Exclusive: Madhuri Dixit gets candid about love, relationships and being an old-school romantic

We’ve loved her as Radha, Nisha, Maya, Chandramukhi, and in many of her roles as the female protagonist. For decades, and even today, watching Madhuri Dixit Nene on screen takes us absolutely no time to break into a smile and simply marvel at her expressions, elegance, and grace. In those countless films, we avid cinephiles, loved and lost and won in life just like her. As long as we have this stellar actress on screen, we shall continue to do so.

Dixit has won hearts all over the world and worked in Bollywood’s some of the most incredible love stories. In an interview with Cosmopolitan India, Dixit, ahead of the release of Maja Ma, which will be streaming on Prime Video from October 6, gets candid about love and relationships, like never before. Read on. 

Cosmo: Being an actress who made us fall in love with love, what advice do you give to the young generation of today?  

Madhuri Dixit: The only thing that I’d like to say to them is that it takes a very long time to build a relationship, while it only takes seconds to destroy it. So I think, they should concentrate on nurturing their relationship—making it work instead of giving up very easily. 

Cosmo: What are your thoughts on modern-day dating? 

Madhuri Dixit: I have two kids who are teenagers. The elder one is 19, and I’m sure he will be dating at some point. What I see around me, especially amongst people who are professionals, is that they find it very hard to find the time to date. They aren’t meeting the right kind of people. And a lot of my friends, who are single keep telling me that it’s so hard to meet someone who appeals to all your senses. I think that’s sad. 

Cosmo: Is Madhuri Dixit an old-school romantic or one who’s become more practical with time?  

Madhuri Dixit: I’m very much a romantic at heart. So is my husband. And I think that’s why it works so very well. 

Cosmo: What’s your idea of a perfect date? 

Madhuri Dixit: The time you spend together should be something that you learn from—and yet you enjoy their company and feel so happy when you meet them. 

Cosmo: What is the most non-romantic, yet adorable gesture your husband and you have done for each other? 

Madhuri Dixit: My husband gave me a surprise on my very first birthday after our marriage. I used to love fixing things (around the house). There was something new that had come home and needed to be fixed. So he told me, ‘Why don’t you do that, I’m so tired and going to rest.’ Little did I know that while I was fixing, he was busy cooking in the kitchen instead of being asleep. He then asked me to come inside and surprised me. It was lovely. 

Cosmo: In The Fame Game, your character was taken for granted by her loved ones. What is the first sign of emotional manipulation or abuse one should watch out for in relationships? 

Madhuri Dixit: What I’ve heard from people is that an emotionally manipulative partner will always put you down in front of others, or do something wrong, apologize and do it again. They will always demean you, in a subtle way and it becomes a pattern where they’re controlling everything that you do. 

Cosmo: In Maja Ma, that’s all about the good vibes, we feel that we’re watching the Madhuri of old, yet in a new avatar. Are you loving that giving fans the best of both worlds?    

Madhuri Dixit: Maja Ma is a story that I’d like everyone to watch. I don’t know if I’m giving Madhuri vibes or something else. I just went with the script and the characters. It’s a beautiful film, so do watch it (the film will be streaming on Prime Video from October 6)