Madhuri Dixit Calls Her ‘Maa Behan’ Character Imperfect but Empowering

Madhuri Dixit will be seen playing a different avatar in the film "Maa Behan". She answers a few straight questions on playing roles tagged as imperfect yet strong women and real characters in cinema.

Excerpts:

What attracted you most to this character?

Madhuri Dixit: Mostly, women are shown as ideal figures — the ideal wife, ideal mother, ideal woman. But this character felt very real to me. She is chaotic, independent, modern, emotional, and flawed. She is not perfect, and that’s what makes her interesting.

Imperfection can be your strength

Someone recently told me that imperfection can actually be your strength. I truly believe that. Her imperfections make her original and human. Despite belonging to a dysfunctional family where everyone is constantly fighting, she deeply loves her children and would do anything for them when it truly matters.

Do you personally believe perfection exists?

No, I don’t think perfection really exists. It’s all subjective — in the eye of the beholder. We are all constantly trying to become our best versions, but nobody can truly be perfect.

What fascinates me is the journey of trying to improve, trying to do your best every day. That pursuit is beautiful.

Was it refreshing to work in a space without commercial pressure?

Absolutely. In films like these, you can relax creatively because you’re not constantly thinking about box office numbers or whether the film will make ₹100 or ₹200 crore.

The focus is purely on telling a beautiful story that audiences connect with. What I loved here is that all the women are portrayed as everyday women — people you could meet anywhere. They are not written as idealistic or larger-than-life characters. They feel authentic.

Did you feel uncomfortable playing this role?

Yes. I want to play different characters and challenge myself constantly. This role made me uncomfortable initially because it was chaotic, emotionally vulnerable, and had a dialect I needed to work on.

But I think the roles that make you uncomfortable are the ones that bring out the best in you. Those are the characters I’m actively looking for now.

Did you ever feel insecure about sharing screen space with such a large cast?

Not at all. I loved my role so much that nothing else mattered. Every actor contributes something valuable to a film, and I was confident these girls would perform beautifully.

Once we began workshops together, it became even more enjoyable. I truly fell in love with the character.

There’s a powerful line in the trailer — “If I’m going to jail, you’re coming with me.” Why did audiences connect with it so much?

Because mothers are usually portrayed as endlessly sacrificing and selfless all the time. But this mother is different. She’s flawed, emotional, funny, impulsive, and real.

That honesty makes her relatable.