You can’t help listening to a Bollywood bop, especially a dance number, and not instantly vibe to it. One of the most peculiar traits of Bollywood that sets it apart from any other cinema is its love for music and dance. Growing up, we have all seen our favourite superstars dancing and dazzling on the screen and have grooved with them. Although Bollywood has made almost every actor dance, there have been some actors who are also great performers when it comes to dancing and if we are talking Bollywood and dancing, one name that is certainly going down in golden letters in history is that of Madhuri Dixit.
She is one actress who made all of us fall in love with her million-dollar smile, always on-the-point expressions, and of course, her dance moves. I am sure she holds a special place in the hearts of every 90s kid, that’s when she was on the top of her game of being an absolute icon. I, being a 00s kid, just think how wonderful it would have been growing up watching cinema that had Madhuri Dixit dance numbers. However, her magic still persists, her songs still make us move and we still imagine ourselves dressed up and dancing like her. You wonder why every Indian loves to dance, it’s because that’s what we have seen, heartfully accepted, and loved. Try to recall yourself imitating her moves and see all that nostalgia hitting you.
Although we still have dance and music in our cinema, they are almost inseparable, but the magic of Madhuri Dixit still remains irreplaceable. How much she could perform just with her face, damn it, just with her eyes! Her expressions perfectly complemented her moves, the grace with which she used to dance made the silver screen sparkle with all her glamour. A lot of Bollywood dance pieces now take inspiration from her but not everyone has been able to become a cultural phenomenon like she has.
Being a trained Kathak dancer, she certainly has a grip and control on her body but she managed to amaze the audience with much more modern moves and dances. Her range of performances makes her so special. From performing Kathak in Kaahe Cheddhe to dancing alongside dance legend Prabhudeva in Ke Sera Sera, she absolutely killed it in every dance number that she has done.
Today, the Dhak Dhak girl, as we all like to call her, celebrates her 56th birthday. On this occasion, let us just revisit her most iconic dance performances in Bollywood, and do feel free to tell us what we have missed:
Ek Do Teen (Tezab, 1988)
This gem has to be the first on the list. How can you talk about Madhuri Dixit and not mention this classic? This one surely made us all channelise our internal Madhuri and made us perform for an imaginary audience of thousands. The performance did not just make the crowd in this video go crazy about her, but the entire nation. Beautifully sung by Alka Yagnik, choreographed by legendary Saroj Khan and performed by Madhuri Dixit, this couldn’t get any better.
Dhak Dhak Karne laga (Beta, 1992)
The song that bestowed her with the title ‘Dhak Dhak Girl’. She left us all flabbergasted while slaying in that gorgeous orange outfit, and those hair, goddamn!
Kay Sera Sera (Pukar, 2000)
If a music video has Prabhu Deva dancing, there won’t be anything else in there that could impress us more. But our queen did not let Prabhudeva’s twisted and complex moves overshadow her in any way. She danced with this legend and matched his energy and if you can manage to do that, there is nothing you can’t.
Dola Re Dola (Devdas, 2002)
We all stan two queens sharing the screen in gorgeous outfits and dancing to perfection in them. Sanjay Leela Bhansali really blessed us with some of the best dance performances by both of them in this movie.
Dance of Envy (Dil To Pagal Hai, 1997)
Along with Madhuri, one performer who was full of energy and was very celebrated in the 90s for her dance was Karishma Kapoor. This movie brought both of them together in skin hugging dancing clothes, looking fabulous as ever and dancing alongside each other.
Didi Tera Devar Deewana (Hum Aapke Hain kaun, 1994)
A movie that changed the course of Indian cinema forever, and this is one the most loved track of this iconic album and rightfully so.
Ankhiyaan Milaoon Kabhi (Raja, 1995)
Of course this song was a major hit, the singing duet of Udit Narayan and Alka Yagnik, onscreen duet of Sanjay Kapoor and Madhuri Dixit, she really had a way with the Kapoor brothers and choreography by none other than Saroj Khan. You’re lying if you say you didn’t try to imitate that eye rolling expression on ‘Kya tune kiya jadoo’. Also, it is beautifully shot in very cool aesthetics and the setting of a garage and watch Madhuri sporting those high waist pants!
Choli Ke Peeche (Khalnayak, 1996)
Just a mention of this song and everybody goes ku ku ku ku ku ku…… It’s a vibe!
Ghagra (Yeh Jawani hai Deewani, 2013)
No matter how cheesy the song is, Madhuri made a perfect comeback with this bop. It became one of those bollywood songs which are perfect to perform to and have become quite rare in Bollywood nowadays.
Aaja Nachle (Aaja Nachle, 2007)
This song holds a special place in my heart. I remember rehearsing for dancing on this song with an entire group at a school function. Just another Madhuri Dixit classic.
