26 year old Madhuri Pandey is your quintessential girl
next door. Her bubbly laughter and sing-song voice have made her a darling of
millions of women who religiously follow desi soap operas. But Madhuri is far
cry from the characters she has played over the last four years. She settles
down for our interview in a pair of jeans and a black and white check shirt
that is a polar opposite of her onscreen avatars.
"I hate those 10 kg
ghagras and the dangling earrings. My ears used to bleed and I once gave a take
with my jhumka taped to my ears!"
Madhuri is perfectly secure with her
looks and had no qualms meeting us without make up. While she is opposed to
cosmetic surgery, she is honest enough to admit that she doesn't quite like her
nose, "Sometimes I think it is too big," she says, her eyes
comically looking at her nose. That's when you wonder if this TV diva is
actually nothing but a child-woman.
She says acting happened to her by
chance. Madhuri comes from a family of doctors and academics from North India
and was studying for a degree in Software Engineering in Delhi when she and her
sister Anjali started modelling, just for the lark. But destiny had other
things in store for Madhuri. The stylish sisters moved to Mumbai when Anjali won a talent hunt.
Madhuri decided to pursue a career in music and
started performing with other singers and artists. That's when she got noticed
by casting directors and offers for TV shows started pouring in. Always eager
to take up new adventures, Madhuri decided to give it a shot. She soon became a
darling of the viewers for her roles in Bhabhi, Dahej, Ladli and many other
shows. But there was something missing.
“Music is my passion. I did not come to
Mumbai to become an actor. I came here to follow my dreams." That was
when Madhuri decided to quit TV at the peak of her career and plunged headlong into
music. She is quite active on the events and live music scene. She is also
seen performing stand-up comedy. "It hasn't been easy. There is a lot of
competition. There is also pressure from my family who would like to see me
settle down. This is my make or break year", she states matter-of-factly.
We quizzed her about Mr. Right and Maduri says she is looking for an
uncomplicated man who would understand and respect the demands of her
profession. "I'm a self made woman who is open to taking risks. I
have been independent so far and don't like being controlled or caged. My line
of work involves odd hours. My man has to accept that."
She accepts that
it is probably her straight forward-ness and fierce independence that keeps
most men away. "While some get intimidated by my success, others find it
unacceptable that I like taking my own decisions and live on my own terms. But
my independence is not-negotiable", she asserts. "I find it hilarious
that so many men expect me to be docile and covered from head to toe like my
onscreen characters. Off camera I have a mind of my own and I wear what I
please. If I can respect women who like wearing sarees, why can't they respect
a woman who wears cocktail dresses. I have a certain lifestyle, I do party a
lot with my friends. I carry myself with a lot of dignity."
Well, we will
certainly vouch for Madhuri's style quotient as the girl hardly ever has a
fashion faux pas. "I know what works for me and dress accordingly. I love
my pastel one piece dresses, I love my LBDs, I like single statement
pieces when it comes to jewellery rather than cluttering up my look with too
many unsightly accessories." Madhuri also swears by plunging necklines,
but warns "Wear it only if you have the confidence to carry it off, otherwise
it comes across as cheap."
Madhuri is currently taking life a day at a
time, enjoying her transition from actor to full-time singer. She claims this
is the best time to get a break in her chosen field. Her years in similar
industries have helped and she is taken seriously. "Being an extrovert
helps. I'm not shy and I always speak my mind, but I'm
also conscious of the fact that my every move is being watched
closely." She says she is very image conscious and works hard to
appear composed even in the most emotionally turbulent situations. “This
is a price driven industry and people love to discourage you, find the smallest
fault, just so they can force you to reduce your price. It is important to act
professional and stay focused in such situations, lest you get branded as a cry
baby or a whiner."
Well, we like that she is grounded, goal oriented and honest. Here's to young women like Madhuri Pandey who are not afraid of taking a huge career risk to fulfil their dreams.
Well, we like that she is grounded, goal oriented and honest. Here's to young women like Madhuri Pandey who are not afraid of taking a huge career risk to fulfil their dreams.
