Madhuri Dixit: I like to play a character who has a mind of her own

In The Fame Game, Madhuri Dixit-Nene portrayed a once-famous actor whose fame has since faded, and she played a strong family matriarch in the film Maja Ma. The actor sees parallels between the two characters, despite their differences, in their struggle to assert themselves in a male-dominated society. She used her role as Pallavi in the Prime Video film to make the point that positive portrayals of mothers in the media are on the rise.

The actor told Midday that she is a family woman, too. She can therefore empathise with Pallavi in a tale about empowerment, Maja Ma. In today's media—from movies to streaming services—women are shown as autonomous beings before being considered members of any given society. She beamed that they are from all various backgrounds, they all have their own goals, and they all play by their own set of rules.

Madhuri's character in Maja Ma confronts a challenging scenario head-on after a mystery video showing her goes viral in the days leading up to her son's wedding. The film also has Gajraj Rao, Rajit Kapur, Ritwik Bhowmik, and Barkha Singh in crucial parts. Anand Tiwari, the film's director, used it to highlight how society's views on women are always changing.

The society is quite patriarchal. The actor claims that women are perpetually subjected to harsh scrutiny. For example, men can romance significantly younger women. The reaction is different when a woman does it, though. Thankfully, that's starting to change now. No one seemed to bat an eye when her character in The Fame Game fell in love with a much younger man. Things are progressing, but there are still ways to go.

The women of Hindi cinema have had it rough in recent decades. Female protagonists with significant agency were a rarity. Madhuri, however, claims that she actively sought out storylines that included strong female protagonists. All the ladies in these films, from Dil in 1990 to Hum Aapke Hain Koun in 1994 to Dil To Pagal Hai in 1997 to Pukaar in 1999, were independent and had something to say. Such parts were ones she actively sought for. Playing strong-willed women is one of Madhuri's favourite things to do.