Madhuri Dixit ‘Maa Behen’, is his latest OTT release. The pulp comedy has struck a chord with audiences for its twisted humor, deep commentary on the judgments women routinely face, and the casual silliness they often face for being themselves.The themes of the film resonate with Madhuri’s experiences in her own life. The actress opened up about dealing with criticism and body shaming in the early days of her career in the 1980s.“You are a public figure. You are putting yourself out there. Of course, some comments will come your way yeh aisi hai, yeh waisi hai. When I started, they thought I was too skinny. It would be like Isko kuch khilaao (laughs). When it comes to these things, people are very quick to judge,” Madhuri said in an interview with News18 Showsha, highlighting how female actors are often body-shamed.Reflecting on society’s tendency to comment on women’s appearance, the actress highlighted how such judgments are embedded in everyday interactions.“They judge you for gaining weight, if you have lost weight. Waise bhi, India mein, jaise hi aap kisi ko milte hai, they say, ‘Arrey, yeh toh kitni moti ho gayi hai ya toh kitni patli ho gayi hai.’ That’s the first thing they say. There’s no filter here.”Madhuri believes that she had an advantage that many public figures today do not have, the absence of social media. The actor said that even then there were critics, but it did not come directly to the celebrities as it is now.“But I think he has to take these things in his stride and not pay too much attention to it. Back in the day, there were judgments. [much like today]but we didn’t meet because there was no social media,” he said.The actress added that self-acceptance is essential to combating constant scrutiny and online negativity.“These days, because of social media and the anonymity that comes with it, people can say anything. But one should focus more on what one is doing and what one is passionate about and what one enjoys and loves doing. The idea is to love yourself,” he says.Meanwhile, Madhuri’s name recently surfaced in connection with an old rumor that she was a singer. Suresh Wadkar she rejected her family’s marriage proposal because she was “too skinny”. Countering the speculation, Wadkar dismissed the claim in an interview with The Lallantop.“He was thin at the time. If you watch Abodh, you’ll see how thin he was. [But] the proposal never even reached me, so how can I reject it?” he said.As for ‘Maa Behen’, the film is being appreciated for showing another side of Madhuri’s talent. Rekha’s portrayal in particular has won audiences and critics alike. News18’s review praised her performance, saying, “Although often praised for her dancing and dramatic roles, Maa Behen reminds audiences of her incredible comic timing. As Rekha, she delivers a performance that is funny, vulnerable and incredibly relatable.“
