'It depends on how you look at fame, how you treat fame.'
After ruling millions of hearts with her sizzling performances on the big screen, Madhuri Dixit makes her digital debut in Netflix's The Fame Game.
Directed by Bejoy Nambiar and Karishma Kohli, the Web series show features Madhuri as Anamika Anand, an influential superstar who goes missing one day, leaving behind many unanswered questions.
Unlike Anamika, Madhuri says her own experiences as a superstar have been wonderful so far.
"I have to thank God that all my experiences so far have been wonderful. The people I met have been wonderful," she says, at the show's promotional event.
Sanjay Kapoor, who plays her onscreen husband, adds, "Fortunately, my relationship with real children is a little warmer; they do not mistrust me."
Rediff.com Contributor Mohnish Singh listens in.
What made you say yes to playing Anamika Anand and making your debut with The Fame Game on Netflix?
Madhuri Dixit: I loved the script.
I loved the journey.
The show is about fame and what follies and complications can happen when there is fame in your life.
This is a story about this woman whose life is seemingly very perfect till she just disappears one day and everybody is wondering, 'What happened to her? Where is she?' and then that changes to 'Who is she?'
I mean, do people know who she is. because they have just seen her on screen, larger-than-life, perfect, with a husband and kids, perfectly placed in her profession.
But then what happened to her?
Do people know her?
Does she know herself?
I thought that was very intriguing.
There is mystery, but there is also a family drama.
And, of course, because Dharma (Productions) is involved in it and Karan Johar is a very good friend.
The first time I worked with Netflix was when I made a Marathi film and I sold it to Netflix.
I thought they were fantastic people to work with, and when the script came to me, I immediately said yes.
Sri Rao was in charge of the script, and he came to me and said, 'We are going to make this.'
Despite the fact that we had previously discussed on doing something else, when he came to me with this, I was very confident about it.
You are a father off screen. On screen, did you feel you could pick up nuances from your real life to play the role of Nikhil?
Sanjay Kapoor: Well, that is always there, but fortunately, my relationship with real children is a little warmer; they do not mistrust me.
The kids here, particularly my son, have always looked at me with a knowing look. You know, he knows what I mean.
Like Madhuri and Anamika are both stars, but her personal life is much better than Anamika's.
In the same way, fatherhood in real life is much better than being a father in this show.
The Fame Game marks your OTT debut. What was the experience of making this and what stood out in the series for you?
Madhuri Dixit: I just loved working on this script because it has a little bit of a mystery and is also about relationships.
It is about family, and how your kids are.
It is about how fame can twist and make the best of things look bad.
In that sense, it was a very challenging script for me because there are so many shades to Anamika.
I really enjoyed playing them.
Was there any research material you had to go through to prep for your role?
Madhuri Dixit: It is intriguing because not everybody lives this life.
Everybody has different experiences.
I have to thank God that all my experiences so far have been wonderful. The people I met have been wonderful.
My parents have been a force, always standing by me. But that is not the case with Anamika Anand; she has a very, very different life.
Her relationship with her mother is very different from what I have with mine.
Having said that, there are a lot of similarities in the sense that she is also a very big star.
But the way she sees fame is very different from the way I see it.
That's why it is called The Fame Game because fame is a difficult path. It depends on your outlook, how you look at fame and how you treat fame.
