Actor Madhoo says being Hema Malini's cousin gave her 'access, respect' in industry
Bollywood actor Madhoo, who made her debut with the 1991 film 'Phool Aur Kaante', said that being Hema Malini's cousin helped her get treated with respect and dignity in the industry.
In Short
- Madhoo, cousin of Hema Malini, credits family background for dignity and respect in film industry
- Despite industry connections, Madhoo says success wasn't guaranteed
- Relation to Juhi Chawla had no major impact on Madhoo's career
Actor Madhoo recently spoke about the privilege of coming from the family of veteran Bollywood star Hema Malini. Madhoo said that since her father was a film producer and Malini, her cousin, she was always treated with dignity and respect, unlike other girls who came to Mumbai to become actors. "Coming from the home of an artist of Hema ji’s stature gave me a lot of dignity,” Madhoo told an entertainment portal.
The 'Phool Aur Kaante' actor elaborated that though having connections in the film industry got her the right treatment, it didn't ensure success. "Whether I got a movie or not, whether I was appreciated as an actor or not, coming from Hema ji's house definitely gave me the respect that, unfortunately, many girls who come to Bombay to become actors don't get. They face unpleasant experiences. But I never had those experiences," Madhoo told an entertainment portal.
She reasoned, "Maybe because my father was already a producer. Maybe I carried some kind of dignity. It did not give me a movie, it did not give me a hit, it did not give me appreciation even, but it gave me access and respect. If I went to somebody’s office, I was treated with respect."
Madhoo is also related to actor Juhi Chawla. Juhi is the wife of Madhoo's brother-in-law. But having the 'Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak' actor as her relative didn't have any major impact on her career.
"Juhi ji came into my life much later as a family member, only after I got married. And when I got married, I had kind of left the industry. So her being in the family, emotionally, or mentally, or physically, did not affect me," the 55-year-old actor said.
Madhoo, who has starred in several Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, Kannada, and Malayalam films, will next be seen in the Hindi psychological thriller, 'Kartam Bhugtam'.