Madhuri Dixit missed meeting favourite director

Mumbai, May 13 (IANS) Bollywood actress Madhuri Dixit, who is a big fan of Indian-American director, producer and writer Manoj 'Night' Shyamalan's work, regrets that she couldn't be formally introduced to the spook specialist in Delhi. But she is happy he was being recognised alongside her.

The two film personalities were given Padma Shri Saturday in the capital.

"Never mind. It's wonderful to see talent from India making a name in Hollywood and being recognised at home as well. I feel, with increasing globalisation more and more Indian talent will be recognised all over the world," Madhuri, who made a comeback with "Aaja Nachle", told IANS.

"I've watched his 'Sixth Sense' like six times. When I was going to watch it for the first time, I was told I'd never be able to guess the ending. I thought I'd be able to because I thought it would be something impossible, which I'll catch on to. But I still couldn't guess the suspense. Sheer genius," added the actress who gave hits like "Tezaab", "Ram Lakhan" "Beta" and "Dil To Pagal Hai".

Madhuri's husband Sriram Nene was also here for the occasion but he left for the US from Delhi immediately after the ceremony. Madhuri, however, stayed back and is now in Mumbai for a week to catch up with friends and relatives.

Delhi was tough on Madhuri's health.

"I've got this wracking cough because of the humidity. And the contrast when I'm indoors cooped in the air conditioning and the heat outside is making it worse. Thankfully, I didn't bring my kids along."

Before leaving for Delhi for the Padma Shri, Madhuri attended the premiere of "Jimmy" for her co-star Mithun Chakraborty's sake. "Jimmy" is Mimoh's launch vehicle.

"If you remember, I had done one of my best films 'Prem Pratigyaa' with Mithunda. From the beginning he was such a gentleman, always very professional. Even if he was late, he'd warn me, 'Don't come on the set before 11 a.m. tomorrow.' Yeah, that's what it meant to be disciplined back then."

In fact, she met another of her other co-star Govinda at the "Jimmy" premiere.

"Yeah Govinda too was very sweet. Fortunately, everything in Bollywood is getting more organised. We get ready scripts. So there's more incentive to come. Ten years ago it'd have been impossible for me to come down to Mumbai to work. I wouldn't even have thought of it."

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