Who knew.... despite 5 months in a filmmaking program, and seeing celebrities on a regular basis I'd experience being star struck like a small town boy seeing a film star for the first time. I thought they were just rumors.... 'Madhuri Dixit is coming to Whistling Woods on 23rd May!!!! ' Naah !!!! All the tabloids have been screaming that she is done with her schedule for Yashraj Film's Aaja Nachle and is flying back to the states on 22nd. How can she possibly be visiting our institute a day after she has left the country ? I agree she is the best thing thats happened to Indian Cinema in the last three decades, but even the queen herself couldn't pull this one off !!!! BUT SHE DID !!!! Ok fine, the tabloids were misinformed :) Bottom Line- She came to the institute today, and Gawd she is pretty. Coming back to me being star struck. I am a filmmaker in the making and am totally aware of the fact that everything we see on the screen is staged.... all lies. But I cant believe that all I could think for the first 5 minutes of her entering the auditorium was - "OH MY GOD, Its POOJA sitting right in front of me" Yes.... Pooja from Dil To Pagal Hai. I know.... I know....I know.... How dumb can someone be ???? But I guess I am (sheepish smile here) I just couldn't disassociate her from the character that she played 10 years ago . Dil To Pagal Hai happens to be my favourite movie of all times and I know the script and screenplay inside out. Seriously !!!! I can just close my eyes and watch the whole movie in my head [Hee Hee....so much for buying DVDs :)] Anyway, I was sitting with my hand over my mouth for 10 minutes just trying to make myself believe that Madhuri Dixit was actualy sitting at a 15 feet distance from me. As reality sunk in and she started speaking about her experience in the Hindi Film Industry over the last 2 decades, it dawned on me why Yash Chopra is a genius. There could have been no one better a choice than her to play 'Pooja' because she is the character. Down to earth, humble and somehow totally unaware of the effect she has on people around her. And oh so pretty. Yeah I'm a FAN JUST BORN and wouldn't even try to pretend otherwise. Mrs. Madhuri Dixit Nene - ' You are one of the nicest and sweetest people I've ever come across.... God Bless You :)' (Oh.... and please work in my film sometime soon in the future. It would be a dream come true to direct you for even one scene)Psst.... the picture you see on top left of this article is a still from Aaja Nachle which is sort of her comeback film. Its the directorial debut of the National award winning cinematographer Anil Mehta and is a story of a theatre actress's life over a period of a decade. Its releasing on 30th November 2007. CANT WAIT :)
