I Wanted to Experience Every Milestone of My Children's Lives: Madhoo

Madhoo is enjoying one of the busiest phases of her career. With the pan-India film Chinna Chinna Aasai and Governor releasing back-to-back, along with an upcoming OTT series featuring Anil Kapoor, the actor has plenty to look forward to.

In this exclusive conversation, she speaks about her journey in cinema, taking a break for family, working with some of the industry's biggest stars and why her latest projects are especially close to her heart.

Excerpts

Looking back, how do you see your journey in the film industry?

I genuinely feel I was meant to be here. From a very young age, I wanted to become an actor. Being related to Hema Malini, I often visited film sets and watched her dance and rehearse. My mother was also a trained dancer and later became a dance teacher, so our home was always filled with music and dance.

Interestingly, I never had a concrete plan to become an actor. I just somehow landed in the industry. Before that, I faced rejections and uncertainty. There was even a phase when I tried becoming a receptionist, stenographer and air hostess, but nothing worked out. Looking back, I believe everything happened for a reason because I eventually reached the place where I truly belonged.

After marriage, you consciously stepped away from films for a while. What led to that decision?

When my children were born, they became my entire world. I have immense respect for women who successfully balance motherhood and demanding careers, but I never knew how to multitask that way.

I wanted to experience every milestone of my children's lives. Their first steps, first words, first haircut and first day at school. I documented everything. For nearly ten years, I devoted myself completely to raising them. As they grew older and became more independent, I naturally found my way back to acting.

I may not be great at doing many things simultaneously, but whatever I do, I give it my heart and soul.

Your upcoming film Governor pairs you opposite Manoj Bajpayee. Tell us about the experience.

Working with exceptional actors always pushes you to become better. When you're acting alongside someone as talented as Manoj Bajpayee, you naturally raise your own standards.

I've experienced this throughout my career. Whether it was dancing with Prabhu Deva or performing alongside Govinda, their excellence motivated me to work harder. Great co-stars create healthy competition, and that ultimately benefits the performance.

Do you have any memorable stories from working with Prabhu Deva?

One incident from Mr. Romeo remains unforgettable. We were rehearsing a dance number, and after watching me practise, Prabhu Deva told his assistants to continue rehearsing with me while he stepped away.

At that moment, I felt slightly humiliated because I considered myself a good dancer. But that feeling turned into determination. I rehearsed relentlessly until I felt completely prepared.

When the song released, people appreciated how well I matched him step for step. Today, I look back with gratitude because he was patient enough to allow me the time I needed to improve instead of simply rushing through the shoot.

What was your experience like working with Govinda?

I absolutely loved working with Govinda. His comic timing is extraordinary. He kept the entire set entertained and made every scene enjoyable.

In films like Hathkadi, I learned so much from him. Acting opposite performers with strong comic instincts pushes you to sharpen your own timing. Some of my fondest memories come from those comedy sequences.

You have delivered memorable performances in films like Roja, Yeshwant and Phool Aur Kaante. Did emotional roles come naturally to you?

Even my debut film had intense emotional moments. Somehow, from the beginning of my career, people felt I handled emotional scenes well, and that became a major part of my screen identity.

Having worked with Ajay Devgn and Govinda, what were they like as co-stars?

Ajay was exactly what people say. Quiet and reserved. He wasn't very talkative, but he had a wonderful sense of humour. He would crack jokes under his breath while maintaining a completely straight face, and everyone around him would burst into laughter.

Govinda, on the other hand, wasn't flirtatious at all in my experience. What I remember most about him is his phenomenal comic timing, spontaneity and incredible dancing skills. Working with him was always fun and creatively fulfilling.

Tell us about your Tamil film Chinna Chinna Aasai.

The title comes from the iconic song from Roja. When the director approached me with the script, I initially refused because she wanted me to spend an entire month shooting in Varanasi during December, when my children would be home for Christmas.

But she was incredibly persistent. She kept telling me she had written the role specifically with me in mind and couldn't imagine anyone else playing it. Eventually, I agreed.

Today, I am extremely grateful that I did. It is one of the projects I am most proud of.

What makes Chinna Chinna Aasai special for you?

Madhoo: In today's industry, decisions are often driven by box office numbers and commercial calculations. That's why it felt so special when a filmmaker wanted to make an entire theatrical film centred around me.

The story is female-driven, but it also features a wonderful male lead, Indrans. He is a phenomenal actor and a multiple National Award winner. When I learned more about his body of work, I was amazed by his talent.

The film is very close to my heart because it exists purely due to a director's belief in her story and her conviction that I was the right person to tell it.

How do you feel about the audience response and anticipation surrounding the film?

I feel deeply grateful. The fact that a young filmmaker trusted me enough to build her story around me is something I will always cherish.

Sometimes the best opportunities are the ones you initially hesitate to accept. Thankfully, I said yes, and today I am proud to be part of this beautiful film.

What makes Chinna Chinna Aasai different from the usual romantic films?

One of the most unique aspects of Chinna Chinna Aasai is that it explores romance between mature individuals. In our industry, romance is often associated with young couples. While things are changing today, it is still rare to see a theatrical film centred on an older couple discovering companionship and love.

The film stars me opposite Indrans sir, who is in his sixties, and together we portray a subtle, heartfelt romance. It is not about grand songs and dances. It is about emotional connection, companionship and the human need to connect with another soul.

The story follows a Tamil-speaking woman and a Malayalam-speaking man who meet in Kashi, surrounded by people speaking Hindi. Neither of them speaks the other's language fluently, yet they form a bond. In that sense, it is truly pan-Indian cinema, not through dubbing, but through authentic characters and cultures coming together.

There has been a lot of discussion recently about the portrayal of women in cinema, especially in song sequences and the way they are filmed. What is your perspective?

What is controversial today was not necessarily controversial when we were making films in the 1990s. Back then, certain dance movements, camera angles and visual styles were accepted as part of mainstream entertainment. Audiences enjoyed them, and filmmakers created content based on what they believed audiences wanted to see.

But society has evolved. Conversations around gender, representation and objectification have become much more prominent. Women today have a stronger voice and are expressing concerns that may not have been openly discussed in earlier decades.

I do not think only cinema is changing. Society itself is changing. As women's positions in society evolve, audiences naturally begin questioning how women are portrayed on screen. These conversations are important because they help filmmakers become more aware and sensitive in their storytelling.

You mentioned that women today are speaking up more than before. Has that changed the industry as well?

Absolutely. Issues like pay parity, equal opportunities and representation were rarely discussed openly in the past, even when female stars carried successful films on their shoulders.

Today, women are questioning those inequalities and demanding fair treatment. Because women have become more empowered, many things that once went unnoticed are now being discussed openly. That shift is reflected not only in cinema but across society.