. She had no airs. I once saw her meeting some of her fans, and being very friendly with them. I told her she shouldn't be so close to so many people as one never knew what intentions they had. She replied that she was where she was because of her fans. Now she is married and a mother, and doing justice to that role as well. After her first child, I had stayed at her home in America. She is a good wife. She takes care of every detail in the house. She takes care of her child on her own and doesn't have a nanny. And, she is a good host. When her husband asked me if I would like to go sightseeing, I told him there was no need to go out when there was such a nice movie at home - Madhuri playing the role of housewife and mother. It was a perfect picture. I feel Madhuri should make a comeback again. And I strongly feel people will appreciate it."
"She wasn't a typical Bollywood girl even at the height of her popularity. Often, I remember a small scene from Hum Aapke Hain Koun... it is shot by moonlight created in a studio. The way she performs, her total surrender to the camera is what beautiful heroines are about. "
"I dreamed of making a film when I was 15 years old. Then I waited 60 years till Madhuri was born, and it took another 25 years to make a film. I see Madhuri as the essence of Indian womanhood. My paintings were incomplete until I made Gajagamini. With Gajagamini, my paintings became complete."
"Nothing can dim my obsession for Madhuri Dixit. No one has surpassed her grace, her skills, her pure Indianness. "
"It's not that she's the only one in the whole world. But particularly for the big screen, in acting and how she used to play her roles - there, she was the master… a great artist. Certain actresses specialise in different things: tragedy, comedy and so on. But she was a complete actress. In that way, I think Indian cinema has not seen such a complete actress in 100 years."
"Madhuri is the most complete woman, the greatest star we have ever produced, the most amazing replica of Indian womanhood. The moment I saw her, I knew that Gajagamini had to be made. With her in the main role. She is beautiful, of course. But she is an actress of the kind we have never seen. It is her body language that is at the core of her art. Not just her jhatkas, her dhak dhaks. She is wonderful at that too but what I am talking about is much, much more. She has a sensuality that will redefine womanhood forever. Remember that song, Didi tera devar diwana? Remember how she bends down and takes those five steps backwards and bursts into song. I have never seen anything quite like this. It is outrageously sexy and yet almost spiritual in its impact. That is why I begin the film with her breaking out of a canvas of mine and becoming real. The real Indian woman."
"No one compares to her. I have painted Madhuri countless times but I've never shown her full face. I first met Madhuri in 1993 at a film award function. I was sitting between Jaya Bachchan and Parmeshwar Godrej when I was called on stage to present the Best Actress Award. I opened the envelope, I paused because I hadn't seen any of the winner's films, I had closed my ears to her song Ek Do Teen which was blaring from loudspeakers all over the country. I took a deep breath and announced: "The award goes to Madhuri Dixit." I was disappointed because I was quite fixated on Sridevi those days. Then I saw Hum Aapke Hain Koun!, I was converted. I saw the film over 70 times for her dances. She would take five steps back wards and shake her dynamite hips. Since I have never known my mother, I see her also as my Ma..dhuri. A sensible book should be written on Madhuri, her performances have been extraordinary but no critic has done her justice. If no one else writes the book, I will."
