Madhuri Dixit was the heartthrob of a generation of Indian cine-goers and the leading actress in Hindi cinema for a decade from 1988, when she had her first big hit with N Chandra's Tezaab, co-starring Anil Kapoor. After Tezaab, she delivered a string of hits like Ram Lakhan (1989), Dil (1990), Saajan (1991), Beta (1992), Khal Nayak (1993), Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! (1994), Dil To Pagal Hai (1997) and Devdas (2002). At her peak, she was considered Hindi cinema's first female superstar in an industry that remains largely male dominated. She has been nominated for 13 Filmfare awards. In 2008, she was conferred the Padma Shri for her contribution to Indian cinema. Born in a Marathi-speaking family in 1967, Madhuri Dixit was drawn to academics. While in college, she acquired a passion for the Bombay film industry and made her debut with Rajshri Productions' Abodh (1984). She was just 17. She followed up with a series of duds like Awara Baap (1985), Swati (1986), Mohre (1987) and Hifazat (1987) until Chandra cast her in Tezaab. The film was a blockbuster and her scintillating dance and performance were highlights. The film established Dixit as a star and a large chunk of audiences flocked to watch her dance numbers on the big screen. Dixit was one of the few actresses to push the envelope in Hindi cinema in the depiction of sexuality in the conservative 1980s, sharing a passionate liplock with leading man Vinod Khanna in Dayavan (1988) and performing a lovemaking scene in Parinda (1989) with co-star Anil Kapoor, with whom she was paired to great success in many films. She was also the rage for her suggestive dances in films like Beta (1992), which got her the moniker 'Dhak Dhak girl', and Khal Nayak (1993), in which the song 'Choli Ke Peeche' became controversial for its suggestive lyrics and Dixit's dance. Despite the backlash, Dixit's rise to stardom continued unabated and the following year she made box-office history with Sooraj R. Barjatya's Hum Apke Hain Koun..! (1994), which some critics dismissed as an extended wedding video but which became Hindi cinema's biggest grosser till then. Renowned painter MF Husain was so fascinated by Dixit in this film that he watched it 67 times and proclaimed her his muse. He made a series of paintings of Dixit and even a film with her in the lead called Gaja Gamini (2000), which became famous more for Husain's fascination for Dixit's shapely rear. Dixit also experimented with roles and starred in serious, narrative-centric films like Dharavi (1993), Mrityudand (1997), Pukar (2000), and Lajja (2001). These films were well received by critics, who lauded the actress for breaking out of her comfort zone and delivering power-packed performances. Mrityudand (1997) won the Best Feature Film award at the Cinema Tout Ecran in Geneva and the Bangkok Film Festival. She won the Filmfare award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her portrayal of Chandramukhi, the courtesan with the golden heart, in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's magnum opus Devdas (2002). In 1999, Madhuri Dixit married Dr Sriram Nene. Three years later, after the success of Devdas (2002), she took a break from films and settled with her husband in California and bore him two sons, Arin and Raayan. Five years later, Dixit returned to work on Yash Chopra's Aaja Nachle (2007). The film did not do well, but Dixit received good reviews and the position of a reality dance show judge. In 2012, she moved back to India with her family and thus started her third phase in Hindi films with films like Dedh Ishqiya (2014) and Gulab Gang (2014).