Showing posts with label Maja Ma. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Maja Ma. Show all posts
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.’”
With other stars, their entourage can be overwhelming, but Madhuri Dixit's team is like a fly on the wall-Gajraj Rao
8:21 AM
Renuka Vyavahare (BOMBAY TIMES; October 7, 2022)
Badhaai Ho transformed the course of Gajraj Rao’s career. Ever since, the actor has been impressing us with his immense talent. He now stars alongside Madhuri Dixit in Anand Tiwari’s film Maja Ma, which is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video. In a candid chat, he talks about his journey, the zone of cinema he belongs to, and his motivation to work in Maja Ma — Madhuri Dixit. Excerpts:
What about Maja Ma appealed to you the most?
It’s a family drama and though the colours and spirit have a Gujarati vibe, it isn’t stereotypical or language-centric. The name Madhuri Dixit was enough for me to do this film. The greatest motivation was her presence in the film. Unko itna dekha hua hai, unko itna admire karte hai, so to be able to work with her and be offered an important part alongside her was a big deal for me. I am from Delhi, and since the time I was doing theatre there, I remember flocking to cinemas to watch her movies like Hum Aapke Hain Koun and Prahaar. I feel Madhuri ji’s journey is reminiscent of Rekha ji as both were able to strike a fine balance between stylized commercial cinema and hard-hitting films (like Mrityudand). The way they smoothly switched their persona for different kinds of cinema was admirable.
Did you ever think that one day you would be paired opposite Madhuri Dixit on screen?
I never thought it was possible. When Anand Tiwari first offered the role to me, I thought it must be some part, but when I read the script, I figured it was Madhuri ji’s husband’s role! My friends in the US couldn’t believe it. They called to ask, “Gajju, are you sure that you have been paired alongside Madhuri Dixit as her husband? You are her hero!” I told them it’s not a hero-heroine story. It’s a family story. I don’t belong to the Shah Rukh Khan, Anil Kapoor hero zone. You need a certain talent and traits for those roles, and I don’t have it. I can act a little, and I am glad I got this part. I come from a theatre background, and the universe I belonged to only permitted me to admire someone like her from a distance.
Being such a talented actor, why did you feel that working with someone like Madhuri was a long shot?
Agar aap gully cricket khelte ho with a tennis ball, and someone tells you, ‘Gajraj, now you get to play a proper match with Sachin Tendulkar at the Wankhede Stadium’, this was that feeling. Madhuri ji is to films what Tendulkar is to cricket. They both have excelled in their craft. The experience of working with her and being around her for promotions surpassed my expectations. When she enters a set, she ceases to be Madhuri Dixit. On set, she was Pallavi Patel (her character in Maja Ma). She is aligned with her character on and off the camera.
Are you glad that cinema is finally moving away from the typical hero-heroine subjects to character driven stories like Maja Ma?
Event films, like Baahubali, demand larger-than-life characters because they are made on a certain scale. I like what Tom Cruise, Shah Rukh Khan or Tiger Shroff bring to the table. You need that hero-like charisma for these big-ticket entertainers, and we need such stories, too, because they are aspirational. Aap hero ko filmon se hata nahi sakte because real life mein hero bahut kam hote hai. Like a parallel universe, two kinds of cinema can co-exist. Amitabh Bachchan ruled as a superstar, but at the same time, there was also Amol Palekar who the common man could identify with. Rekha ji did potboilers, but also did Umrao Jaan. There is space for both kinds of cinema.
Has OTT changed the game for actors, and would you say that the medium is more age and gender inclusive?
OTT has democratized things because there is no Friday pressure. Theatres need big faces for big openings. Audience shaayad Gajraj Rao, Ritwik Bhowmik, ya Srishti Shrivastava ke naam pe theatre mein nahi jayegi. Niche audience aayegi, but most may not turn up. So, theatres need actors who are talented and have certain stardom. OTT doesn’t have those restrictions, so you can tell a story freely. You can cast actors strictly on the basis of their acting calibre and not stardom. The script is the new hero on the web because people have the power of a remote. It’s a golden period for actors and technicians. Look at Raveena Tandon, Sushmita Sen and Juhi Chawla…they are doing such good work on OTT. Maybe it was difficult to write relevant parts for them in commercial cinema due to box office demands. Good writers are now in demand because they have that freedom.
The story of Maja Ma revolves around a family. What was the mood like on set?
The bonding and interaction between the family members in the film — Madhuri ji, Ritwik and Srishti (who play out children) and me is incredible. There was warmth, love and laughter on set. No one rushed home once the shoot was over. We played antakshari and dumb charades, and huge credit goes to MD for bringing that energy on set. With other stars, their entourage can be overwhelming, but her team is like a fly on the wall. They’d quietly sit in the corner. Unlike many successful stars, she doesn’t wear her superstar status on her sleeve. Working with her felt like a beautiful dream.
Fenil's Bollywood Talk # 746
11:13 PM
WILL GOODBYE BRING CHEER FOR AMITABH BACHCHAN IN HIS 80TH BIRTHDAY WEEK?
Many small and mid-sized films will try their luck at the box office in the next two weeks before the festival of Diwali. Tomorrow will see the release of 4-5 films and the biggest among them is Goodbye.
It stars Amitabh Bachchan in the lead and marks the debut of Rashmika Mandanna in Bollywood. Neena Gupta, Sunil Grover, Pavail Gulati, Elli AvrRam and Ashish Vidyarthi also star in this film which is directed by Vikas Bahl. It is about a dysfunctional family that comes together after the death of a family member.
The trailer has caught attention and seems like a funny and moving film. Though Rashmika Mandanna has extensively promoted it, the awareness is limited. The makers have decided to sell the tickets on release day for just Rs. 150. Moreover, it's Amitabh Bachchan's 80th birthday on October 11. Hence, Goodbye will be at an advantage since viewers will be insisted on watching Big B's film on his big day. The word of mouth needs to be positive for the film to have that advantage. The opening should be around Rs 1-1.25 crores.
The other major release of the week is GodFather. It's a Telugu film dubbed in Hindi starring Chiranjeevi and Nayanthara. Salman Khan has a cameo and it has given the Hindi version an edge. It was released yesterday on October 5 on the Dussehra holiday. In Hindi, it opened at Rs. 2 crores and the word of mouth is mixed. Its target should be to cross the collections of Rocketry: The Nambi Effect and Karthikeya 2 which collected Rs. 22 crores and Rs. 24 crores respectively. Of course, it looks dicey right now but anything can happen with dubbed films.
Then, Karan Razdan's Hindutva will release tomorrow. There's no star cast and hence, there’s no awareness despite such a controversial title. And lastly, Chakki will hit cinemas tomorrow as well. It stars Rahul Bhat and is presented by Umesh Shukla of OMG Oh My God fame. Sadly, since awareness is zero, it'll sink without a trace.
And that’s not all. Maja Ma was released today on Amazon Prime Video. It stars Madhuri Dixit in the lead along with Gajraj Rao, Ritwik Bhowmik and Barkha Singh. The film’s bold theme has caught attention. Though the response is mixed, it’ll find an audience due to the theme and Madhuri’s presence.
Many small and mid-sized films will try their luck at the box office in the next two weeks before the festival of Diwali. Tomorrow will see the release of 4-5 films and the biggest among them is Goodbye.
It stars Amitabh Bachchan in the lead and marks the debut of Rashmika Mandanna in Bollywood. Neena Gupta, Sunil Grover, Pavail Gulati, Elli AvrRam and Ashish Vidyarthi also star in this film which is directed by Vikas Bahl. It is about a dysfunctional family that comes together after the death of a family member.
The trailer has caught attention and seems like a funny and moving film. Though Rashmika Mandanna has extensively promoted it, the awareness is limited. The makers have decided to sell the tickets on release day for just Rs. 150. Moreover, it's Amitabh Bachchan's 80th birthday on October 11. Hence, Goodbye will be at an advantage since viewers will be insisted on watching Big B's film on his big day. The word of mouth needs to be positive for the film to have that advantage. The opening should be around Rs 1-1.25 crores.
The other major release of the week is GodFather. It's a Telugu film dubbed in Hindi starring Chiranjeevi and Nayanthara. Salman Khan has a cameo and it has given the Hindi version an edge. It was released yesterday on October 5 on the Dussehra holiday. In Hindi, it opened at Rs. 2 crores and the word of mouth is mixed. Its target should be to cross the collections of Rocketry: The Nambi Effect and Karthikeya 2 which collected Rs. 22 crores and Rs. 24 crores respectively. Of course, it looks dicey right now but anything can happen with dubbed films.
Then, Karan Razdan's Hindutva will release tomorrow. There's no star cast and hence, there’s no awareness despite such a controversial title. And lastly, Chakki will hit cinemas tomorrow as well. It stars Rahul Bhat and is presented by Umesh Shukla of OMG Oh My God fame. Sadly, since awareness is zero, it'll sink without a trace.
And that’s not all. Maja Ma was released today on Amazon Prime Video. It stars Madhuri Dixit in the lead along with Gajraj Rao, Ritwik Bhowmik and Barkha Singh. The film’s bold theme has caught attention. Though the response is mixed, it’ll find an audience due to the theme and Madhuri’s presence.
(Crisp) Movie Review: MAJA MA by FENIL SETA
11:52 AM
Maja Ma starts on a great note. The twist in the first 20 minutes is unexpected. One expects fireworks from here on. Some scenes are quite impactful too. Sadly, there’s no consistency in the narrative as there are places where the film falls. A few developments don’t make sense and have no relevance. The behaviour of the characters is not justified either. A few jokes are funny but also seem out of place in a film like this. Madhuri Dixit is graceful and delivers a superb performance, as expected. Gajraj Rao gets limited scope in the first half but later, he shines. Ritwik Bhowmik and Barkha Singh look superb and do well. Their chemistry is electrifying. Srishti Shrivastava leaves a mark. Rajit Kapur and Sheeba Chadha are dependable. Simone Singh is fine and is a part of a clapworthy sequence. Sadly, she’s let down by her character to an extent. Ninad Kamat, Malhar Thakar and Kavin Dave are fine. All in all, Maja Ma is an average fare despite a novel storyline.
My rating - ** ½ out of 5!
My rating - ** ½ out of 5!
Most homemakers in our country struggle to find themselves-Barkha Singh
8:28 AM
Sharing screen space with Madhuri in Maja Ma, Barkha on how the film’s theme of a woman carving her identity drew her to the project
Letty Mariam Abraham (MID-DAY; October 6, 2022)
Only months after she played the rich brat in the second season of Masaba Masaba, Barkha Singh slips into the role of a millionaire’s daughter in Maja Ma. But one can be assured that the two roles are as different as chalk and cheese. Anand Tiwari’s directorial venture sees Singh’s character gear up for a big, fat wedding with her boyfriend, essayed by Ritwik Bhowmik. However, the shaadi is called off after a video featuring Pallavi, played by Madhuri Dixit-Nene, goes viral.
“It is a sensitive story told humorously,” says Singh of the Amazon Prime Video movie that also stars Gajraj Rao and Rajit Kapur. In narrating the journey of the devoted homemaker Pallavi, the director throws light on women’s quest for their identity.
“When we go out and work, we have an identity. But most homemakers in our country struggle to find themselves. The film [addresses] that in a non-preachy way. In the end, we let the audience decide whether it is wrong or right.”
If standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Dixit was a matter of pride for Singh, bringing Tiwari’s vision alive was sheer joy. She credits the director for etching each character with care. “He makes the effort to sit with his actors to develop their characters. He allows them their space, while also [nudging them] in the right direction,” she states.
Going forward, the actor, who has played a string of girl-next-door roles, hopes to bag some “dark, gruesome” characters. “I would also like to play a cop some day, mainly because it goes against my image,” she smiles.
It was so difficult to keep a straight face while enacting certain scenes with Gajraj Rao-Madhuri Dixit
8:18 AM
Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; October 4, 2022)
Time stands still when it comes to Madhuri Dixit. Even today, she makes you go dhak-dhak each time she appears on the screen, her latest being, Maja Ma. Ahead of the premiere of the film on October 6 on Prime Video, the beautiful actress talks about what piqued her interest in the story, her desire to push the envelope with every project, and how the OTT boom has changed the game for actors. Excerpts…
Maja Ma is your first film in the OTT domain. What about the script appealed to you?
The film is set in a colourful festive season with the quintessential Indian wedding as the backdrop. It’s a story of a perfectly imperfect family, centred around Pallavi Patel, who is a doting mother and a perfect wife. She is someone the community looks up to, but somewhere she begins to lose her identity as can be seen in the trailer. She says, ‘Main ek maa hoon, ek biwi hoon, lekin uske alaawa bhi mera wajood hai’. It’s a beautiful, warm, and funny film, but with a message told in a simple and non-preachy manner.
Tell us about your interaction with the cast. Your co-star Gajraj Rao seems to be in awe of you and has mentioned that he would change his name to Anil Kapoor just to work with you. How does it feel to have so many admirers wherever you go?
The entire cast bonded like a family on the first day itself and the love reflects in the film. Even though there were emotional scenes, we enjoyed each other’s company. There was a lot of appreciation for each other and Gajraj ji especially. He is also a director with a string of commercials to his credit. I remember once after I completed a scene, I was confused about whether I got it right. I wanted to ask Anand (the director), but he was busy on the phone. Gajraj ji saw my face, came up to me, and said, ‘Bohot achha tha’. So, his attention to detail is admirable and his comic timing is terrific. One look at his face and you want to laugh. It was so difficult to keep a straight face while enacting certain scenes with him. I literally had to sing a sad song in my head or else, I would have burst out laughing!
We also have these bright young actors (Ritwik Bhowmik, Barkha Singh and Srishti Shrivastava) who are so good. Of course, Anand (Tiwari, the director), who is also an actor, producer Amritpal Singh Bindra, and the Leo Media Collective team make everything on the set so easy and comfortable. It was a cohesive unit. We shot during COVID, but we made sure to protect each other.
After watching the promo, one realises that apart from complex dynamics in human relationships, the film also touches upon how a couple’s sex life changes after marriage. How important is it to be open about such topics and have a more sensitised approach?
It’s very important to talk about love and relationships with friends, your husband and your family without feeling uncomfortable. It’s important to keep an open dialogue because without that, it is difficult to maintain joy and relationships in family or in life. Communication is important for any relationship to thrive.
You have an enviable body of work. What continues to drive you as an actor and draws you to a script?
By taking up challenging roles and going with my gut. I played a different character in my first web series, which dropped earlier this year. It’s the same with Maja Ma. I have to challenge myself with every role I select. That’s what I am trying to do. When you take on something challenging, it keeps you on your toes and pushes you to walk that extra mile. I also love exploring different art forms other than acting and dancing. I tried singing because I love it. What’s important to me basically is to be serious about my craft, but have fun while I am at it as well.
The garba track, Boom Padi in Maja Ma, has become quite a rage and has everyone grooving to it this festive season. Dance has been a huge part of your career and you are still called the queen of dance in Bollywood. How important is dance in your life?
Dance for me is like breathing. It’s a very spiritual thing. Even now, if I want to work out, I dance, so it’s an extremely important part of my life. It makes me feel happy and connected with the universe. Everybody should try dancing, it changes not only your body but mind, soul... everything! There is a lot of beauty in it and there is a lot of joy you get from it.
You played strong characters even when it was believed there was a dearth of strong characters for actresses compared to their male counterparts. Now, you have forayed into OTT. Do you think that the medium has opened a floodgate of opportunities?
Absolutely. You have a series being carried by actresses at the centre of it. I would say that life imitates art and art imitates life. There are all kinds of people and not just youngsters who make up society and life. There are many age groups that have stories to be told and that’s what is happening on OTT. Brilliant actors, who were struggling to find their place in cinema, are getting to show their talent on the web because there is space for everyday people and relatable characters. That’s the one thing I find really great about OTT is that everyone is getting to showcase their talent, which is amazing.
You had entered the film industry at a time when opportunities were directly proportional to your stardom. The focus, today, is shifting from stars to actors. You’ve been a superstar for decades. How does it feel to be working in an era when the concept of superstardom is fast changing?
Talent has always been important. Talent nahi hoga toh how can you even make it on screen? You had to be talented, but you had to be a star as well. If you think about it, cinema was the only source of entertainment at that time. We didn’t have so many channels and OTT platforms. Today, there are stars everywhere, be it on Instagram, Twitter, OTT, or TV. If you are a star today, you have to manage your social media as well. Back then, stars had to have a certain mysteriousness around them. But today, they want to know all about you. So, things have changed and you have to adapt to changing times.
Men can romance much younger women. But when a woman does it, people have a problem-Madhuri Dixit
8:06 AM
Playing a mom of two in Maja Ma, Madhuri notes that on-screen depiction of mothers is changing, thanks to novel stories on OTT
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; October 1, 2022)
She played an actor whose star is on the wane in The Fame Game. In Maja Ma, she essays the role of a homemaker who is the backbone of her family. Distinct as the two characters are, Madhuri Dixit-Nene believes a common thread ties them — their fight to stand their ground in a male-dominated world. She points to her character Pallavi in the upcoming Amazon Prime Video offering to observe that the portrayal of mothers on screen is changing for the better.
“I am also a wife and mother. So, I know Pallavi’s emotions. Maja Ma is a story of empowerment. Be it in cinema or on OTT platforms, today, women are looked at as individuals first; society [comes later]. They come from different walks of life, have different ambitions and their own set of rules,” she beams.
Maja Ma — also starring Gajraj Rao, Rajit Kapur, Ritwik Bhowmik and Barkha Singh in pivotal roles — sees Dixit’s character facing a difficult situation head-on after a mysterious video featuring her goes viral, in the days leading to her son’s wedding. Through the film, director Anand Tiwari showcases how women are constantly judged by society.
“It is a patriarchal society. Women are always judged for everything,” asserts the actor. “[For instance], men can romance much younger women. But when a woman does it, [people say], ‘What does she think she is doing? Why is she doing this?’ Fortunately, things are changing now. In The Fame Game, my character was shown in love with someone younger than her, but nobody questioned it. So, things are [evolving], but we have a long way ahead.”
The past few decades of Hindi cinema were hardly kind to its female characters. Strong women protagonists were the exception rather than the norm. Dixit, however, says that she sought scripts that saw women exercising their agency. “Be it Dil [1990], Hum Aapke Hain Koun [1994], Dil To Pagal Hai [1997] or Pukar [1999], all these women were strong and had something to say in their own way. I always looked for such roles. I like to play a character who has a mind of her own.”
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