As she prepares for her next major project, the psychological thriller series 'Mrs. Deshpande', legendary Bollywood actor Madhuri Dixit-Nene has shared her insightful perspective on the enduring debate between traditional cinema and Over-The-Top (OTT) streaming platforms. In a recent media interaction, the iconic star reminisced about the unparalleled charm of 1990s Bollywood and explained how the entertainment landscape has evolved.
The Unforgettable Golden Era of 90s Cinema
When reflecting on the influence of actresses from the 80s and 90s, Madhuri Dixit described that period as truly magical and unforgettable. She emphasized that films were the dominant source of entertainment, with audiences forming deep, emotional connections with the characters, music, and dance sequences. "People still remember most of the songs and dance to them even decades later. Even the current generation grooves to those tracks," she noted. The actor believes that era was golden and continues to live on, albeit in a transformed manner through today's mixed ecosystem of OTT platforms, cinema halls, YouTube, and Instagram.
Family Outings and the Lost Theatre Culture
Madhuri pointed out that distractions were far fewer when she began her illustrious career. Cinema, she stressed, was once considered a complete family event. She fondly recalled a personal anecdote that perfectly captures the era's spirit: "During 'Hum Aapke Hain Koun', 32 of my family members went together to watch the film. It was a different era, and now it's different." She expressed a sense that classic family films like 'Hum Aapke Hain Koun' and 'Dil To Pagal Hai' feel somewhat "lost in transition" in today's fragmented content market, where productions are heavily targeted to specific audience segments.
Cinema and OTT: A Harmonious Coexistence
Addressing the perceived competition between silver screens and streaming services, Madhuri Dixit advocated for a view of peaceful coexistence. "Cinema will always be an experience where people want to go together and enjoy. OTT is more in-home, something you watch after wrapping up work. One won't take away from the other," she asserted. She explained that while the COVID-19 lockdown naturally pushed viewers toward in-home entertainment, the reopening of theatres has simply expanded consumer choice rather than creating a winner-takes-all scenario.
Madhuri Dixit's upcoming project, 'Mrs. Deshpande', is directed by Nagesh Kukunoor and co-stars Siddharth Chandekar and Priyanshu Chatterjee. The series is an Indian adaptation of the popular French miniseries 'La Mante' (The Mantis) and will be available for streaming on JioHotstar via the OTTplay Premium subscription service.
