Letting bygones be bygones

Actress Juhi Chawla, who is sharing the screen space with her once arch rival Madhuri Dixit for the first time in Gulaab Gang, calls the dhak dhak girl
her ‘one of the best co-stars’ so far.

Loosely based on Uttar-Pradesh based Sampat Pal’s Gulabi Gang, which works for the women’s betterment, Gulaab Gang features Madhuri in the main lead, and Juhi in a negative role. “I enjoyed working in Gulaab Gang because I was working with Madhuri in the film. First time, we shot the scenes with each other,” Juhi said.

“I think she (Madhuri Dixit) has been one of my best co-stars,” Juhi said. Juhi made her acting debut in 1986 with Sultanat, while Madhuri started acting with 1984 film Abodh.

But both the actresses had their first commercial hits in 1988 — Juhi made it big with Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, while Madhuri rocked the nation with her Ek do teen number in Tezaab.

Recalling the time of their rivalry, Juhi said, “There was a time when we were archrivals and that rivalry remained for many years. We used to talk little bit. Whenever we met at any function or on the set of the film....just said ‘hello’ and moved ahead,” the 46-year-old said.

But now, putting all the rivalry aside, Juhi is really looking forward to Gulaab Gang. “After so many years, we both have got an opportunity to work together in a film. Besides, when I accepted that the script is very strong and she (Madhuri) is the hero and I am the villain in the film, it became very easy to work in the film,” Juhi said.

Co-produced by Anubhav Sinha and Abhinay Deo, Gulaab Gang is directed by debutante Soumik Sen.

Crediting Soumik for breaking the ice between her and Madhuri, Juhi said, “Soumik did one of the best things.

He called the whole gang (team) of the film and read out the script. Before the shooting of the film, he called me and Madhuri in his office and said, ‘You people talk about anything, whatever you want to’.”

“So, that was an ‘ice breaker’ (between me and Madhuri) before going on the set,” Juhi recalled.