LEGENDARY leading lady Madhuri Dixit has delighted many millions with her immense body of work and got herself countless super fans around the world, including Nitesh R Shahani from Mumbai, India. Eastern Eye caught up with Nitesh to find out more.
What first connected you to Madhuri Dixit?
I faintly remember waking up to a TV musical show and being fascinated by songs like Didi Tera Devar Deewana, and watching a face so graceful that it charmed even the then four-year-old me. I started loving her ever since.
What made you become a super fan of Madhuri?
The joy within me increases by leaps and bounds whenever I see her glowing face. It’s like falling in love with someone over and over again. She has never failed to charm me, be it through her expressive eyes, out-of-this-world dancing or the person she actually is. I might be a ‘super’ fan because a ‘super’ star like her deserves nothing less.
Tell us about something super you have done for Madhuri?
I had a fan club dedicated to Madhuri, gifted her four mini figurines of herself. With support from many fans, I executed a plan to cut 49-themed cakes for Madhuri’s 49th birthday and arranged a special screening of Hum Aapke Hain Koun in three cities for her 50th birthday.
What has been your most memorable moment?
First, when I made her laugh showing her a birthday card for her husband, which had his face in place of the hero on her popular movie posters. Second is when I got a chance to dance with her. All I could do is stop and stare at her in sheer amazement.
What is the thing you most love about Madhuri?
Her simplicity. I love her even more as a fan every time I meet her. During one of my meets, one fan, who couldn’t make it, sent jackfruit chips to her. I gave it to her and she was so down to earth, to not just accept it but also acknowledge it later on Twitter saying that her kids loved it.
What is your favourite work Madhuri has done?
I would say Dil To Pagal Hai since I was absolutely floored by Madhuri’s beauty and performance in that film.
Which quality in Madhuri do you most relate to?
She once said in an interview, ‘depend on yourself, you’ll never be let down’. I love that philosophy and try implementing it in every situation. She does what she loves and never cared about criticism. I love that.
Why do you love being a super fan?
Because she’s the only star in the Bollywood fraternity whom I feel I have a long lost connection of ‘happiness’ with.
Twitter: @nitesh__shahani
A screenshot of Prada manufactured Kolhapuri Chappal on their website.
A shoemaker in his workshop in Kerala village. Services and hand-making is very cheap in India.iStock
Footwear vendors in the streets of Mahabaleshwar in IndiaiStock
Vietnamese Buddhist monk Bhikkhu Pannakara offers water to his pet dog Aloka, a stray rescued from India, at the start of the 'Walk For Peace' pilgrimage in Dambulla, in northcentral Sri Lanka on April 22, 2026. A high-profile stray dog trotted at the head of a barefoot "peace walk" on April 22 by a group of 13 saffron-robed Buddhist monks led by Pannakara across Sri Lanka, braving searing tropical heat. The peace walk has amassed a large online following, with their Facebook page drawing more than three million followers. Getty Images
Vietnamese Buddhist monk Bhikkhu Pannakara (R) looks on during the start of the 'Walk For Peace' pilgrimage in Dambulla, in northcentral Sri Lanka on April 22, 2026. A high-profile stray dog trotted at the head of a barefoot "peace walk" on April 22 by a group of 13 saffron-robed Buddhist monks led by Pannakara across Sri Lanka, braving searing tropical heat. The peace walk has amassed a large online following, with their Facebook page drawing more than three million followers. Getty Images
Security personnel inspect the site in the aftermath of an attack as food stall chairs lie empty in Pahalgam, about 90 kilometres (55 miles) from Srinagar on April 23, 2025. Indian security forces in Kashmir carried out a major manhunt on April 23, a day after gunmen opened fire on tourists killing 26 people in the region's deadliest attack on civilians since 2000. Getty Images
Tourists visit Betaab Valley in Pahalgam, about 112 km south of Srinagar on June 26, 2025.Getty Images
Pilgrims gather at the Baltal Base Camp near Domel, en route to the sacred Amarnath cave in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India, on July 29, 2025. The annual Amarnath Yatra, which began on July 3, proceeds under heightened security following a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed the lives of 25 tourists and a local pony handler. Security forces have been deployed in large numbers across the pilgrimage route, with checkpoints, surveillance, and restrictions in place to safeguard the thousands of devotees undertaking the arduous journey. The Amarnath Yatra is one of the most important Hindu pilgrimages, drawing worshippers from across India to the high-altitude Himalayan shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva. Despite the threat of violence and challenging terrain, pilgrims continue their spiritual trek, determined to complete the sacred journey under the shadow of grief and resilience.Getty Images