N. Chandra recalls discovering Madhuri Dixit, says she was his only choice for ‘Tezaab’
The director further credited fate and good timing for helping bring the project together. He explained that actor Anil Kapoor and Madhuri Dixit shared the same secretary, Rakesh Nath, which made the casting process easier and helped finalise the pairing.
Mumbai: Veteran filmmaker and actor N. Chandra has revealed how he first discovered Bollywood star Madhuri Dixit and eventually cast her in the iconic 1988 blockbuster ‘Tezaab’, a film that proved to be a turning point in her career.
During an appearance on the dance reality show India’s Best Dancer Season 5, N. Chandra shared memories of his first encounter with Madhuri Dixit and explained why he believed she was the perfect choice for the role of Mohini.
Recalling the incident, the filmmaker said that while he was working as an editor on the film ‘Bajrangi’, he visited the movie’s set and met Madhuri for the first time. According to him, something about her presence immediately stood out. He revealed that when the idea of making ‘Tezaab’ came up, Madhuri was both his first and last choice for the female lead.
Madhuri, who was also present during the conversation, remembered the film and mentioned that Babu Garu had directed it. N. Chandra said the meeting left a lasting impression on him and convinced him that she was the right actress for the role.
The director further credited fate and good timing for helping bring the project together. He explained that actor Anil Kapoor and Madhuri Dixit shared the same secretary, Rakesh Nath, which made the casting process easier and helped finalise the pairing.
Released on November 11, 1988, ‘Tezaab’ emerged as one of the biggest blockbusters of its time and remains one of the most memorable films in Madhuri Dixit’s career. Directed and produced by N. Chandra, the romantic action drama featured Anil Kapoor and Madhuri Dixit in lead roles, supported by a strong ensemble cast that included Anupam Kher, Chunky Panday, Kiran Kumar and Suresh Oberoi.
The film became the highest-grossing Hindi film of 1988 and enjoyed a successful golden jubilee run in cinemas across the country. Its music, composed by the legendary duo Laxmikant and Pyarelal, produced several evergreen hits including ‘Ek Do Teen’, ‘So Gaya Yeh Jahan’ and ‘Keh Do Ke Tum’.
Among them, ‘Ek Do Teen’ became a cultural phenomenon and played a major role in establishing Madhuri Dixit as one of Bollywood’s leading stars. The song was choreographed by legendary choreographer Saroj Khan, whose work received widespread acclaim and helped redefine dance performances in Hindi cinema.
The remarkable chemistry between Madhuri Dixit and Anil Kapoor also contributed significantly to the film’s enduring popularity, making ‘Tezaab’ a landmark film in Bollywood history.
