Madhuri Dixit, now known by her married name Madhuri Dixit Nene, has been the Dhak Dhak girl of Bollywood for three and a half decades. Her career started with Rajkumar Barjatiya’s Abodh in 1984 and over the years, she has successfully and enviably established herself as a leading lady. On her birthday, we bring to you five reasons why she will always remain the legend of Hindi cinema that she is!

Madhuri entered the industry at a time when the world was obsessed with handsome heroes. However, she effortlessly managed to turn the tables for heroines. Even when her films flopped, her performance was lauded and reminisced forever. How else do you explain the fate of an easily forgotten film Raja (1995) which mind you was a blockbuster? The movie added no weight to Sanjay Kapoor’s already light-weight career but proved one fact: Madhuri Dixit commands an infallible box-office power.

Madhuri surely knew how to sway the crowd: her beauty besotted the souls of many, her dance moves stole the hearts of millions. From Choli Ke Peeche Kya Hai (Khalnayak) to Didi Tera Devar (Hum Aapke Hai Koun) to Ghagra (Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani), Madhuri has belted out a dance number for every generation!

With a string of memorable hits, dance numbers, award wins and nominations, it is clear that there can be only one Madhuri in Bollywood. Such a frenzy was enjoyed only by male actors for they were believed to leave behind a legacy compared to their female counterparts who were forgotten after marriage. But not Madhuri! Any adjective we pull off ricochets off the screen because they just don’t do justice to the icon that she is.

This “volcano of talent” bid farewell to her screen life to marry an American NRI Dr. Sriram Nene in 1999. Around this time actresses were struggling to make a comeback, but Madhuri chose to step down from the pinnacle of glory for family life. She settled in Denver, USA to bring up her sons Arin and Ryan.

Only a few could revive their career after marriage, this industry, after all, puts a time limit on a female actor. But it was a cakewalk for Madhuri with Aaja Nachle. The viewers had been waiting for the day they would see their favourite enthrall on the 70mm again and there she was, returning with double the grace and more beauty.

She shifted base to Mumbai with husband and children. Madhuri thereafter also entered the reality TV space, opened an online dance academy to appeal to the e-generation and has had several releases including Kalank, Total Dhamaal being recent ones. But that’s not all. She even made her Marathi debut with Bucket List and has been trying new territories.

All this and more is enough to prove, the world can never thank the universe for the gift of Madhuri Dixit Nene. Happy Birthday, Legend!

On her 52nd, don’t forget to watch Madhuri’s classic hit Beta alongside Anil Kapoor on ZEE5!