I never went away: Madhuri Dixit

Actor Madhuri Dixit, who ruled the 80's
and 90's, feels that contrary to the
perception that her contemporary
heroines are faded in oblivion, they are in
fact going strong even today. Madhuri,
whose item song 'Ghagra' with Ranbir Kapoor topped the charts recently, is one
of the judges in the dance reality show Jhalak Dikhla Jaa and has two
films, in
her kitty.

Even though actors Shah Rukh Khan,
Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, Akshay Kumar
and Ajay Devgn, all in their 40's, are
active in Bollywood even today, heroines
who starred opposite them in their
heydays either faded away from arc lights or are content playing
character roles. But
Mads believes it is not the case.

"It is great to see all actors up there. They
all have worked hard. Juhi Chawla, Kajol,
Sridevi all are doing wonderful work
today. One should not generalise that
actresses of our times are not around, it
is not right." She adds, "All these ladies are doing good work. They are going
strong. They are making their own space."

Even after her marriage with US-based Dr
Shriram Nene in 1999, Madhuri continued
to act in films. "I have always worked.
Even after getting married and going
away, I did Devdas, Lajja, Pukar, Hum
Tumhare Hai Sanam, Aaja Nach Le and Jhalak Dikhla Jaa. I did a lot of work after
marriage. So it was not that I left and
went away. I have always been here," she
said.

Madhuri dismissed reports that she will
be performing a special song in Sanjay
Leela Bhansali's upcoming film, Ram
Leela. "Nobody has approached me for
the song. And there is no talk. I don't
know where these stories are coming from."