Women no longer just eye candy in films: Madhuri Dixit-Nene

Madhuri Dixit has seen the Hindi film industry go through changes in her three decades in showbiz, says she's glad to see the emergence of stronger women characters on the silver screen.

For her, it's a welcome departure from earlier times when Hindi films were constantly more focused on the heroes and heroines were relegated to supportive roles.

"Nowadays, women are given more importance in a film. 'Neerja' is one of the examples where Sonam Kapoor plays an air hostess and saves a lot of people. There's even Alia Bhatt in 'Udta Punjab', where she plays an innocent girl from Bihar and how she gets involved in the whole drug scene.

"Though it ('Udta Punjab') is not woman-oriented, women's parts have become much stronger than it used to be. Women are now not just eye candy, parts are written where she has an important role in society," Madhuri told in an e-mail interview from Mumbai.

Since her debut film "Abodh" in 1984, Madhuri has remained a pivotal part of the Indian entertainment industry and has enthralled fans through meaty roles in films like "Tezaab", "Ram Lakhan", "Dil", "Beta", "Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!", "Anjaam", "Mrityudand", "Pukar", "Dil To Pagal Hai", "Devdas" and "Gulaab Gang".

Her journey in films slowed down when she got married to US-based doctor Shriram Nene. But Madhuri says it was her "personal choice" to do less films as she had to look after her sons Arin and Rayaan.

"Today the trend is such that people do one film in a year. Back then I remember I have done 12 films in a year too, but those were the days and the way of working was different. Today you can take your time, read the scripts and choose the kind of roles you want... And I think I like it more that way."

"I think it's a personal choice if I have my kids and I want to be at home with them and spend my time with them. I don't do that because people expect that from me, I will do it because it's my personal choice to do it. All mothers feel that way, not just celebrities," she said.

Madhuri returned to Bollywood with "Aaja Nachle" in 2007.

Apart from her flawless acting, Madhuri also has carved out her own niche in the industry as a versatile dancer.