Biography:

Former Bollywood Queen Madhuri, who quit Bollywood to start a family in the US after Sanjay Leela Bhansali's "Devdas", is staging a comeback after five years with Cinematographer Anil Mehta's directorial debut "Aaja Nachle", produced by Yash Chopra.

"Madhuri has a dream role," said a member of the film's crew according to media reports. "It's her story all the way. All the other actors are important but supportive. Madhuri plays a theatre actress. It's her character's 10-year-old journey that forms the film's crux."

Although Madhuri had played a member of a dance troupe in Yash Raj Films' super hit "Dil To Paagal Hai", she has never played a role of a theatre actress before. In fact, Anil Mehta's film would be the first since Gulzar's unreleased "Libaas" to be set in the theatre world.

Rumours of Mehta's movie being traceable to the Hollywood film have been making the rounds. But the story is an absolute original, has nothing to do with the Susan Sarandon and Julia Roberts tearjerker "Stepmom".

Madhuri forayed in filmdom with "Abodh". Her first shot to success was "Tezaab" and her dance performance in ‘Ek Do Teen…’ made it a huge hit.

Then there was no looking back and Madhuri gave a string of hits like "Dayavan", "Ram Lakhan" and the song ‘Bada Dukh Dina… topped the music charts. For her performance in "Dil" she bagged the Filmfare best actress award for the film. Her dance sequence ‘Dhak Dhak…’ was largely appreciated.

The Bollywood queen then churned out hits like "Saajan" and walked away with the Filmfare best actress award for her film "Beta".

Madhuri’s electrified dance number ‘Choli Ke Peechche..’ of "Khalnayak" proved a huge hit and her performance in the movie soared her fan following largely.

Madhuri repeated the success story in Bollywood blockbuster "Hum Aapke Hain Kaun!". In the film Madhuri shared the screen space with Salman Khan and walked away with the Filmfare best actress award.

With her powerful performance in mega hit "Dil To Pagal Hai", Madhuri won her fourth Filmfare best actress award. In the film she starred opposite Kareena Kapoor and Shah Rukh Khan.

Madhuri has been the muse for the famous Indian painter M.F. Hussain. She has appeared in his film "Gaja Gamini", which was a tribute to her talent and beauty.

In 2001, Madhuri was awarded the National Citizens Award to recognise various activities that effect everyday life. The next year she starred in "Devdas" with King Khan Khan and Aishwarya Rai. Madhuri earned rave reviews for her act in the film, which attracted worldwide attention and was featured at the Cannes Film Festival. Madhuri also bagged the Filmfare best supporting actress award for the same.

On February 25, 2006 she performed on stage for the first time in six years at the Filmfare Awards function on the music of her film "Devdas". Her performance was choreographed by Saroj Khan and was very well received.