JOIN USActress Madhuri Dixit, who ruled 80's and 90's, feels that contrary to the perception that her contemporary actresses are faded in oblivion they are in fact going strong even today.
The 'dhak dhak' girl, whose item song 'Ghagra' with Ranbir Kapoor is topping the charts of late, is one of the judges in the dance reality show 'Jhalak Dikhla Jaa'and has two films 'Gulab Gang', and 'Dedh Ishqiya' in her hand.
Even though actors Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgn--all in their 40's--are ruling Bollywood even today, heroines who starred opposite them in their heydays are either faded away from arc lights or content with character roles but Madhuri believes it is not the case.
"It is great to see all actors up there. They all have worked hard. Juhi Chawla, Kajol, Sridevi all are doing wonderful work today. One should not generalise that actresses of our times are not around, it is not right.
"All these ladies are doing good work. They are going strong. They are making their own space," the actress told PTI.
Even after her marriage with US-based Dr Shriram Nene in 1999, Madhuri continued to act in films.
"I have always worked. Even after getting married and going there (US) I did 'Devdas', 'Lajja', 'Pukar', 'Hum Tumhare Hai Sanam', 'Aaja Nach Le', 'Jhalak Dikhla Jaa'. I did a lot of work after marriage. So it was not that I left and went. I have always been here," she said.
Madhuri dismissed reports that she will be performing a special song in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's upcoming magnum opus 'Ram Leela' with Ranveer Singh.
"Nobody has approached me for the song. And there is no talk about it. I don't know from where these stories are coming from," she said.
Madhuri is excited about the first look of her upcoming film 'Gulab Gang' which will be unveiled at the International Indian Film Academy Awards (IIFA) to be held in Macau.
She will be attending the event post her shoot for 'Jhalak Dikhla Jaa'.
When asked whether she will be doing some intimate scenes with actor Naseeruddin Shah in upcoming film 'Dedh Ishqiya', a sequel to 2010 hit 'Ishqiya', the 46-year-old replied cautiously.
"I will do things that I am comfortable with. When people will see the film they will know," she said.
Madhuri is portraying the role of Begum Para in Abhishek Choubey's directorial venture 'Dedh Ishqiya', which is said to be different from the one played by Vidya Balan in 'Ishqiya'.
Also, the first part was peppered with expletives used by Vidya but in the second installation is learnt to have struck out cuss words from dialogues.
"My character does not need to do all that (use cuss words or foul language). She is a begum and she won't be talking in that sort of a language," Madhuri said.