Veteran actor Madhumati, who was seen as Helen’s competition, passes away at 87; Akshay Kumar remembers his ‘first guru’

My first and forever guru. Everything I know about dance, I learnt at your feet, Madhumati ji. Har ada, har expression mein aapki yaad hamesha saath rahegi. Om Shanti 🙏 pic.twitter.com/Vo288LSMRZ

— Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) October 15, 2025

Actor Vindu Dara Singh also expressed his condolences on, posting, “Rest in peace, our teacher and guide #Madhumati ji. A beautiful life led, filled with love and blessing from so many of us who learnt dancing from this legend.”

Rest in peace our teacher and guide #Madhumati ji. A beautiful life led filled with love and blessings from so many of us who learnt dancing from this legend 🙏🏻 pic.twitter.com/eRRZ3W1LOx

— Vindu Dara Singh (@RealVinduSingh) October 15, 2025

Over a career spanning nearly 25 years, Madhumati claimed to have worked in over 250 films, including Hindi and regional cinema across Marathi, Gujarati, Punjabi, Bhojpuri, and South Indian languages. She featured in more than 30 Punjabi films, performing numerous dance numbers and occasionally taking on lead or supporting roles. During her peak years, she was affectionately called “Poor Man’s Helen”, though her individuality indeed set her apart.

Born as Hutoxi in Thane, Maharashtra, Madhumati showed an early interest in dance but initially faced resistance from her family. Her father, a judge, and her mother, a homemaker, were hesitant about her pursuing a performance career. Despite this, she began performing on stage at a young age, which soon led to film offers. She was trained in traditional forms of dance, including Kathak, Manipuri, Kathakali, and Bharatanatyam.

Madhumati passed away on Wednesday. (Photo: Express Archives)

Renowned producer Dhirubhahi Desai was the first to spot the young Madhumati’s talent. He was the chief guest at an event where she danced on stage and wanted to sign her as the heroine of his film. But her father was against her working as an actress. After much persuasion, she was given permission to perform just one dance number in the 1957 Marathi film Raja Harishchandra, but little is known about this film. Later Madhumati left her studies after matriculation to soon became a dance teacher at a government school at just 15.

Madhumati first showcased her exceptional dancing talent in a captivating classical performance in the 1969 film Talash, which starred Rajendra Kumar and Sharmila Tagore. Her graceful execution of the sequence drew widespread acclaim from both audiences and critics. Over the years, she performed a variety of solo acts as well as duets alongside other celebrated dancers of the era, including Lakshmi Chhaya and Bela Bose.

At the time Madhumati entered the film industry, Helen was already an established icon of dance in Hindi cinema. So striking was Madhumati’s screen presence that her mesmerizing cabaret number from A Night in London (1967) was often mistaken for Helen’s own performance. Helen and Madhumati shared the screen in energetic dance sequences in Taj Mahal (1963) and Yeh Raat Phir Na Aayegi (1966). Her last Bollywood film was Amar Akbar Anthony (1977).

Also Read | Pankaj Dheer dies: Actor was offered Arjuna’s role in Mahabharat; BR Chopra threw him out after he refused to shave moustache

Her collaboration with Manohar Deepak, known for his iconic Bhangra performances in Jagte Raho and Naya Daur, became a defining phase in her career. Initially reluctant to join his group, she later performed on several stage tours with him. Deepak eventually encouraged her to explore acting, a decision that completely changed things for her, even though she often found herself typecast in dance-oriented roles.

Manohar Deepak’s family grew close to Madhumati, especially during a difficult period after his wife’s passing. Though their relationship faced initial resistance due to cultural differences, Deepak being a Punjabi widower with four children and Madhumati a young Parsi woman, they eventually married when she was 19. She embraced his children as her own. After Deepak’s death in 2002, Madhumati devoted her time to nurturing young talent through the Madhumati Dance Academy in Mumbai.

Details regarding the cause of her death and funeral arrangements are yet to be announced.