Madhuri Dixit launches book on Marathi actresses

Mumbai, Jan 5 (UNI) Bollywood actress Madhuri Dixit, who is making a comeback to movies in a Yash Raj banner soon, made her first public appearance yesterday by launching 'Marathi Taraka' (Marathi actresses) an encyclopedia of 126 celebrated actresses of Marathi cinema over the last seven decades.

''I feel I am at a family function. Being here has brought back several memories,'' she said in Marathi in the presence of several top veteran and new generation Marathi actors and actresses like Chandrakant Gokhale, Chittaranjan Kolkhatkar, Nilu Phule, Shrikant Moghe, Ramesh Deo, Sulochana, Jayashree Gadkar, Varsha Usgaonkar, Madhura Velankar, Subodh Bhave among others who had assembled at a suburban hotel last evening to mark the occasion.

Lauding the efforts of author-filmmaker Mahesh Tilekar who has compiled profiles and rare pictures of over 126 Marathi film actresses, Madhuri said she had gone through the website marathitaraka.com launched three months ago by Mahesh and felt that he had contributed towards taking Marathi cinema to the international level.

''Hindi films are recognised worldwide no doubt, but the website and now the book is the first step in taking Marathi films and its actors to the diaspora across the world,'' she added.

When host of the evening noted anchor Sudhir Gadgil, who is a friend of Madhuri asked her if she is ready to act in a Marathi film, Madhuri said,''why not? if a script inspires me, I will definitely do it.'' Filmmaker Pritish Nandy launched the website - marathinayak.com which contents profiles and photos of over 50 actors of Marathi cinema.

Madhuri said that she had always loved and cherished Marathi bhavgeet (devotional songs) and celebrated Marathi artistes.

Speaking on the occasion, Mahesh Tilekar said the website marathitaraka.com has received immense response from the people and it had inspired him to launched another portal to give detailed information on Marathi actors.

Renuka Shahane who worked with Madhuri in 'Hum Apke Hain Kaun' said she was thrilled to meet Madhuri after ten years. While actress Rajeshwari Sachdev said she was waiting to see Madhuri act and dance on screen once again.

UNI