Bollywood diva Madhuri named for Padma Shri

Jan 25, 2008 IANS

New Delhi, Jan 25 (IANS) Bollywood actress Madhuri Dixit, who won many hearts with her million-dollar-smile and returned to the silver screen with "Aaja Nachle" after a five-year hiatus last year, has been named among the Padma Shri awardees this year.

The ravishing actress has several hits to her credit, including "Tezaab", "Dil" "Dil To Pagal Hain" and "Devdas".

Though her comeback film, after marriage to a US-based doctor and two kids, proved to be a dud at the box office, Madhuri remained unfazed.

"I have never been a part of number game and we are not the racing horses who should be numbered. Either the work you do is good or bad. I have come back not because I miss the media archlights or being written about... it's secondary. I missed my craft!" she was quoted as saying.

Madhuri forayed into filmdom with "Abodh" in 1986 and was catapulted to fame with the hit dance number "Ek Do Teen" in "Tezaab" (1988).

There was no looking back for Madhuri who went on to give a string of hits like "Dayavan" and "Ram Lakhan". She bagged the Filmfare Best Actress Award for her performance in "Dil", in which she starred opposite Aamir Khan. She once again walked away with the coveted award for her role in "Beta".

Madhuri's electrifying dance number "Choli ke peechche.." in "Khalnayak" proved a huge hit and her fan following simply soared.

She repeated the success story in Bollywood blockbuster "Hum Aapke Hain Koun!", where she shared screen space with Salman Khan and bagged yet another Filmfare.

Her powerful performance in mega hit "Dil To Pagal Hai" won her a fourth best actress award.

The dancing diva also charmed renowned Indian painter M.F. Hussain, who cast her in his film "Gaja Gamini".

In 2001, Madhuri was awarded the National Citizens Award, which recognises excellence in various activities affecting national life. The very next year she starred in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's mega-budget "Devdas" with Shah Rukh Khan and Aishwarya Rai. Not only did her acting earn rave reviews, she also bagged a Filmfare Award for best supporting actress.

It was after Devdas that she decided to take a break from Bollywood and devote more time to her family in the US.

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Aaja Nachle