Madhuri on Dedh Ishqiya's bisexual romance: it’s open to interpretation

Having delivered a powerful performance in Dedh Ishqyia, Madhuri Dixit Nene is up with yet another – Gulaab Gang, where she’ll be mouthing some bold lines. Although some feel Dedh Ishqyia makes an obvious reference to Ismat Chughtai’s clever tale of two bisexual women, Lihaf, the endearing diva feels the film could have many interpretations. In a chat with the actor herself.
Many say Dedh Ishqiya marks the rise of the bisexual woman in Bollywood...
I think it’s open to interpretation. It could’ve been two sisters who don’t want men in their life, or close friends who want to run away from this kind of life because they’ve met men and they’ve been sad because of them, or two women who want to live life on their own terms. You could give it any kind of interpretation. That was very open ended in the film.
How do you react to being called the new gay icon?
As a person, I’ve been brought up to respect every human being. I care less about what people’s sexual preferences are. I look at who they are, and what kind of people they are.
Your bold dialogues in Gulaab Gang have created quite a stir.
My character believes in what she does and leaves no stone unturned to get it. So, I had no qualms. It’s not like we have used any trashy words. My character judges and gauges people and talks to them in the language they understand. When she sees ki laaton ke bhoot baton se nahi maante, she’ll show them laat and danda.
Are you like that in real life?
(Laughs) If you mean if I use that language, then no. I don’t use that language.
Sometimes you do feel like saying something like that to someone, but then you have been brought up in a different way, it’s very hard.
Juhi Chawla, your Gulaab Gang co-star, says she saw you as a competitor in the 90s. Did you, too, see her as competition?
No way. I’ve worked with everyone ... Preity, Manisha, Karisma, Huma, Aishwarya I never thought of competition. I was more interested in my role and what I was doing. There were times when I didn’t even ask who the other person was in the film. Competition is within us. We aren’t horses running towards the finish line.
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