Kamal Ghorui
Madhoo Shah recently opened up about her early years in cinema, recalling her experiences of working with legendary stars and the lessons she carried forward. She admitted that turning down Baazigar remains one of her few regrets in life. She also talked about her admiration for Shah Rukh Khan. Speaking about Baazigar, Madhoo told Radio Nasha, “Ab jaise maine Pehchaan ke liye lad ke wo role kiya tha. Diljale mein khushi-khushi maine wo role kiya tha. Baazigar ka role pata nahi, mujhe aisa laga yeh role mujhe nahi karna chahiye. So nahi kiya… aur jab ab main dekhti hoon… we like to say ‘I have no regrets… but I do have a regret. I didn’t do Baazigar.” (I fought to do my role in Pehchaan and happily did Diljale. But for Baazigar, I felt I shouldn’t do that role, so I didn’t. Today, when I look back… we like to say we have no regrets, but I do have one — I didn’t do Baazigar.)The role eventually went to Shilpa Shetty, and Madhoo acknowledged her performance warmly.
“Shah Rukh, I am your biggest fan… and he said the same to me”
Madhoo also shared a touching anecdote about Shah Rukh Khan, revealing how she once confessed her admiration — only to receive an unexpected response.“Main Shah Rukh se kai baar mili hoon, lekin kabhi keh nahi paayi ki main unki sabse badi fan hoon… mujhe lagta tha wo ‘cool’ nahi hoga. Lekin ek party mein hum saath dance kar rahe the… aur maine keh diya, ‘Shah Rukh, I am your biggest fan.’” (I met Shah Rukh many times but never told him I was his biggest fan… I felt it wouldn’t be ‘cool’. But once at a party, while dancing together, I finally told him.)
What followed left her deeply moved.
“Unhone kaha, ‘Arre, I am your biggest fan. I saw Roja in Ooty in the theatre. Who the hell knew anybody else from the film? We only know Roja because of you.’” (He said, ‘I am your biggest fan. I watched Roja in Ooty in a theatre. Who knew anyone else from the film? We know Roja because of you.’)Madhoo added that such generosity of spirit is what defines true greatness.
“Greatness is in appreciating others”
Reflecting on her early days, Madhoo recalled valuable lessons from industry legends like Shammi Kapoor and Asha Parekh.“Shammi ji mere paas aaye aur bole, ‘Main tumhara bahut bada fan hoon.’ Us din maine seekha — greatness yeh nahi hai ki hum kya hain, balki yeh hai ki hum doosron ko appreciate karte hain.” (Shammi ji came up to me and said, ‘I am a big fan of yours.’ That day I learnt that greatness is not about who we are, but about appreciating others.) She also fondly remembered being addressed respectfully by Asha Parekh early in her career, “Woh mujhe ‘Madhoo ji’ keh rahi thi… aur main ek young ladki thi jinki bas kuch filmein release hui thi. Tab samajh aaya ki great log dusron ko respect dete hain.” (She addressed me as ‘Madhoo ji’ even though I was a young newcomer with just a few films. That’s when I realised that great people give respect to others.)
