Aspiring Actress Reflects on 22 Years of Iconic Madhuri Dixit Tribute Film

In a recent interview, actress Antara Mali looked back on her role in the 2001 film Main Madhuri Dixit Banna Chahti Hoon, which celebrated its 22nd anniversary earlier this week. Directed by Chandan Arora and produced by Ram Gopal Varma, the film centered around an aspiring actress named Chutki who is fixated on emulating her idol, Bollywood superstar Madhuri Dixit.

Mali, who played Chutki, revealed that her own admiration for Madhuri Dixit made the role particularly enjoyable. "I'm a huge fan of the actress myself. That made the role more fun to play," she said. Even when required to imitate Madhuri's iconic dance moves repeatedly, Mali found the experience rewarding, as she had "always loved her songs and dances."

The film, which blended elements of fantasy and disillusionment, was inspired by the aspirational quality that has long been a part of Indian cinema. Mali noted that while she had to balance playing Chutki as a distinct character, she also had to capture the essence of Chutki imitating Madhuri. It was a delicate balance, but one that Mali seemed to have mastered, earning praise for her performance.