Madhuri gives tips to women on getting fit and strong

With Women's day around the corner, the ever fit and ever gorgeous Madhuri Dixit gave tips to women on getting fit and strong.

The Bollyood diva highlighted the importance of fitness and also encouraged women to gear up and fight against crime. The actor shared her experience in training for her upcoming film - Gulaab gang. Madhuri has been trained by Shifu Kanishka, who with his immense knowledge of the martial arts. The ace trainer gave tips on women empowerment and demonstrated how women can defend themselves with some very simple moves along with Gold's Gym trainer Sunil Haryan.
Welcoming them and encouraging women to get fit was VP Marketing Gold's Gym Althea Shah who encouraged Madhuri Dixit to show some moves herself. Women members from across Mumbai witnessed the occasion and got a chance to meet Madhuri at the special event at Gold's Gym, Bandra.

Also present was CEO Sahara Movie Studios Mr. Sandeep Bhargava who along with Madhuri presented all women with special edition Gulaab gang pepper sprays.

By arrangement with Mid-Day.com

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LGBT Community Embraces Madhuri and Huma's L@sbian Love

Last week the co-producers of Dedh Ishqiya Shemaroo hosted a screening of Dedh Ishqiya for the LGBT(lesbian, gay, bi-sexual trans-gender) community at the PVR Juhu.

A first for any mainstream commercial Hindi film. Earlier Onir's I Am and Viacom 18's Bombay Talkies which also dealt with homosexuality, never got around to screening the films specifically and exclusively for gay-transgender communities.

The response to Madhuri Dixit and Huma Qureshi's alluded lesbianism in Dedh Ishqiya was overwhelming during the LGBT screening of the film. Now one hears the producers want to further tap the non-mainstream alternate-sex market by screening the film in different cities and then abroad for the gay community.
Says Ketan Maroo of Shemaroo, `We are quite overwhelmed by the response to the film from every community. We are happy the LGBT community has embraced the film .Dedh Ishqiya has also been loved by female audiences which is proven by the fact the Wednesday and Thursday afternoon shows have been flocked by women's groups Wednesday and Thursday afternoons are generally when kitty parties are held.Audiences have been in splits during the movie and have gone out and spread the good word.

And this is proven by the growth and sustained performance of the film at the multiplexes.`

The film has also been extremely well-received in Pakistan and UAE where the the theme of forbidden same-sex love from behind the purdah , inspired by Ismat Chugtai's short story The Quilt, has evoked tremendous curiosity.

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Madhuri, Juhi shares 'electric' scenes in 'Gulaab Gang'

Actress Madhuri Dixit says that she has shared some "electric" scenes with Juhi Chawla in the forthcoming movie "Gulaab Gang".

"There are many scenes where we are giving exchanges (eye stares) to each other, (there are) very crackling scenes and give-and-take sequences which are like electricity," the 46-year-old said here Thursday at a radio station.

Madhuri also talked about the action and stunts she has done in the film.
"First time I have done strong and real action. I have done everything myself, there is no stunt double. I enjoyed and hope the audience also does. But nowhere do they look forced, it's comes very naturally in the film, be it action or even the songs," said Madhuri.

Directed by Soumik Sen, "Gulaab Gang" hits the theatres March 7.

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Is Madhuri Dixit the new gay icon?

A special screening of Abhishek Chaubey's film Dedh Ishqiya starring Madhuri Dixit was held for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community on Thursday because of its queer content.

Vivek Anand of Humsafar, a city-based organisation which promotes LGBT rights said, `Dedh Ishqiya has acquired iconic proportions and Madhuri's character as Begum Para is the new diva of the LGBT community.
The producers organised the screening for the community as part of the ongoing month-long events that will culminate in an annual pride walk today which is now been seen as a significant event in the wake of the Supreme Court judgement.`

By arrangement with Mid-Day.com

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Madhuri makes tiring action look effortless

Kanishka Sharma, who trained Madhuri Dixit for action sequences in forthcoming movie "Gulaab Gang", is in awe of the actress and says that she made all the tiring action sequences look effortless on screen.

"I remember a scene where Madhuri had to twist a man's arm and kick him hard. I rehearsed with her for a few hours before the shot, but was a little apprehensive. Later, I was shocked at how comfortably she pulled it off. She makes all my otherwise tiring action look effortless on screen!" Sharma said in a statement.

The 46-year-old diva got trained in rare martial art forms like Shaolin Kung Fu, Pekiti-Tirsia Kali and Shaolin Chin Na for the movie.

"The brief given to me by director Soumik Sen was to design the stunts in a manner that they look both aesthetic as well as realistic. It couldn't be as gritty as crouching tiger, hidden dragon, neither could it be as suave as the matrix," said Sharma.
"I was taken aback by Madhuri's agility and her pitch-perfect timing. I extensively trained Madhuri for a month in Shaolin Kung Fu, besides stick training, Shaolin joint locking, Kali knife, short stick and of course, close combat," he added.

Slated to release March 7, "Gulaab Gang" also features Juhi Chawla.

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Madhuri Dixit and mother turn singers

The actress and her mother have lent their voices to a song in the upcoming film, 'Gulaab Gang'

Not many are aware that actress Madhuri Dixit's mother, Snehlata Dixit, is a trained classical singer. And while daughter Madhuri has taken to the mic for films such as 'Devdas' and Wajood, Snehlata Dixit will be singing for a Bollywood film for the first time. Madhuri Dixit

Director Soumik Sen confirms that he has roped her in to sing a song for his film, Gulaab Gang. What's more, she will be singing alongside Madhuri.

Speaking to HitList, Sen, who is also the music director for the film, said, `It is a kajri (folk song) which starts in Madhuri's mother's voice and then Madhuri takes over from her.

Given her mother's background in music, we didn't need to guide her. I just had to make Madhuri work a little on her pitch for the three-minute song.`
He adds that it wasn't a planned move to have Madhuri's mother on board. `On the day of the recording at Empire Studio, Madhuri was accompanied by her parents.

She then told me that her mother knew the lyrics to the song Rangi sari gulabi chunariya re. I then requested her mother to sing and luckily for me, she obliged,` he recounts, adding that other songs in the film have been sung by classical singer, Kaushiki Chakravarty.

By arrangement with Mid-Day.com

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Madhuri Dixit writes for relocation of elephant Sunder

Bollywood actress Madhuri Dixit-Nene and husband Shriram Nene have sent a letter to Kolhapur MLA Vinay Kore requesting him to ensure relocation of elephant Sunder to a sanctuary.

The letter was sent by the Nene couple to Kore on behalf of People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), an organisation that looks after the well being of animals. Kore, in 2007, had donated the elephant to the Jyotiba temple in Kolhapur.
The letter comes in advance of the next High Court hearing, scheduled for January 21, for a case in which PETA is seeking Sunder's release from temple where the elephant has been kept chained and inside dark sheds for most of the time.
"(Sunder) has scars on his legs and cowers in fear and pain because he is being beaten by his mahout," write Dixit-Nene and her husband. "He should live free from suffering, in the company of other elephants, and have the opportunity to roam vast distances," they wrote.

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'Gulaab Gang' was my last chance to work with Madhuri: Juhi Chawla

Actress Juhi Chawla, who will be seen with Madhuri Dixit for the first time in "Gulaab Gang", says she doesn't think they will get another chance to work together in future.

Madhuri and Juhi were contemporaries in the 1990s but they never worked together during their prime.
"I think this ('Gulaab Gang') was the last chance I got to work with her (Madhuri Dixit) and I don't think we will again get a chance to work together in future," Juhi told reporters Monday at the screening of Bengali movie "Jatishwar" here.
"Gulaab Gang" has a very strong script and Juhi feels that such stories are not churned out in bulk, therefore, she isn't so hopeful of seeing her and Madhuri on the big screen together again.
"It happens once in a lifetime when we get such a good script and where we can work together with such dedication. So, I don't imagine that we will again be working (together). That's why the film is exciting for us as actors," said Juhi.
Juhi recalls the time when she missed the opportunity to work with Madhuri because of rivalry.
"There were times when I had a chance to work with Madhuri, but at that time we were rivals and I was like, 'I will not work with Madhuri at all'," Juhi spoke candidly.
"Now I agreed to do the film ('Gulaab Gang') as I felt it would be an amazing cast with such an awesome script," she added.
"Gulaab Gang", co-written by director Soumik Sen and producer Anubhav Sinha, is inspired by a group of women activists in the Bundelkhand region and talks about women empowerment.
It features Juhi and Madhuri in completely opposite roles. While Madhuri stands for justice, Juhi stands for political power as she plays a stubborn politician.
"Gulaab Gang" is slated to release March 7, a day before International Women's Day.
Juhi is eager to talk about the movie.
"I am waiting for the promotions to start. I will be happy to talk about the film. It was a unique experience while working in the film. I enjoyed it," she said.

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'Gulaab Gang' trailer crosses 1.5 million hits

Filmmaker Anubhav Sinha is ecstatic at the response to the trailer of his forthcoming co-production "Gulaab Gang" - it has crossed 1.5 million hits on YouTube.

Sinha took to Twitter to "raise a toast" to the amazing progress of the trailer which was released Jan 10.
"Is it okay to raise a toast in the afternoon? A toast to 1.5 million YouTube views of 'Gulaab Gang' trailer in four days," Sinha posted on the microblogging site Tuesday.
Starring Madhuri Dixit and Juhi Chawla, "Gulaab Gang" talks about pink sari-clad women activists who protest against the social injustice against women in the Bundelkhand region of central India. Madhuri will be seen in a fiery avatar and has action scenes as well while Juhi plays a politician.
Directed by Soumik Sen and presented and co-produced by Sahara Movie Studios and Bharat Shah, the film will hit screens March 7.

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By: Karan Anshuman

Film: Dedh Ishqiya
Cast: Naseeruddin Shah, Madhuri Dixit, Arshad Warsi, Huma Qureshi, Vijay Raaz, Manoj Pahwa
Director Abhishek Choubey
Certification: U/A
Rating: ***

Dedh Ishiqya has very little to do with the first part. It is a lot more fantasy, a lot less real; a lot more about poetry, a lot less about ubiquitous gas cylinders; a lot more love, without diluting the fellowship established in Ishqiya. A melange of genres, the genesis of Dedh Ishqiya's moods might've roots in the works of a cross-section of cinema - from Vishal Bhardwaj himself to Robert Rodriguez (what with the inventive Mexican standoffs), but it stays consistent to the form it chooses and creates an atmosphere that only comes when hearing good poetry. Oh yes, the sequel, the film significantly better than Part I.

Set in made-up Mehmudabad, Begum Para (Madhuri Dixit) is auditioning for a husband who must be a poet. From her past appears Khalujaan (Naseeruddin Shah) masquerading as a nawab, facing off for her hand with another counterfeit royal Jaan Mohammad (Vijay Raaz). Key events in her life shape her decisions as an elaborate ruse of courtship plays out between the pretenders. Babban (Arshad Warsi) tricked into separating from his Mamu, tracks him down with revenge on his mind. But Khalujaan has words at his service, words that fly from his tongue that influence with ease those who hear them and soon they're friends again, playing games of deceit. Only, are their victims smarter?

The highlight of the writing is the dialogue. Vishal Bhardwaj writes songs, poetry, insults, and ideas in Urdu with unrestrained enthusiasm. His lines often act as the honey to help let slide the bitter pill that is an essentially humdrum screenplay with logic loopholes. Dedh Ishqiya also relies on its moments: a hand tremor cured by love, Dixit dancing under the tutelage of Pt Birju Maharaj, Shah singing a song sans music. Treat the film as a light dramedy, and it's hard to be disappointed.

Abhishek Chaubey's direction is sure footed and - like he did with the first film - he pays attention craft, striving for an uncompromised end product. He succeeds by and large. From single frames to entire set pieces, there's deliciousness in their originality. And then there's Kunal Sharma's sound design - one of the best in a long time. What joy it must be for him to work with a voice like Naseer's. His deep intonation of Urdu goes from baritone to bass, and literally makes the floor of the theater quaver. I don't know if you will get a chance to experience this, but it sure was a first for me.

What a relief it so to see good actors choose a script with gravitas. Good writing can only inspire harder work and better performances. Look what it did with Arshad Warsi, coming right out of the shadow of last week's Joe B Carvalho! And, Naseeruddin Shah... thank you. It's delightful to have you back. For a moment it looks like Madhuri Dixit is struggling but then is it possible that in our minds do not allow us to see her as anyone else but Madhuri Dixit? Huma Qureshi keeps her chin up with her deception in the mayhem and gifted Vijay Raaz also gets his due.

Dedh Ishqiya - it's texture, dialogue, and performances - make it good enough to hold up in a repeat viewing. And that's a lot more than you can say about the majority of other films.

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New look: Madhuri, Juhi turn the colour of justice to pink with Gulaab Gang

Somewhere in the Hindi heartland, an ashram of sorts has been set up by Rajjo (Madhuri Dixit) where women armed with axes and sickle and dressed in pink nine yards, mete out the evil and seek out justice for one and all, while making hand-ground spices, hand-woven baskets and hand-woven sarees.

Click to read Trailer out: Watch Madhuri strike terror in Gulaab Gang

But when the party she was campaigning for reveals its true colors, Rajjo knows she has a whole new battle ahead of her and a force of evil she hasn't encountered in the past - Sumitra Devi (Juhi Chawla).

In the new poster, we see Madhuri Dixit and Juhi Chawla in a whole new avtaar in one frame where Juhi tries to put colour on Madhuri's face but she holds her hand instead out of angst.

In the film, Madhuri lives to learn all these years with - The strength of soul, song and stick.

Color of justice definitely turns pink this season with Gulaab Gang. The movie, produced by Anubhav Sinha and presented by Sahara Movie Studios, releases globally March 7, 2014.

Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/new-look-madhuri-juhi-turn-the-colour-of-justice-to-pink-with-gulaab-gang/1/335482.html

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'Dedh Ishqiya' review is Dark comedy at its finest!

Resham Sengar

Back in 2010, there was `Ishqiya`, and now, there is `Dedh Ishqiya`, albeit with edgier characters and a plot that will keep you glued to the screen right till the end.

Director Abhishek Chaubey, takes the risk of taking ahead the storyline from where the trio of Khalu (Naseeruddin Shah), Krishna (Vidya Balan), and Babban (Arshad Warsi) left off after being done with their antics. He has surely come up with an even more convincing picture painted with dark colours with the tinge of comedy.

This time around, Babban, Khalu and the don Mustaq (Salman Shahid) reprise their roles but there is a twist(s) in the story. Khalujaan has a special plan at work. He smartly dons the garb of a shayar called Iftikhaar Hussain in order to win over the beautiful Begum Para of Mahmudabad, who has been holding a massive groom hunt for herself after her husband`s demise. Begum had promised her late husband to remarry the one who could woo her with his shayari.

The graceful Begum Para has an attendant cum confidant, Munira, always by her side. On the other hand, there is a politician named Jaan Mohammad Khan (Vijay Raaz), who is also trying tooth and nail to have the beautiful Begum as his bride. While, the men waiting with bated breath for the Begum`s affections have a conspiracy in place waiting to be executed when the time is ripe. The women too don`t fail to surprise the men and the audiences with their novel shenanigans.

With a cast boasting of pro names of showbiz like Naseeruddin Shah, Vijay Raaz, Arshad, Huma and last but not the least, Madhuri, `Dedh Ishqiya` is a dark gem for the connoisseurs of this genre. Madhuri exudes a charming aura on-screen, and Huma rules every frame she appears on. The chemistry between Madhuri and Naseer saab looks a tad forced perhaps because of their wide age gap, but we will go for the madcap tricks cooked up by the duo Babban and Khalu.

The music delivered by Vishal Bhardwaj is adept in rendering the required force and conviction to the film`s story. Moreover, the neatly edited scenes make the film a captivating treat for the eyes.

Every thing about `Dedh Ishqiya` stands on its own and stands out. Whether you watch it for the Begum`s magic or Babban and Khalu – this caper is sure to delight you.

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Madhuri Dixit invites Sridevi for 'Dedh Ishqiya' premiere?

Actress Madhuri Dixit has reportedly send a special invitation to Sridevi and her other former co-stars for the premiere of her upcoming movie 'Dedh Ishqiya' tomorrow.
Madhuri has apparently invited Sridevi, Boney Kapoor and her other co-stars for the premiere of the movie, which marks her return to the big screen in a lead role after a gap of seven years.
Sridevi and Madhuri were contemporaries in the '80s and '90s. Sridevi made her comeback to screen after a gap of fifteen years with 'English Vinglish' while Madhuri's last release was 'Aaja Nachle' though she did have special appearances in 'Bombay Talkies' and 'Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani'.
The 46-year-old actress plays the role of Begum Para and will be seen romancing Naseeruddin Shah in the Abhishek Chaubey directed film.
'Dedh Ishqiya' is a sequel to the 2010 hit 'Ishqiya' and also features Arshad Warsi, Huma Qureshi and Vijay Raaj in pivotal roles.
The movie, a comic-thriller, is produced by filmmaker Vishal Bharadwaj and Raman Maroo of Shemaroo Entertainment. It is set to hit screens this Friday.

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Madhuri Dixit: Enjoyed playing Begum Para in 'Dedh Ishqiya'

Bollywood diva Madhuri Dixit says playing Begum Para, the new femme fatale in Abhishek Chaubey's 'Dedh Ishqiya', was challenging but fun.

"It was a challenging role because I could not go overboard with the character or underplay it. The more complex a character, the more taut a performance needs to be. Playing Begum Para was like a tightrope walk. It had to be just right and I had to constantly keep that in mind," Madhuri told PTI.

The 46-year-old actress, however, did not find it difficult to master the nuances or the Urdu diction of her character.

"The diction was not a problem as I have done a little bit of Urdu as Chandramukhi in 'Devdas'. My priority was getting the performance right."

The film, a sequel to 2010 'Ishqiya', is slated to release tomorrow. Both Naseeruddin Shah and Arshad Warsi are reprising their roles as Khalujaan and Babban while Huma Qureshi is the other new face in the movie.

Madhuri agreed to be a part of the sequel because she loved the "unapologetic way" Abhishek presented Vidya Balan's character of a beautiful, willful woman in 'Ishqiya'.

"I had seen 'Ishqiya' and was very impressed with the way a woman's character was etched out in it. Vidya was very well presented. There was no apology for the way she was which I found very interesting. So, I was already impressed with Abhishek and Vishalji's (Bhardwaj) work," she says.

It is her first lead role after 'Aaja Nachle' in 2007 but Madhuri does not consider it her comeback as she has been busy doing television, shooting for 'Dedh Ishqiya' and 'Gulaab Gang', her next release in March.

"It is not a comeback because I have been doing work. If a hero does a film after four years, they don't say it's a comeback but if a heroine does a film in three years, it becomes a comeback. This is the way things work here but that's fine. I just hope that people like my two films," Madhuri said. The actress says it was an honour to work with Shah again after films like 'Tridev', 'Rajkumar' and 'Gaj Gamini'.

"We did not have any scenes in 'Tridev' while in 'Rajkumar', he played a negative role. We were also together in 'Gaj Gamini'. It is an honour to work with him every time. He is very natural, you forget that you are doing a scene with him. Our whole chemistry was very beautiful in the film," Madhuri said.

The film also gave her a chance to work to Pandit Birju Maharaj for a song 'Jagaave saari raina'.

"I have two songs 'jagaawe saari raina' which is choreographed by Maharaj ji. This song does not have lip-sync so everything had to be done through acting and body language. The song comes at a very important moment in the film. I had worked with Maharajji in 'Devdas'.

"The other song is 'hamri atariyaa' which I think was more challenging to Remo D'Souza than me because he has never choreographed a classical number."

Her second film 'Gulab Gang' is coming after a gap of just two months. Madhuri, however, is happy that her fans will get a chance to see her in two completely different roles.

"I spent the last two years working on these two films. I think two months is quite a good gap for another film to release. Both the films are poles apart in terms of character and story."

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Madhuri Dixit : Gulaab Gang' trailer to release with ' DEDH ISHQIYA'.

The trailer of actress Madhuri Dixit's upcoming film 'Gulaab Gang' will be screened along with her film 'Dedh Ishiqya' releasing this Friday.

The 46-year-old actress will be seen in 'Dedh Ishqiya' which releases this Friday and the trailer of her yet another highly anticipated film 'Gulaab Gang' will be shown along with it.

Produced by Sahara Movie Studios and Anubhav Sinha, 'Gulaab Gang', which is directed by Soumik Sen, stars Madhuri and Juhi Chawla in the lead roles.

Releasing March 7, the film is inspired by a group of women activists (Gulabi Gang) in the Bundelkhand region and is based on women empowerment.

The film will see Madhuri as a social activist fighting for women.

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Madhuri Dixit:I was the first one who talked about Vidya..!

Mumbai: If Madhuri Dixit oozes talent, she is equally good at recognising and praising genius. Vidya Balan is the case in point.

Madhuri, who has replaced Vidya in the `Dedh Ishqiya`, says that she not only likes the latter`s body of work, but was also the first one to talk about her talent.

Seen as conniving, scheming and sensual woman, Vidya wowed all and sundry with her performances in Abshishek Chaubey directed dark drama `Ishqiya`.

Praising the actress, Madhuri said: “Vidya is wonderful. She is a lovely actress and I not only liked her in `Ishqiya`, I also liked her in her first movie (`Parineeta`)."

“I was the first one who talked about her in an interview, saying she is a good actress. I loved her in `Dirty Picture` and `Kahaani`. She is very talented.”

`Dedh Ishqiya` is coming out Jan 10 and it will see Madhuri, 46, in a completely different avatar. Helmed by Chaubey, the film also stars Naseeruddin Shah, Arshad Warsi, who were there in the original, along with Huma Qureshi.

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