I did ‘Gulaab Gang’ because of Madhuri: Juhi Chawla

Mumbai, Jan 18 :

They have been Bollywood contemporaries since the 1990s but Madhuri Dixit and Juhi Chawla have only come together now for “Gulaab Gang”. Juhi says Madhuri’s presence in the movie was a big draw for her towards the project.

“I did this film because Madhuri was there. I really did it because (I thought that) with this script, it will be amazing if we do it together. I remember saying to her on the first day that ‘Madhuri, we will make it rock’, and we have,” Juhi said here at the launch of the song “Dheemi gati” from “Gulaab Gang” Friday.

What kept them away from working together for so long?

“I would say that earlier there were a few chances when we could have worked together, but at that time I didn’t do the film because Madhuri was there in the films. I thought if she is there, then what would I do? Comparisons were bound to happen, so to avoid all that tension, I didn’t do those films,” she said.

However, now she is not worried.

“I am so glad that I am playing a villain in the film. So you can’t compare the two of us. I neither had to dance nor sing. All that has been done by Madhuri,” said Juhi, who essays a politician in the film.

Known for playing bubbly, vivacious and lovable characters on screen, Juhi had her reservations about playing a villainous politician in her forthcoming film “Gulaab Gang”.

But she is glad that she finally took up the role in the movie.

“When I read the script, it was great, but by the end of it, I said ‘Why will I do this role? People will not believe me if I do this role’. But Finally, when I took it on, I thought it will be fun to do something different,” Juhi told reporters here during a promotional event for the movie.

“I am really glad I am being accepted as a villain today. I was scared whether people will accept me this way or start laughing on my dialogues,” she added.

The movie on women empowerment is directed by Soumik Sen.

Juhi has enjoyed the experience of filming “Gulaab Gang” and says Madhuri has turned out to be her “best co-star”.

“Madhuri has been my best co-star, that says it all. It was wonderful. Just before we both started shooting, Soumik called both of us to his office and he left the room and it was just both of us.

“Really, we had not interacted with each other earlier, so we got (a chance) to know each other and that exercise helped us a lot,” she said.

Madhuri also conceded: “We enjoyed working with each other. Unless you don’t have warmth for each other, you can’t work together. I enjoyed working with Juhi and it’s great finally we worked together.”

The movie, slated to release March 7, talks about pink sari-clad women activists who protest against the social injustice against women in the Bundelkhand region of central India.

Slated to release March 7, “Gulaab Gang” is inspired by a group of women activists in the Bundelkhand region and talks about women empowerment.

(IANS)