The recent allegation about Madhuri Dixit getting pregnant while shooting the popular song ‘Dola Re Dola’ from the movie ‘Devdas’ has sparked a widespread discussion online. The speculation came to light after Rubina Khan, the former partner of choreographer Saroj Khan, suggested that the actor was four months pregnant during the shoot.
However, Madhuri has firmly addressed these rumors and clarified the facts.Speaking to SCREEN, Madhuri laughed off the allegations and pointed to the timeline as evidence that the story doesn’t make sense. “Arin was born in 2003. So, you have to do the math.” Her eldest son, Arin Nene, was born on March 17, 2003, while “Devdas” had already hit theaters on July 12, 2002, after premiering at the Cannes Film Festival in May of that year.While Madhuri denied the pregnancy rumours, she admitted that the demanding schedule while shooting for ‘Devdas’ took a toll on her health.
“I was under the weather because I was traveling a lot. I was going back and forth, shooting here and back. And all my shots were night shots. So, for me, it was very stressful. I was under the weather a little bit, but nothing like that.”At the time, the actress was dividing her time between Mumbai and Denver after marrying Dr Shriram Nene in 1999. Reportedly, the constant traveling and night-time photoshoots made the schedule particularly stressful.
‘Devdas’ was Madhuri Dixit’s last film before motherhood
After her marriage, Madhuri moved to the United States but continued working in Hindi cinema. ‘Devdas’ became one of the final projects she completed before embracing motherhood and welcoming sons Arin and Rayyan. The film, directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, features Shah Rukh Khan in the lead role, along with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan as Paro and Madhuri as Chandramukhi. The film is an adaptation of Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay’s famous novel of the same name.
The story behind the famous song “Dola Re Dola”
One of the most memorable moments in the film is “Dola Re Dola”, an elaborate dance scene featuring Chandramukhi and Paro. Interestingly, the two women never met in the original novel. Bhansali took creative liberties by bringing the characters together for a big dance performance that would later become one of the most iconic songs in Bollywood. The song is composed by Ismail Darbar, penned by Nusrat Badr and sung by Kavita Krishnamurthy, Shreya Ghoshal and KK.
What Rubina Khan claimed
During her appearance on YouTube channel Bollywood Thikana, Rubina Khan recalled a particular portion of the choreography and suggested that Madhuri faced physical difficulties during the shoot. “There is a step where Madhuri ma’am turns around and sits down. That shot kept happening from 9am to 10pm because she was four months pregnant. So, she was not able to turn properly and was feeling dizzy.”She further claimed: “She was also suffering from fever at that time. She struggled a lot.
She never asked for a step change. “Whatever Masterji (Saroj Khan) said has been put in stone.” However, Madhuri’s latest clarification has effectively put an end to the pregnancy speculations.
Madhuri Dixit’s legendary partnership with Saroj Khan
Madhuri and Saroj Khan partnered in one of the most famous actor-choreographer collaborations in Indian cinema. Their journey began with the song “Ek Do Teen” from “Tezaab” and continued through many popular songs over the decades, finally culminating with the song “Tabaah Ho Gaye” from “Kalank”.Saroj Khan passed away in July 2020, leaving behind a legacy that continues to influence generations of performers and choreographers.