In 2002, when Madhuri Dixit made a much-hyped debut on the small screen with the wedding reality show, Kahin Na Kahin Koi Hai, the celebrations ended quickly. The concept failed to catch on and the show tanked. That hasn’t dented the actress’s optimism about television however, as she returned to the small screen as one of the judges on Sony TV’s Jhalak Dikhla Jaa 4.
Despite the slight weight gain, Dixit makes a pretty picture in a bright red saree and bold diamond jewelery when we meet her. "Dance is very close to my heart and the show is on a grand scale. The producers want it to be like the original show, Dancing with the Stars. I liked the concept, so I agreed,” she says.
Based in USA with her husband Shriram Nene and two sons, Arin and Ryan, Dixit says the channel pursued her for two years before she finally gave in. “My sons were young then and at that age, children need their mother. Now they go to school, so I have enough time for myself,” she says. Has the phenomenal dancer been able to teach her little ones to dance? “They are born dancers; they both have rhythm,”she says, proudly.
The show, which started on December 12, has Malaika Arora-Khan and choreographer Remo D’Souza as part of the jury, alongside Dixit. With celebrity contestants, including ex-model Yana Gupta, boxer Akhil Kumar, actor Shekhar Suman, Renuka Shahane and singer Anushka Manchanda amongst others, Dixit is excited. “It is interesting to watch celebrities take to the stage. They are all untrained and that’s what makes it exciting. Taking part in a competition is very different from simply knowing how to dance. Here, the contestants have to excel in dance forms like jive and samba too. It will be tough,” she says.
Dixit’s presence on the show is undoubtedly the main attraction though. But will she be able to successfully fill the shoes of Amitabh Bachchan, whose show Kaun Banega Crorepati 4 has been replaced by JDJ 4 ? “I am under no pressure — I am just having a lot of fun. I am excited to watch the contestants dance and my job will be to guide them. I will give them positive comments so that they are encouraged to do better,” she says.
