Madhuri Dixit reveals how body-shaming shaped her confidence in the 1980s: WATCH

Veteran actor Madhuri Dixit has spoken candidly about the criticism she has faced over her appearance in the early years of her career, recalling how remarks about her nose and body once made her question herself before her success in acting and career changed everything.

‘They told me to change my nose’

In a conversation with Nayandeep Rakshit on his YouTube channel, Nayansense, Madhuri reflected on the unsolicited advice she received in the mid-1980s, when she was still finding her ground in Hindi cinema.

“A lot of people told me when I had just started — do this, how is your nose, your this, your that,” she said. Madhuri recalled going home upset and sharing these comments with her mother, who reassured her that success would change perceptions. “Once you have a successful movie, that’s the very thing they’ll love about you,” her mother told her. At the time, Madhuri admitted that these words were hard to believe.

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How Tezaab changed everything

In the video she stated that shift came with the release of Tezaab, which turned Madhuri into an overnight sensation. After the film’s success, she noticed that the same traits once criticised were no longer questioned.

“After Tezaab, nobody said anything about being skinny or being this or that. People just accepted me for who I am,” she said.

Looking back, the actor believes that early resistance helped her understand the value of individuality — a lesson she now passes on to younger actors.

Advice to newcomers: Don’t fit into a mould

Madhuri said she often tells new actresses not to chase a fixed idea of beauty. “Don’t try to be in a mould. Don’t say this is how a heroine should look. If you’re different, that’s a uniqueness you have. Play on that,” she said.

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Recent work

Madhuri was last seen in the web series Mrs Deshpande, directed by Nagesh Kukunoor, where she plays a serial killer — a sharp departure from her earlier screen image. The series is currently streaming on JioHotstar.

Speaking earlier about the role, the actor said she remains grateful to filmmakers who continue to offer her challenging characters at this stage of her career.