An active spokesperson for women's rights and for girl child's empowerment, Madhuri said she was born in a family with three daughters and one son.
"I grew up in a family of equals," she said at the 'Women of the World' summit here on Friday.
Just as she voices her concerns for women-related issues off screen, she even takes that voice forward through her roles in films. Her comeback roles, 'Gulaab Gang' and 'Dedh Ishqiya' saw her do that.
Madhuri said she has always tried to balance her roles - but she could only choose her characters after she achieved a certain popularity.
"When you begin your career, you have to do what comes your way. You have to prove yourself as people don't know your abilities. Once you reach there, where people are confident about your talent, then you can choose your roles.
"And that's exactly what I have done."
Stressing that since she comes from a family "where women are strong, that's why I gravitate towards roles of women who are stronger".
"I like roles where the woman has a good role to show the varied emotions in a woman's life, whether fiery or understated. I think that's the strength of a woman."
Madhuri also explained that "it was this reason why that for a 'Hum Aapke Hain Koun', I had 'Mrityudand'; for a 'Dil To Pagal Hai', a 'Pukaar'; and for a 'Tezaab', 'Parinda' and 'Prahaar'."
