After working over three decades in Hindi cinema, Madhuri Dixit Nene, Bollywood’s most popular Maharashtrian face, finally makes her Marathi film debut. In Bucket List, Dixit plays many roles that she easily identifies with – a mother, a wife, a daughter and a daughter-in-law. One that required most working is to be a recipient of a heart transplant.
Bucket List follows the journey of a woman who decides to fulfill the many wishes of her young donor. “When I was approached with this subject I loved it,” she said. “She wants to do something for the girl because she gave her a second shot at life.”
The film’s trailer has stood out for the cameo by Ranbir Kapoor. Dixit admitted she had a part in getting her Ghagra co-star to be a part of the film. “They just came to me with this idea of a little scene in a pub. It needed something exciting, some high point and they suggested ‘Why not ask Ranbir to do this?'”, recalled Dixit. “He was so gracious about it. People were going crazy on set. He charmed everyone.”
The film also marks Dixit’s first collaboration with Renuka Shahane, her Hum Aapke Hai Koun co-star after 24 years. “When I came to know that they were trying to get Renuka for the film, I was like ‘Of course she has to be in it.’ The producer told me there were some date issues. “I called her up and said ‘Renuka, aren’t you doing this movie?’ She’s like, ‘Of course I am doing it.’ It was really sweet of her.”
Shahane plays the mother of the donor who initially has trouble accepting the woman who now holds her daughter’s heart. “She adds so much gravitas to the role,” said Dixit about Shahane. “There is a lovely equation between these two women in the film.”
Dixit was all praise for the Marathi audience whose openness to new ideas is what she believes one of the major reasons why the film industry has flourished. “They are the ones who are ardent fans of plays which have different themes and subjects and accept them,” she said.
Next up after Bucket List are two Hindi films. In 2018 Dixit will be seen reteaming with her popular co-star Anil Kapoor for Total Dhamaal.
“I’m the only woman in the star cast and it gives me an opportunity to do this zany comedy which I love doing,” she said. “All the roles are out there.” Kalank, with another 1990s co-star in Sanjay Dutt, is vastly different. “It is very muted and understated kind of role.” Dixit, 51, is happy with the offers coming her way. “I just want the scripts to be good be it in Hindi or Marathi,” she said. “Language doesn’t matter.”