Showing posts with label Maa Behen. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Maa Behen. Show all posts
We all have rough edges; I'm glad cinema is now embracing that reality-Madhuri Dixit
8:30 AM
Renuka Vyavahare (BOMBAY TIMES; July 1, 2026)
One look at Madhuri Dixit Nene, Indian cinema's timeless icon, and you're struck by her seemingly effortless perfection, the radiant smile, unmatched grace, and captivating screen presence. Yet, a conversation with her reveals a different perspective. The celebrated actor believes that true strength lies not in perfection, but in embracing one's flaws.
In a candid conversation with Bombay Times, Madhuri spoke about her recent film, Maa Behen, directed by Suresh Triveni, and how Hindi cinema's portrayal of mothers has evolved over the years. Excerpts...
A scene in Maa Behen shows your character warning her wayward daughters that if she goes to jail, they'll go with her. The writing portrays mothers as ordinary people capable of making mistakes, doesn’t it?
When we think of mothers in Indian cinema, the first name that comes to mind is Nargis ji in Mother India. Then there are iconic performances by actors such as Rohini Hattangadi in Agneepath, Nirupa Roy in Deewaar, and Rakhee Gulzar in Karan Arjun and Ram Lakhan. These characters were powerful and memorable, but they were also idealized. Mothers were often placed on a pedestal. They couldn't do anything wrong. They were expected to sacrifice everything for their children. What struck me about Maa Behen was its realistic approach. My character isn't the ideal mother or wife. She's independent, chaotic, and imperfect. Despite belonging to a dysfunctional family where everyone is constantly at odds, she deeply loves her children and will do anything for them when it truly matters.
As you mentioned, there's a moment when she tells her daughters, "Main jail jaaungi toh tumko lekar jaaungi." That's not something you'd traditionally hear from a cinematic mother. Characters today feel more real and relatable. These are women you encounter in everyday life. Everyone is flawed, and flaws are wonderful. We all have rough edges, and I'm glad cinema is finally embracing that reality.
You have ruled the film industry for decades. People often associate you with perfection, whether in your work or your appearance. Yet you see imperfection as a source of strength.
Beauty lies in the eye of the beholder. And honestly, imperfection is power. I don't believe perfection truly exists. No one can be perfect. My journey has always been about striving for excellence, about trying to give my best in everything I do. The pursuit itself is what fascinates me. The process of constantly learning, improving, and challenging yourself is far more meaningful than achieving some impossible standard of perfection.
As a Bollywood superstar, does working in the streaming space feel more liberating since there is no box-office pressure?
There is certainly a sense of freedom in the OTT space because you're not bound by commercial expectations. It is more relaxing. You're not worrying about how many crores a film or series will earn. The pressure of delivering a blockbuster doesn’t hang on your head. Instead, the focus shifts to creating something meaningful and engaging, something audiences genuinely enjoy watching. The goal is to tell compelling stories and create content that feels relatable and authentic.
What kind of work excites you at this stage of your career?
I want to explore characters that are different from anything I've done before. I enjoy challenges, whether it's learning a new dialect, stepping into unfamiliar territory, or portraying someone completely unlike myself. Anything that pushes me out of my comfort zone and makes me feel vulnerable, fascinates me as an actor. That's where growth happens. I have no reservations about playing any role, as long as it is well-written and offers something meaningful to explore.
I made Madhuri Dixit say ‘Mujhe pet mein gas ho rahi hai’ on screen; my life's biggest achievement-Pooja Tolani
9:56 AM
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; June 28, 2026)
Good times have been raining on feminist screenwriter Pooja Tolani in the month of June. Fresh off the success of the dark comedy Maa Behen, she hosted the Mumbai screening of her directorial debut, Razaa on June 27. Co-produced by Maa Behen director Suresh Triveni, the short stars Geetanjali Kulkarni and Bhumika Sharma.
An excited Tolani informed mid-day that Razaa premiered at the Short Shorts International Film Festival in Tokyo and has been “making festival rounds since June 2025”. “But this is the first time we held a private screening.”
Even as praise pours in for both projects, Tolani has moved on to new stories. “There’s one feature and one series, and both are in nascent stages of development,” she said.
Asked whether it is easy to be a feminist writer in the industry, she said, “I feel it depends on who you are working with and what you are working on. Our industry is still trying to figure out how to make women feel comfortable, from basic things like washroom facilities to pay parity. There are [writer] rooms where if you call out something incorrect gender wise, you are sometimes scoffed at, joked about, or told, ‘Baap rey, jhanda gadhne aagayi’. But I have been fairly lucky to have worked with people who are feminists.”
On working with Madhuri Dixit-Nene
“I used to joke about this with Suresh that my biggest achievement in life is that I made Madhuri Dixit say ‘Mujhe pet mein gas ho rahi hai’ on screen. I will sleep peacefully now. It was great fun to work with Madhuri, to use her image [of a diva] and also break it.”
I was never told, ‘We have seen your social media profile, and you are chosen’-Dharna Durga
9:46 AM
Contrary to belief that influencers land films easily, Dharna Durga insists she bagged ‘Maa Behen’ after auditions
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; June 8, 2026)
Every time a social media influencer is cast in an acting project, questions arise whether they landed the gig for their acting capability or the million online followers they have amassed. “Maine proper exam diya hai,” quipped popular content creator Dharna Durga, insisting that she didn’t take any shortcut to landing Maa Behen.
In Netflix’s crime comedy, directed by Suresh Triveni, Durga plays the younger, mischievous daughter of Madhuri Dixit Nene’s Rekha.
The actor recalled, “I gave one audition in Delhi. Then I did another round in Mumbai, where Suresh sir gave me directions on how to do the scene. I was never told, ‘We have seen your social media profile, and you are chosen.’ I was given a scene and told, ‘We want to see if you can pull it off.’ What I do on Instagram is also acting. So, it’s not that I have been selected on the basis of my following.”
I have many stories of co-stars, who aren’t professional like Madhuri Dixit-
8:53 AM
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; June 6, 2026)
Surprise was Ravi Kishan’s first reaction when he heard director Suresh Triveni’s narration of Maa Behen. “Even after doing so many films, I had never played a character like Gupta ji before,” marvelled the actor. The novel character became his incentive to play the middle-aged man attracted to his neighbour Rekha, essayed by Madhuri Dixit Nene.
The cherry on the top was the authenticity with which a North Indian small town was shown in the Netflix crime comedy, also starring Triptii Dimri and Dharna Durga.
“I know these areas. The small-town humour has been missing from Hindi cinema, and when [Bollywood] depicts it, it feels a little fake. You can’t fool me when it comes to this world. I know what kind of comments are passed when a woman is walking alone, or how people wait for her to step out when her husband is not home,” said Kishan.
Matching him, beat for beat, to bring the story alive was Dixit. Impressed by his co-star’s professionalism, Kishan said, “No matter what, she will be on set by 6 am. She is present at every moment. I might have given some trouble to our director, but Madhuri ma’am is calm like a river.”
He deeply cherishes her professional attitude, especially having worked with actors who lacked it. “I have many stories of co-stars, who aren’t like that. If provoked, I will give out names,” he laughed.
Main toh bahut show off karti hoon, ‘Main Madhuri ma’am ko personally jaanti hoon’-Triptii Dimri
11:13 PM
From fangirling over Madhuri to breaking the ice with a ‘besharam bano’ rule, the cast of the upcoming film Maa Behen spills stories from the set
Mahima Pandey (HINDUSTAN TIMES; June 3, 2026)
After grabbing attention with the delightfully cheeky title of their upcoming Netflix film Maa Behen, actors Madhuri Dixit, Triptii Dimri and Dharna Durga, along with director Suresh Triveni, landed in Delhi for a fun and candid conversation at HT City Stars in the City with Sonal Kalra, Chief Managing Editor, Lifestyle & Entertainment, Hindustan Times. Here are some highlights from the session:
For Triptii, sharing screen space with Madhuri was still a pinch-me moment. “This is my second film with ma’am after Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, but we didn’t get much time together then. During Maa Behen, we became friends and I’m very proud of that. Main toh bahut show off karti hoon, ‘Main Madhuri ma’am ko personally jaanti hoon. I talk to her every day’,” she laughed.
Madhuri, meanwhile, revealed that the cast bonded quickly during workshops. “My only rule was: besharam bano. Say whatever you want to each other. We had so much fun and I think that translated onscreen.”
Before the camaraderie came the casting challenge. As director Suresh Triveni put it, “The biggest question was, ‘Maa kaun banegi?’”
Recalling how Madhuri signed on, he said, “We narrated the script to her in August 2024. Me and my writer overacted like hell and used all our advertising tricks. In the end, she said, ‘I’m doing it’. After that, she became my trump card. With Triptii, it was, ‘Madhuri Dixit has said yes’. With Dharna, I just said ‘Madhuri’ and she was in.”
Dharna readily agreed: “I was so excited and nervous when I met Madhuri ma’am, like any die-hard fan would be. She said hi to me and I was like, ‘Whoa!’”
While Madhuri has played mothers onscreen before, this one felt refreshingly different. “I have grown-up kids of my own, so there was never any hesitation,” she said. What sealed the deal was the character’s unpredictability. “We always put mothers on a pedestal. Here (in Maa Behen) she says, ‘Agar main jail gayi toh tum dono ko saath mein lekar jaungi.’ I loved that!”
The laughter, banter and easy camaraderie that lit up the stage of HT City Stars in the City with Sonal Kalra continued as Madhuri Dixit, Triptii Dimri and Dharna Durga shared more stories from the making of Netflix’s Maa Behen. The trio spoke about motherhood, friendships forged on set and what makes the June 4 release stand out.
Was playing the mother of two daughters onscreen different from being a real-life mother?
Madhuri: Nahi, jaise mere bacche ladte the, waise hi yeh dono ladte hai. Zyaada farak nahi tha. Kids are the same, but a woman has to wear so many hats at home. Kabhi woh doctor hoti hai, kabhi woh therapist hoti hai, kabhi woh referee hoti hai. That’s what I did here.
How was the transition from being a content creator to becoming an actor?
Dharna: Jab title Maa Behen ho, toh woh feeling hona bahut important hai ki aapko woh emotion aaye, in a good way. Main actually waisa feel kar paa rahi thi off-set bhi inke saath.
If you had to give audiences an elevator pitch for the film, what would it be?
Triptii: Baap-bhaaiyon pe bahut filmein dekh li hai...
Madhuri: Ab maa-behen ki baari hai.
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I was after Ravi Kishan for the role of Gupta ji because I think he’s one of the most interesting actors of our time. He’s a very intelligent man who behaves as if he hasn’t understood anything; that’s his strategy. Whenever he was on set, I would just say, “Yeh lines hain, aap iske bahar se kuch karein,” and wait for the brilliant improvisations he’d come up with.
- SURESH TRIVENI, Director
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Madhuri ma’am ko dekhte hi dil mein non-stop ‘Dhak Dhak’ wala gaana bajne lagta hai. Honestly, even after working with her on Maa Behen for so long, that feeling is still the same. Whenever I see her, that background music starts playing in my head.
- DHARNA DURGA
Compiled by Mahima Pandey
(Crisp) Movie Review: MAA BEHEN by FENIL SETA
6:28 PM
Maa Behen, which has released today on Netflix, is executed in a stylish and entertaining manner. One might assume the trailer gives away most of the story, but that's not the case. In the first 30 minutes, there's a twist which will catch viewers unawares. The way the three women try to cover up their mess makes for a great watch. Along with humour, the makers have also infused an important message and it comes across well. However, certain things are not clear, especially the bond shared by the mother and her daughters. It still makes for a good watch due to the crime thriller element. However, the secondary tracks are very weak and one of them could have been completely done away with. The climax is good, but also convenient. Madhuri Dixit looks like a million bucks and performance-wise, she’s highly entertaining. Triptii Dimri is too good and her monologue is clapworthy. Dharna Durga is a and she maintains a strong performance despite sharing screen space with among the seasoned actors. Ravi Kishan is superb as expected, while Geetanjali Kulkarni steals the show. Arunoday Singh (Maheshwari) is okay; Shreevardhan Trivedi (TV host) is hilarious. All in all, Maa Behen is an average flick.
My rating - ** ½ out of 5!
My rating - ** ½ out of 5!
See what Aishwarya Rai Bachchan represents rather than commenting on her age-Madhuri Dixit
8:47 AM
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; June 1, 2026)
It’s hard to build a successful four-decade career like Madhuri Dixit Nene’s in the film industry. Harder even to do so in a country where female stars, as they age, are constantly judged for their appearance. A recent example was the brutal trolling of Aishwarya Rai Bachchan as she walked the Cannes red carpet. When we sat down with Dixit, ahead of the release of her next, Maa Behen, the actor rued that women have no respite from “sexism and ageism.”
“There is sexism and ageism everywhere. Even when you meet people after a long time, they make personal comments like, ‘You have become so fat. Your hair has become so grey.’ But one cannot forget the contribution of the person, and what they have done in the past. You don’t know what’s happening in their lives or maybe they are happy the way they are. Accept people the way they are; remember what she [Rai] represents rather than commenting on her size or age,” asserted Dixit, as she defended Rai.
Dixit has little patience for unsolicited opinions or skewed beauty standards. Instead, she is focusing on what gives her joy — unheard stories and roles that show her versatility. Maa Behen fits right in that plan.
“I had not done comedy in some time. The past few offerings were more dramatic, whether it’s Mrs Deshpande [2025], Maja Ma [2022], or The Fame Game [2022]. I thought this is the right time for comedy,” she said of director Suresh Triveni’s feature.
The Netflix film also stars content creator Dharna Durga. Madhuri Dixit Nene revealed that during the workshops, she ensured that the relative newcomer felt comfortable.
“When I met her the first time, she said, ‘Mujhse nahin hoga,’ with tears in her eyes. I told her to not cry and said, ‘I am also an actor, here to create some magic on the set. Let’s work together.’”
I was dying to see how beautiful Madhuri Dixit is with comedy-Suresh Triveni
9:40 AM
Happy that Madhuri Dixit-Nene gave her nod to Maa Behen in the first narration, director Suresh Triveni discusses exploring the actor’s flair for comedy
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; March 5, 2026)
After Jalsa (2022), director Suresh Triveni was seeking a light-hearted subject. From that wish was born his upcoming film, Maa Behen. Understandably, when Netflix unveiled its teaser in February, what excited everyone was the enviable casting of Madhuri Dixit-Nene and Triptii Dimri. “The casting was obviously ambitious,” admitted Triveni, when talking about his dark comedy that also stars Ravi Kishan and Dharna Durga.
“We wanted to have three terrific women, and we were clear from day one that we would approach Madhuri ma’am for it. She readily agreed in the first narration. So did Triptii, Dharna, and Ravi Kishan. I was fortunate,” he smiled.
In Maa Behen, Dixit plays a free-spirited mother, at odds with her grounded and inhibited elder daughter portrayed by Dimri. As an ardent admirer of the senior actor’s comic timing, the director wanted to see her in the space. “As a viewer, I was dying to see how beautiful Madhuri ma’am is with comedy. We wanted to see her in that comic avatar, and we chased it.”
With the Anil Kapoor-led Subedaar, and Maa Behen, Triveni has collaborated with two of the biggest 1990’s stars. How was the experience? He was left in awe by their appetite to learn.
“Why we call them the OGs is that they are not done yet. They are still learning. For example, we did at least 14 workshop sessions with the three leads together for Maa Behen. Madhuri ma’am showed up. She didn’t say, ‘Since I have done so much work, I don’t need it.’ She learnt the required dialect. These stars aren’t complacent at all.”
Talents with unreasonable demands don’t last long-Vikram Malhotra
10:20 AM
Amid producers complaining of actors’ rising entourage costs, ‘Subedaar’ maker Vikram Malhotra says artistes should be part of the film’s expenses, risks, and benefits
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; March 1, 2026)
Walking into 2026, Vikram Malhotra knew it would be a busy year. The producer is days away from the release of his Anil Kapoor-starrer Subedaar, followed by Madhuri Dixit-Nene and Triptii Dimri’s comedy Maa Behen, and the Kapoor and Vijay Varma-led series Family Business. Putting together projects headlined by stars can be a fulfilling as well as demanding experience. The latter, especially now, when the rising entourage costs of many A-list actors have become a cause for concern for producers.
When asked whether actors should pay their entourage from their pockets, Malhotra was clear about his stance.
“Actors should participate directly or indirectly in a film’s economic benefit and risk. The participation includes everything — from fees, entourage, working hours to the emotional commitment towards a film. To me, demand for a large entourage or disproportionate fee is a message of intent,” he shared.
Many producers have claimed that stars nowadays make unreasonable demands. But Malhotra believes a maker always has the choice to not work with such artistes.
“No actor puts a gun to the producer’s head, forcing them to cast them. I’ve had the good fortune of working with newcomers to superstars, and we’ve had only the best, most reasonable people partners. If a part of the value chain is unreasonable in commercial or non-commercial terms, it’s a choice you exercise [to not work with them]. In my experience, talents that persist with unreasonable demands and behaviour don’t last long. Most of the time, these examples [of producers being burdened by high costs] are self-inflicted. The producers could say no, they didn’t.”
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