Blonde Ambition: when bad wigs happen to Bollywood babes: Madhuri Dixit, Manisha Koirala and Urmila

 

Blonde Ambition: when bad wigs happen to Bollywood babes: Madhuri Dixit, Manisha Koirala and Urmila 

So many... nos! 

Madhuri Dixit by Gautam Rajadhyaksha

Madhuri Dixit by Gautam Rajadhyaksha. 

Much has been written about the symbiotic relationship between dancer Madhuri Dixit and choreographer Saroj Khan, her frequent collaborations with actors like Anil Kapoor and Shahrukh Khan... but the most fruitful, flawless friendship and working relationship she shared was with the gentle giant of photography, the late great Gautam Rajadhyaksha. 

They experimented with looks, style, lighting, poses, wardrobe, wigs... With the aid of the master of makeup, Mickey Contractor. So many of Gautam da's photo essays, books had Madhuri on the cover. In her, he found his perfect muse. In him, a mentor. Fate took him so suddenly - Madhuri was in the US and couldn't even attend his funeral or prayers in time. 

Alas. A rich, photogenic chapter ended so abruptly. 

Many have worked with Dixit since and before, but nothing quite like what the holy trinity of media pulled together; Madhuri, Mickey and Gautam. 

Aishwarya Rai, Madhuri Dixit and Shahrukh Khan at the premiere of Devdas in Mumbai

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Throwback to: July 12, 2002

Aishwarya Rai, Madhuri Dixit and Shahrukh Khan at the premiere of Devdas in Mumbai 
 

Madhuri Dixit: Real pic: An Ai alteration

A fake pic. A real pic. Can you tell which is which? AI pics of Indian celebrities are taking over social media like a disease.

MOVIE magazine's Portraits: Collector's Edition

 

One of the senior editors at MOVIE magazine, Jitender Kothari, was a mega Madhuri fan - and she graced the cover of MOVIE more often than Sridevi during his tenure. 

Photogenic Madhuri Dixit has graced several magazine covers and as a model and muse for many a photographer - including Gautam Rajadhyaksha, Dabboo Ratnani and others - it would be hard to pin point one singular cover as the best of Madhuri. 

Well, I dare say, its this one. That smile, that face, those Colgate blessed teeth... The coiff, the soft lighting, the elegant makeup and glamour (take a bow Mickey Contractor!). She's never looked better. Which is saying something considering how often how great she looks in photoshoots.... 

The stylist Edit: Madhuri Dixit : Aishwarya Rai

 The stylist Edit: Madhuri Dixit : Aishwarya Rai 

The Flamenco Dress in Bollywood; Helen, Rekha, Madhuri Dixit

The stylist edit:  The sparklling red and black lace fringed flamenco dress in Bollywood; Helen, Rekha, Madhuri Dixi! 

RIP Aasha Bhosle: Singing legend passes at age 92

Take away the songs of Lata Mangeshkar and Aasha Bhosle from Indian cinema, you take away the soul of Bollywood. Aasha Bhosle sang about 20 songs for Sridevi, and just 10 for Madhuri Dixit. But what songs! .

RIP Aasha Bhosle. 

Madhuri Dixit-Nene in Devdas (2002)

Madhuri Dixit-Nene, 35, in Devdas (2002)
 

Bollywood Beauties in Bad Wigs

 Just... awful. 90s in Bollywood was experimenting - it wasn't always a hit! 

Icons only: Rekha, Madhuri Dixit, Sridevi, Hema Malini

 Icons only: Rekha, Madhuri Dixit, Sridevi, Hema Malini

Rekha, Madhuri Dixit and Sridevi: Number One Actresses: The Best of Bollywood

Rekha, Madhuri Dixit and Sridevi: Number One Actresses: The Best of Bollywood 
 

Madhuri Dixit

 

Anil Kapoor and Madhuri Dixit's epic fiasco: Raajkumar (1996)

 

Made by Pankaj (Chaalbaaz) Parasher, this over-the-top costume drama fantasy film is just a huge huge mistake that released in 1996. It is to Madhuri Dixit what Roop ki Choron Ka Raja was to Sridevi (same co-star Anil Kapoor!), an expensive mistake riddled with bizarre costumes. A song thrown in to salvage the unsalvageable. 

But like Roop ki Rani... it has a fair share of fans in pockets around the world. Go figure...

Madhuri Dixit

 Look from... Ram Lakhan? 

The stylist edit: Sridevi and Madhuri Dixit

The stylist edit: over the top costumes of the early 90s, late 80s! Bless Madhuri Dixit and Sridevi that their imperious beauty let them get away with the leftovers of 1980s fashion. Sridevi looked like a doll and Madhuri's photogenic face pulled off several sartorial absurdities! Thank God both grew into style icons with their own signature. 

La Dixit struggled a little longer... but she found her place in the sun. eventually...

More of Sridevi and 'that' costume from Naaka Bandi here.

Rekha, Madhuri Dixit, Sridevi: The Number One Actresses of their Time

Rekha, Madhuri Dixit, Sridevi: The Number One Actresses of their Time 
 

Aishwarya Rai and Madhuri Dixit on the sets of Devdas

Creating magic, history, with the most popular, complex, artistic, gorgeously and intricately choreographed dance number in the history of Indian cinema.... 

Oh Saroj Khan. What a legacy.  

Madhuri Dixit and Aishwarya Rai: Passing the baton

Madhuri Dixit and Aishwarya Rai: Passing the baton 

Ash recieved her Best Actress screen award for Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. 
 

TBT to October 1992: Madhuri Dixit in a blonde wig

TBT: Madhuri Dixit, 25, in a blonde wig. Right... there is a history of Bollywood's leading ladies wearing bad, cheap wigs on film. This just adds to the list. Don't be fooled by the perfection of the makeup (Mickey Contractor), the soft lens photographer (the late great Gautam Rajadhyaksha!) and that famous smile of la Dixit. This is an awful wig... 

Filmfare, October 1992.