Raza Murad Reveals How Madhuri Dixit Almost Quit Acting After Flops: “She Was Too Thin,” Said a Playback Singer Who Rejected Her for Marriage
Veteran actor Raza Murad recently reflected on Madhuri Dixit’s early career struggles and the surprising turn her life almost took before she became one of Bollywood’s most iconic stars. In a candid interview with The Filmy Charcha, Murad recalled that Madhuri delivered eight consecutive flops, leading her family to believe her acting career was over.
“She was doing insignificant films like Abodh and Awara Baap. Nobody cared for her, nobody noticed her. Her parents decided to get her married because her career was at rock bottom,” Murad said.
He went on to share a little-known anecdote about a potential marriage proposal that didn’t go as expected.
“They made her meet a playback singer. He looked at her and said, ‘She’s too thin’,” he revealed.
Subhash Ghai’s Timely Intervention
According to Raza Murad, fate had something else in store for Madhuri, and it arrived in the form of filmmaker Subhash Ghai.
“Sometime later, she was filming in Kashmir with Rajesh Khanna. Close by, Subhash Ghai was also at work. Her hairdresser went to meet him, and he asked what film she was working on. She introduced him to Madhuri, and he was immediately struck by her appearance. He asked her to meet him in Mumbai and relaunched her because he had a good sense. Otherwise, it was basically pack-up time for her,” he recalled.
From Flops to Fame
Madhuri’s film debut in 1984 with Abodh failed to impress. Her next projects—including Swati, Manav Hatya, Hifazat, Uttar Dakshin, Mohre, and Khatron Ke Khiladi—also failed at the box office. She first tasted success with Dayavan, but her breakthrough came with Tezaab and Ram Lakhan, films that established her as a bankable star and household name.
What’s Next for Madhuri?
Madhuri Dixit was most recently seen in Anees Bazmee’s Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, which also starred Vidya Balan, Kartik Aaryan, and Triptii Dimri. The horror-comedy performed well at the box office, grossing ₹389.28 crore worldwide.
Up next, she’ll be seen in Mrs. Deshpande, a psychological thriller series directed by Nagesh Kukunoor, where she plays a serial killer. The project is an Indian remake of a French show, with more details yet to be officially announced.