Recent speculation that Madhuri Dixit was pregnant while filming the iconic song 'Dola Re Dola' from the 2002 film 'Devdas' has been firmly dismissed by the actor. The rumor originated from Rubina Khan, a former associate of choreographer Saroj Khan, who suggested that Madhuri was four months pregnant during the shoot. However, Madhuri has now set the record straight in an interview with SCREEN.
Madhuri's Response: A Timeline Check
Laughing off the claims, Madhuri pointed to the timeline as clear evidence. 'Arin is born in 2003. So, you do the math,' she said. Her elder son, Arin Nene, was born on March 17, 2003, while 'Devdas' had already released in theaters on July 12, 2002, after premiering at the Cannes Film Festival in May of that year. This timeline makes the pregnancy claim implausible.
The Grueling Shoot Schedule
While denying pregnancy, Madhuri admitted that the demanding schedule during 'Devdas' took a toll on her health. 'I was under the weather because I was traveling a lot. I was going back and forth, shooting here and going back. And all my shoots were night shoots. So, for me, it was very grueling. I was a little under the weather, but nothing like that,' she explained. At the time, she was dividing her time between Mumbai and Denver after marrying Dr. Shriram Nene in 1999.
Madhuri's Last Film Before Motherhood
'Devdas' was one of the final projects Madhuri completed before stepping back from films to focus on motherhood. She and her husband welcomed sons Arin and Ryan in the years that followed. Directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, the film starred Shah Rukh Khan as Devdas, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan as Paro, and Madhuri as Chandramukhi. It was adapted from Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay's celebrated novel.
The Story Behind 'Dola Re Dola'
The song 'Dola Re Dola' remains one of Bollywood's most iconic dance sequences. Interestingly, in the original novel, the characters Chandramukhi and Paro never meet. Bhansali took creative liberty to bring them together for a grand performance. The track was composed by Ismail Darbar, with lyrics by Nusrat Badr, and sung by Kavita Krishnamurthy, Shreya Ghoshal, and KK.
What Rubina Khan Had Claimed
During an appearance on the YouTube channel Bollywood Thikana, Rubina Khan recalled a specific step in the choreography, saying, 'There's a step in which Madhuri ma'am turns and sits down. That shot kept happening from 9 am to 10 pm because she was four months pregnant. So, she couldn't turn properly and was feeling dizzy.' She added that Madhuri also had a fever at the time. However, Madhuri's recent clarification has effectively put the speculation to rest.
Madhuri and Saroj Khan's Legendary Partnership
Madhuri and choreographer Saroj Khan shared one of the most celebrated collaborations in Hindi cinema, beginning with 'Ek Do Teen' from 'Tezaab' and continuing through many iconic songs. Their last collaboration was 'Tabaah Ho Gaye' from 'Kalank'. Saroj Khan passed away in July 2020, leaving behind a lasting legacy.
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