Madhoo is enjoying her second innings as an actor, taking on roles that resonate with her. Known for her roles in iconic films like Phool Aur Kaante and Roja, she’s recently starred in Thalaivi with Kangana Ranaut and Shaakuntalam with Samantha Ruth Prabhu.
Reflecting on the changes in the industry, Madhoo shared how things have evolved over the years. She recalled the challenges actresses faced in the past, such as the lack of basic facilities like washrooms and vanity vans. Shooting Tamil films in remote locations meant dealing with nature’s elements and changing costumes in less-than-ideal conditions. In a chat with the Indian Express, Madhoo said, “That’s a reality. It was one of the most difficult times and I was shooting Tamil films sitting in the Red Caves, in Kolachi, and sitting under mountains and trees to face nature and all of that, it was the most embarrassing time. The kind of clothes we used to wear to dance in that heat… and then to get yourself out of those clothes. We didn’t know who’s watching, it was so difficult.”
Madhoo also remembered that during the shooting of Mani Ratnam’s Iruvar, she had to nap on rocks because there was nowhere else to rest, since the shoot was happening at a remote location in Tamil Nadu. Saying that nowadays, things are different, the actress added, “Now all of that doesn’t happen. You can say that you want make-up van and you get your privacy. There was a time I was shooting for Iruvar (1997) with Mani Ratnam sir and we were shooting somewhere in Tamil Nadu, I can’t remember the place exactly, but I was sleeping on the rocks there in the break time after eating. I was sleeping on the rock and I heard somebody saying, ‘what is the use of earning so much money, after all she has to sleep on stones.’ Now we don’t have to go through, so that’s a welcome change, especially for a female actor. Those days were difficult.”
Madhoo, who was a very popular face in the 90s, made her comeback a few years ago but is still waiting for a big break. She believes that being an actor means a lot of waiting, but she stays prepared every day to improve her skills, whether she’s on stage or not. “An actor’s life is about waiting. These moments when we are in front of the camera, after which there is waiting till the next moment comes. So, it is what you do in the waiting period that defines how healthy and happy you are. What I have figured out for myself is that one thing I know is that I am always an actor, whether I have a stage or not. So I prepare myself everyday to be a better actor,” she said.
Madhoo’s latest film, Karmam Bhugtam with Shreyas Talpade, is now running in theaters.
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