"In her prime, she (Madhuri Dixit) was the undisputed queen of Bollywood... and her popularity and fees rivaled even the biggest male stars." - Reuters
Madhuri Dixit is simply a phenomenon! And despite her prolonged hiatus from showbiz, she remains as relevant today as she was decades ago. During her prime (throughout the late 1980s, the 1990s, and the early 2000s), she reigned supreme in the hearts of millions across the world, becoming an unstoppable force to be reckoned with. Whether it's her magnetic screen presence, her stellar acting chops, or her unparalleled dance moves - she had absolutely no competition in the business. And in a male-dominated industry, she was considered a bigger star than many of her male contemporaries.
Throughout her career, Dixit has essayed a wide range of characters in both mainstream productions and independent films. She has time and again been included in lists of the world's biggest film stars. In 2000, she was featured in the Guinness World Records book as the highest-paid Indian actress. In 2013, she ranked fourth as the greatest Bollywood star in a UK poll, behind Amitabh Bachchan, Dilip Kumar, and Shah Rukh Khan.
"... the last of the all-in-one female stars who could do drama and comedy and dance," wrote Baradwaj Rangan about Dixit.
(Credit: madhuridixitnene)
The celebrated actress-dancer turns 57 today. On this occasion, we share an interesting fact about her that you didn't know.
Yes, you read it right! Madhuri Dixit is a star herself, and apparently, she has a star named after her in the Orion constellation.
Back in 2012, members of 'The Empress' fan page made the effort to get a star named after Dixit. 13 members of the club met the actress on the sets of the dance reality show 'Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa' (which she was judging at the time) to present her with the certificate. The certificate by Star Foundation read: "A celestial body in the sky above has been named in honor of Madhuri Dixit-Nene and is officially located in the constellation Orion."
The actress tweeted, "Wanted to thank my fans for the honor. They had a star in the Orion constellation named after me."
Wanted to thank my fans for the honor. They had a star in the Orion constellation named after me! pic.twitter.com/WMPXUFCS
— Madhuri Dixit Nene (@MadhuriDixit) June 17, 2012
(Credit: Madhuri Dixit Nene)
It's worth noting that The Star Foundation Network is an organization that provides an opportunity to buy a star in the sky and gift it to anyone you want.
Surprisingly, Madhuri Dixit never aspired to be an actress initially. She was a student of microbiology at Sathaye College in Vile Parle, Mumbai, and wanted to be a microbiologist. However, she discontinued her studies midway to step into showbiz.
Dixit is widely celebrated for her excellent dance moves. However, what you may not know is that she is a trained Kathak dancer. According to Kathak exponent Pandit Birju Maharaj, she is the best dancer in Bollywood of all time.
During her prime, she was the highest-paid actress in Bollywood. And if reports are to be believed, she received a whopping ₹ 2.7 crore for 'Hum Aapke Hain Koun', which was more than what her co-star, superstar Salman Khan was paid.
Well, Happy Birthday, Madhuri Ji! Thanks For All The Amazing Films!
