After Madhuri Dixit agreed to judge Jhalak Dhikhla Jaa, mediocre contestants were dropped in favour of high profile ones

Getting Madhuri Dixit to be a judge on a dance show is not easy. Reality show Jhalak Dilkhla Jaa has been upgraded, contestants and sets included, after the former dancing superstar agreed to play judge.

It took the channel six months to convince the US-based actress to leave her sons behind and station in India for two months. Says Ajit Thakur, CEO Sony Entertainent, "Madhuri adds a huge new dimension to the show. It wasn't easy getting her. We had to finally fly her and the family down to LA to see a live recording of the original show, Dancing With Stars. Only then did she agree to do the show. "

Following her nod, the show's contestants had to be upgraded. Sources from the channel say at least six of the previously selected names have been dropped. Only Shekhar Suman and Navjot Singh Sidhu have been finalised.

The set will be designed by star set designer Omang Kumar. The channel plans to host special pre-telecasts on December 12, with some of Bollywood's best dancers introducing Madhuri Dixit and the other judges.

"Yes, they have agreed to improve the quality of the show. They are making it more glamorous, and upping production values. Even the contestants are very good; individuals who are popular in their fields, " admits Madhuri.

Madhuri will miss her sons but she will be close to what she loves best -- dance. "Dancing is my forte. I do it well and it's close to my heart. In fact, I practise Kathak every day back home. Now that the kids are a little older, I get a bit of time to myself. "

Madhuri's sons aged seven and five now have a "life of their own", she laughs. "They couldn't come with me because they have school. I've never been away from them for this long. But they'll join me for Christmas. And they have a good nanny taking care of them. My mother-in-law is with them too, " says the superstar mom.

This is Madhuri's second television show. The first was Shubh Vivah, a marriage-based reality show in 2001. "Back then, people considered marriage a private matter. Today, they are far more open to playing out their lives on camera. "

Now that she is in Mumbai, Madhuri is likely to sign on a film. "There have been offers, and I am looking out. As for Aaja Nachle (her last release) not working, I've worked for too long to get affected by failure. Some things work, some don't. I am not wary of doing another movie. "

There was talk of her doing Krishna Shah's bio-pic on Indira Gandhi, but it didn't materialise, the actress says.