Madhuri Dixit recently opened up about the emotional grounding, confidence and resilience she inherited from her mother, recalling how her advice helped her navigate early criticism in the film industry. In a recent interview, the actress reflected on growing up with constant guidance that shaped not just her artistry but also her sense of self.
“The love for dancing, singing and work ethic came from my mom”
Tracing the roots of her artistic sensibilities, Madhuri shared how deeply her mother influenced her personality. “I think the art I got from my mom—the love for singing, the love for dancing. She was very emotional, and I think I get that from her. I’m a very emotional person. I get attached to people very fast,” she said while speaking to Nayandeep Rakshit.She added that her discipline and professional integrity were also inherited. “My work ethic comes from my mom because that’s what she taught me. She also had a better sense of humor than me—she was very quick to respond. She had a great sense of self, which she taught me. That you have to be who you are. Don’t be in a mold. Break a mold.”
Facing early criticism before Tezaab
Recalling the early days of her career, Madhuri acknowledged that she was often subjected to unsolicited remarks about her appearance. “A lot of people told me when I had just started—do this, how is your nose, your this, your that,” she said.At the time, she would turn to her mother for reassurance. “I used to go and say, ‘Mom, they’re saying this.’ And my mom would say, ‘Don’t worry about it. Once you have a successful movie, that’s the very thing they’ll love about you.’”Madhuri admitted she found it hard to believe then. “I used to say, ‘Mom, this is not going to happen.’ She’d say, ‘Don’t worry. Do you trust me?’ I said yes. And she said, ‘Then you see what happens.’”
“After Tezaab, nobody said anything”
The turning point, she revealed, came with Tezaab. “After Tezaab, nobody said anything about being skinny or being this or that. People just accepted me for who I am,” she said.The experience shaped the advice she now offers younger actors. “Even today, I tell the new girls—don’t try to be in a mold. Don’t say this is how a heroine should look. If you’re different, that’s a uniqueness you have. Play on that.”
How she dealt with noise and setbacks as a teenager
Asked whether the criticism affected her as a teenager, Madhuri admitted it did—but only briefly. “I used to go to my mom and say, ‘They’re saying this or that.’ And she’d say, ‘Calm down.'”While failures could sting, she chose not to dwell on them. “Sometimes, when you work so hard, it does affect you—you think maybe something was missing. But I didn’t dwell on it. I knew I had done my best. I worked really hard. The rest is up to people, whether they like it or not. And then you move on.”
