New Delhi: Actor Madhuri Dixit is not playing a typical Hindi cinema mother in her upcoming Netflix film Maa Behen. Unlike the self-sacrificing Nirupa Roy’s ‘Maa’ seen in Bollywood since the 1950s. If the trailer is any indication, Madhuri’s character Rekha is layered, mischievous and far from the traditional image associated with mothers in Hindi cinema.
The Bollywood mother has a makeover. From Kirron Kher in Dostana to Mouni Roy in Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai, mothers in Hindi cinema have deshackled themselves from the typical, traditional roles. They are now bolder, younger and hotter. And leading actors from the 90s are not shying away from playing mothers to grown-up actors.
While Madhuri Dixit has previously portrayed a mother in films such as Maja Ma (2022) and Bucket List (2018), the actor has rarely been seen in the crime-comedy genre. In Maa Behen, she plays a woman who remains calm and humorous while dealing with a dead body lying in her kitchen. In the trailer, she is also seen dealing with her two daughters—Jaya, played by Triptii Dimri and Sushma, played by Dharna Durga.
Speaking to ANI, Madhuri reflected on the way mothers are usually portrayed on screen.
“We place mothers way too much on a pedestal, but they have feelings, desires, and emotions of their own that we never show. In this, she is the antithesis of the usual mother; she is mischievous,” she said.
Maa Behen is set to release on June 4.
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‘Madhuri Dixit said yes in one go’
Director Suresh Triveni, known for women-centric films such as Tumhari Sulu (2017) and Jalsa (2022), said Maa Behen continues his interest in stories led by complex female characters.
“The title is as serious as life itself because a title carries meaning. Yet, at its heart, the film remains entertainment; it will make you laugh, but it is thought-provoking,” he said, adding that the casting process took nearly four years, as many actors were initially confused about which role they would play in the story.
The director added that his first instinct was to approach Madhuri for the project.
“My writer and I narrated it. You won’t believe it, she said yes in one go,” he added.
Triptii said that the film explores a family that is deeply connected yet dysfunctional. She credited workshops and time spent together on set for helping the cast build a strong and playful bond.
“The relationship between the three of us in the film is such that they are very close as a family, yet it’s a dysfunctional family,” she said.
(Edited by Saptak Datta)