In a surprising revelation, legendary Bollywood actress Madhuri Dixit has shared that her two sons, Arin and Ryan, did not grow up watching her extensive and celebrated filmography. The disclosure came ahead of the premiere of her latest project, the web series Mrs Deshpande, where she takes on one of the darkest roles of her career.
A Delayed Discovery of a Star Mother's Legacy
Madhuri Dixit, one of Hindi cinema's most iconic stars, told Hindustan Times that it was only much later in life that her children explored her work. "It's funny, but my kids, growing up, had not seen a lot of my films," she said. The actress explained that her sons watched more of her movies after they went to college, primarily influenced by their Indian friends.
The situation often led to amusing reactions from their peers. "Their classmates couldn't believe it," Madhuri recalled with a laugh. Classmates would ask Arin and Ryan if they had seen specific iconic films of their mother, and upon hearing a 'no,' would react with disbelief, exclaiming, 'What are you saying!' This persistent nudging from friends eventually led the boys to watch many of her classic films after finishing school.
Embracing the Dark: Madhuri Dixit as a Serial Killer
Madhuri's comments coincide with a significant shift in her choice of roles towards more complex, grey characters. In Mrs Deshpande, directed by Nagesh Kukunoor, she plays a serial killer—a stark contrast to the vibrant, dance-filled roles that made her a household name.
When asked about comparisons to Shah Rukh Khan, who once expressed reluctance to play a tyrant for fear of making the character too likeable, Madhuri outlined her different approach. "For me, the focus was on making her relatable," she explained. "Outside, she's just a housewife. She loves to cook, make her modaks. So, it's not like the loud villainy. It's like the very quiet silence. It's inside the skin."
A Career Evolution and a New Chapter
Over the past decade, Madhuri Dixit's filmography has consciously moved away from her earlier image, embracing psychologically intense narratives. Mrs Deshpande marks a continuation of this direction. The series, which also stars Priyanshu Chatterjee and Siddharth Chandekar, is currently available for streaming on JioHotstar.
This professional evolution runs parallel to her stable personal life, having recently celebrated her 26th wedding anniversary with Dr. Shriram Nene. The actress continues to balance her family life in the US with a selective yet challenging career in Indian entertainment, proving her versatility across generations and formats.
