Actress Madhu, known for her work in Hindi cinema during the 1990s, has shared her views on how much Bollywood has changed for newcomers over the past few decades. She says actors of her generation had the time and space to grow into their craft, while today's newcomers are expected to prove themselves instantly, right from their very first release.
A career built alongside Ajay Devgn
Madhu, who shared screen space with Ajay Devgn in films like Phool Aur Kaante, Roja, Gentleman and Yoddha, spoke about this shift in an interaction with IANS. She explained that actresses of her time got long careers during which they could steadily work on their acting, their looks and their screen presence. Today's newcomers, in contrast, face intense competition from the very beginning of their careers. Notably, Madhu herself delivered several blockbusters before stepping away from acting and disappearing from the industry for a long stretch.
'You didn't have to be perfect in your first film'
According to Madhu, back in her era, even if an actor was not perfect when they started out, they still got multiple chances to prove themselves. She pointed out that today's actresses arrive fully prepared from their debut film itself, they look good and perform well, but they carry the enormous pressure of delivering an outstanding performance from day one.
A flood of new faces makes the first film the biggest test
Madhu added that the industry today is flooded with new faces. In such a crowded environment, if an actor's debut film fails to leave an impression on audiences, getting further opportunities becomes extremely difficult. She said this wasn't the case earlier, when actors were given time and used every new film to keep improving.
The lessons Phool Aur Kaante taught her
Citing her own example, Madhu said every film in her 9 year career was an opportunity to learn something new. She admitted that she wasn't at her best in her debut film Phool Aur Kaante, released in 1991, but audiences embraced her anyway. She said it was that affection from the audience that gave her the time to work on and improve areas like her acting, hairstyle, make up and screen presence. She also noted that while today's actors enter the industry fully prepared, the challenge they face is just as big, because if they fail to win over audiences in their very first film, it can affect their entire career.
From debut hit to disappearance and comeback
Madhu made her Bollywood debut in 1991 alongside Ajay Devgn in Phool Aur Kaante. She went on to work in several successful films including Roja, Allari Priyudu, Yoddha and Gentleman, with her performance in Roja still remembered by audiences today. Over the course of her career, Madhu played a wide range of roles. After the success of her debut, there was a period when she became the first choice for filmmakers, but she later stepped away from acting and disappeared from the industry. She has now become active in the industry once again.
