Madhuri Dixit interview

The living room of Madhuri Dixit’s Juhu home is virtually a toyhouse. It’s indicative of the fact that her seven-month-old son Arin is the centre of her universe now. And he’s keeping everyone, including his nana-nani, on their toes. The otherwise reticent grandparents are loving it. If grandma’s chatting up relatives who’ve been pouring in to see the ma-beta, grandpa Shankar’s regaling them with tales of Arin and showing them his toys. “Arin is my seventh grandchild. He’s a good baby. The weather here has affected him a little, though he’s adjusting,” says proud nani Snehalata.


Madhuri joins in: “I’m still jetlagged. I meet relatives in the day, catch up with sleep in the evening and I’m wide awake, playing with Arin, at night. But it’s fun.”

Madhuri’s started a workout schedule to lose the flab gained post-delivery. “I’m losing the extra pounds. I want to prove that mothers can be in brilliant shape. People should look at a mother in awe.”

Hubby Dr Shriram Nene and Madhuri are keen to teach Arin his mother tongue, Marathi. “We have two cats at home. I feared that Arin’s first word would be ‘meow’,” she laughs. “That’s why Ram (that’s what she calls her husband) is particular that we talk to him only in Marathi. Anyway, Ram doesn’t know Hindi and Arin will pick up English while he’s growing up.” At the moment, he can only manage words like ‘mamy’ and ‘baba’.

Madhuri will be in India for three to four months, during which time she will meet filmmakers who have projects she might be interested in. She’ll also visit friends and relatives. “With Arin around, I can’t afford a haywire schedule. I’ll only take up work that’s organised. Raj Kumar Santoshi says he has something for me. I’m meeting him, Rituparno Ghosh and Zoya Akhtar.” Zafar Hai too is keen to cast her in a period film.

She also clarifies that she hasn’t charged royalty from Ram Gopal Varma for using her name in Main Madhuri Dixit Banna Chahti Hoon. “Mom saw it and told me it’s a cute film that compliments me. One can’t put a price on that. I knew Varma wouldn’t misuse my name.”

Looking lovely as ever, Madhuri says that a few years down the line she sees herself with Arin on one side and a daughter in her lap. Till then, she awaits the arrival of Ram who’s scheduled to land in town within a couple of weeks.