Few songs embody Bollywood’s lavish excess like ‘Maar Dala’ from Devdas. Madhuri Dixit’s Chandramukhi, draped in opulent finery, captivates with her grace opposite Shah Rukh Khan’s Devdas. But recent confessions reveal the high price of that allure.
On The Great Indian Kapil Show, Madhuri lifted the veil on the production’s harshest day. The costume—a 10-kg Anarkali marvel by Abu Jani-Sandeep Khosla—took two months to perfect, boasting dense mirror embroidery and gota borders. For Madhuri, it was less attire, more anchor, making every step and twirl a Herculean task.
The climax came in the dupatta-flailing moment. Weighted with bulbous beads, it lashed SRK’s face like a weapon. ‘The first strike hurt so much I panicked,’ Madhuri shared. Undeterred, SRK pushed for intensity: ‘Go all out, or we’ll repeat this pain.’ Beads battered his brow relentlessly, drawing winces amid unwavering focus.
Jackie Shroff chimed in about the spins: Madhuri stopped, but her dress didn’t, creating dizzying near-mishaps. These trials, endured without complaint, elevated the song to legendary status.
Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Devdas redefined romance and tragedy on screen. Madhuri’s role, often overshadowed yet pivotal, shone through sheer grit. This glimpse into the trenches underscores Bollywood’s blend of beauty and brutality, where stars like Madhuri and SRK turned torment into triumph.