Dhak-dhak, dhak-dhak! Can you hear your heartbeat racing? Well, it is natural considering it is Madhuri Dixit’s 53^rd birthday. The charming performer and a winner of millions of hearts, our beloved actress has turned a year older today, oops, a year younger rather. Started off at a relatively young age, Madhuri, an aspirant of microbiology, turned to films with Abodh in 1984. While the film tanked at the box-office, Madhuri garnered rave reviews for her debut act. After a few lesser-successful projects, N Chandra directed Tezaab became her breakthrough performance. Since then, there was no stopping for her. From ticking off blockbusters like Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!, Dil Toh Pagal Hai, Parinda etc, Madhuri escalated on the graph of popularity to become the queen of Bollywood after Sridevi. With filmmakers desiring to work with her and offered her tailor-made roles, Madhuri added her Midas touch to projects that went on to become Indian cinema’s iconic ventures.

With a number of blockbusters and critically acclaimed films to her name, she introduced us to some beautiful and relevant characters. Proving to be the queen of versatility, Madhuri got into the skin of her roles earnestly and garnered a thumbs-up from the critics. Today, as we celebrate her birthday, let’s take a look at some of her finest performances over the years that are cherished forever.

Tezaab: 1988

Instrumental in securing Madhuri as a strong and bankable actress, Tezaab channelled the innocence as well as vulnerability in her performance. As we can rightfully say Ek Do Teen has been an iconic number for decades together, her portrayal of Mohini has etched a place in everyone’s mind. With a twinkle in her eyes, Madhuri became the actress every filmmaker wanted to work with.

Dil: 1990

In Dil, Madhuri injected a fun flavour to her character Madhu. A beautiful, rich young girl who is arrogant at the same time, falls in love with Raja. Taking her dislike for Raja to another level, she accuses him of rape, just to realise her mistake and fall in love with him. Supercilious yet honest in love, Madhuri reflected the vulnerabilities of Madhu perfectly.

Beta: 1992

Dhak-dhak, dhak-dhak! And that’s how our heartbeats race when Madhuri’s Beta comes to the fore. Madhuri’s Saraswati, an ideal wife and daughter-in-law. However, on learning about the evil intentions of her stepmother-in-law, a battle of wits ensued between them. Saraswati, just to protect her innocent husband from his adversary, took things into her hand and emerged victoriously. The actress’s portrayal of Saraswati got her honoured with a Filmfare Award for Best Actress.

Anjaam: 1994

With the character of Shivani Chopra, Madhuri left critics as well as the audience stunned with her never-seen-before avatar. With a vendetta against Vijay (Shah Rukh Khan), Shivani’s every step showcased a different side of Madhuri’s acting skill. The transition from a young charming lady to a woman toughened by what she had to go through is sheerly compelling.

Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!: 1994

Uhu-uhu! Madhuri graceful won hearts with this impression in Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! As Nisha, Madhuri portrayed the dual shades of effervescence and maturity. In the tale of sacrificing love for the happiness of the family, Madhuri’s Nisha is always remembered for her liveliness and charm. Well, how can one forget the magic she created with Salman Khan in the film and the Filmfare Award she won?

Raja: 1995

Madhuri shouldered Raja with her strong acting skills. As Madhu, Madhuri got into the skin of the character and won hearts with her effortless relationship with the cameras. Be it her smile or her enchanting presence, Madhuri had her name written throughout Raja.

Prem Granth: 1996

In a hard-hitting tale of rape and sexual harassment, Madhuri molds the nuances in the innocence of a small village belle as well as an honest lover who is unwillingly separated from her lover. With intensity in her eyes, Madhuri makes us believe in her pain and injustice. Indeed, she has shown her versatility here.

Mrityudand: 1997

Stretching her wings and soaring high in the sky, Madhuri stood her ground in Prakash Jha’s Mrityudand to establish herself as a noteworthy actress. As the rebellious daughter-in-law of an absurdly outdated Bihari family, Madhuri’s Ketki contested against the odds to emerge victoriously. Mrityudand was a treat to all avid cine-goers.

Dil Toh Pagal Hai: 1997

In this Yash Chopra musical, Madhuri played the role of the graceful dancer Pooja. Be it her girl-next-door vibes or mesmerising dance moves, Madhuri captivated us with her charming smile. While she showed the maturity of an orphan who accepts the proposal of her childhood friend but in a dilemma, she was also an old-school romantic at heart which is proven when cupid strikes her. Her relationship with Rahul (Shah Rukh Khan) was sweet, endearing and sans the unnecessary drama. The portrayal of Pooja got her Filmfare Best Actress Award.

Pukar: 2000

Proving to be the best actress of her time, Madhuri left everyone speechless with her performance in Pukar. As Anjali, she joins hand with a terrorist to seek revenge from Major Jaidev Rajvansh, whom she loved since childhood. Be it her cajoling, threatening and the gleam of obsession in her eyes, Madhuri was eerie enough to give goosebumps.

Gaja Gamini: 2000

Delighting her fans with a strong act in M.F Hussain’s Gaja Gamini, Madhuri swiftly transformed from one character to another for five times with ease and grace. As an ode to her mesmerising beauty, the actress immortalized the characters of Gaja Gamini, Sangeeta, Shakuntala, Monika and Monalisa in the history of Indian cinema.

Devdas: 2002

Haye maar daala! That’s what the audience said soon after exiting the theatre after watching Madhuri enchant them in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Devdas. As Chandramukhi, a courtesan who falls in love with an alcoholic Devdas, Madhuri painted the shades of flamboyance and naïveté with utmost grace. She delivered a rock-solid performance in the role that seems tailor-made for her. On the other hand, the actress redefined beauty with the song Maar Daala and Dola Re Dola. Without her, the film would have been a below mediocre affair.

Dedh Ishqiya: 2014

Starting a conversation on LGBTQ, Madhuri’s Begum Para in Dedh Ishqiya was refreshing from the otherwise over-the-top portrayal of the community. Injecting magnificence to the character, the actress proved that there is no role that she can’t do. A perfect cocktail of quirky, classy and queer, she made Dedh Ishqiya an important watch in her own unique way.

Gulaab Gang: 2014

From heart’s dhak-dhak to lathi’s thak-thak, Madhuri’s Rajjo in Gulaab Gang managed to make a lasting impression on the audience as well as critics. Even though the film didn’t emerge as a blockbuster, but her nuanced acting and screen presence did all the magic. Her pairing with Juhi Chawla was another highlight of Gulaab Gang.

Bucket List: 2018

Making her debut in Marathi films, Madhuri carried Bucket List on her shoulder single-handedly with her million-dollar smile. As Madhura Sane, a middle-aged woman who gets a heart transplant from a 20-year-old girl sets on a mission to tick off a range of activities from her ‘bucket list’. Be it her body language or the finest nuances of the character, Madhuri aced it will brilliance and made the most of the meaty role.

Happy Birthday, Madhuri! Keep enchanting us with your films and an infectious smile