Madhuri is set to stage a comeback in Bollywood after a gap of six years with two projects Vishal Bharadwaj's home production 'Dedh Ishqiya' and Anubhav Sinha-produced 'Gulaab Gang'. She has also done an item song in Karan Johar's home production 'Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani', which released today.
The item song, 'Ghagra', features her and new age actor Ranbir Kapoor. "I don't why people call it a comeback. It is a mystery to me. Everyone works according to their plan. The vibe from industry people is positive. People love me and are waiting to see 'Gulaab Gang' and 'Dedh Ishqiya'," Madhuri said.
After her marriage in 1999 to a US-based surgeon, she did Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 'Devdas' in 2002. She then took a break and staged a comeback with Aditya Chopra's home production 'Aaja Nachle' in 2007.
Despite missing from the silver screen, the 46-year- old filmstar was very much present on small screen. She appeared as one of the judges in TV dance reality show 'Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa' in season four and five. She will be again judging the show in its sixth edition that starts from June 1.
After marriage, Madhuri relocated to US for almost a decade. But in 2011, she shifted her base back to Mumbai along with her family. 'Gulaab Gang', directed by newcomer Soumik Sen, also stars Juhi Chawla, Mahie Gill, Shilpa Shukla and others.
"I have done everything in this film fight scene, dancing and singing. It is an entertaining film. We are saying quite a few things through this film but in an entertaining way. It is not a heavy film which delivers sermons.
"It was good working with a new crop of actors. They were full of energy, have ideas and are confident. It was wonderful working with talented actors," she added.
In the late 1980s and early 90s, Madhuri and Juhi Chawla were considered on-screen competitors. But now, they are working together on 'Gulaab Gang', loosely based on a group of women fighting against social injustice. "I have worked with Juhi for the first time (in this film) and she is a wonderful co-star. We have some nice interesting scenes together," Madhuri said.
For 'Gulaab Gang', Madhuri did sing a few lines with her mother Snehlata. "They wanted a voice for a particular sequence, not a proper song. With a couple of instruments playing in the background, they wanted the actress (Madhuri) to break into a song. They wanted to make it realistic, so when the director asked me, I thought about it and agreed."
Madhuri said the artistic talent in her is because of her mother, who has interest in music. "My mother couldn't learn dance but made her daughters learn it. We got those things from her. I took her aside and asked her to sing one line for me (for 'Gulaab Gang' song). She sang and I was like "mom you have made your debut at 80," she said.
Her other project is 'Dedh Ishqiya', directed by Abhishek Chaubey. The first part ('Ishqiya' in 2010) got rave reviews and healthy box office collections. For the sequel the makers have retained lead actors Naseeruddin Shah and Arshad Warsi. Madhuri is expecting positive response to the sequel as well.