Two to tango

At last, I have her undivided attention. But before we dive into a conversation, her mother passes a round of crisp puranpolis and cheese crackers, which Madhuri herself carefully avoids. I notice a mangal sutra

hanging dramatically from her neck. There is also a hint of sindoor in her hair. Clearly, the star has embraced her newfound status of a blushing bride with utmost pride. To begin with, there’s not a trace of make-up on her visage. Yet, she’s glowing radiantly. "Yes, some people have told me that I’m looking better now than ever before," she says, breaking into a fit of giggles even as utters those words. Not that it’s untrue either, considering she seems perfectly fit, her once acned skin has cleared up almost completely, and she just doesn’t seem to stop smiling.

Post marriage, her relationships with her co-stars haven’t changed much. "We were never really on back-slapping terms ever, so it’s not like there’s any distance now," she explains, convinced that "most of them have reacted spontaneously and are genuinely happy for me." There isn’t very much of a change from her own side either, she says, except, of course, for the fact that she feels a lot more responsible for her actions now than ever before. "I’m no more footloose and fancy free," she says, smiling brightly. "Apart from that, nothing else has changed."

Naturally, the actress says she has cut down on her acting assignments. "Now I’ve decided to do only the kind of movies that really excite me. Or I’ll work with filmmakers I admire," she says. Currently, she’s wrapping up work on Deepak Shivdasani’s Yeh Raaste Hain Pyaar Ke opposite Ajay Devgan, and Hum Tere Hain Sanam with Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan. Later this year she will slap on the greasepaint again to work with Rajkumar Santoshi in Lajja and then with Sanjay Leela Bhansali in Devdas. Also, she says she is looking forward to the release of Gajagamini, directed by painter-fan MF Hussain. "It’s the kind of film that’s neither commercial nor arty in nature. It’s just drastically different," she attempts to explain.

Madhuri, who had revealed at the time of her marriage that husband Sriram Nene had never seen a film of hers, still sticks to the same statement. "He’s just too busy," she says of LA-based surgeon Nene, "who would much rather spend his free time outdoors than watch a Hindi film which is as alien as Greek or Latin to him." However, she says he is a little curious, having now heard so much about her acting prowess. "But he keeps saying that this is perhaps the most interesting part about our relationship — that there is still something to discover."

The actress is clear that if she were to choose a handful of her films for him to see, she would perhaps pick Hum Aapke Hain Koun, Mrityudand and Dil To Paagal Hai to begin with. "But I would never tell him about the films I don’t want him to see," she says, laughing heartily. "Thankfully there aren’t too many such films anyway," she adds.

With ample time on her hands now, Madhuri says she sometimes feels guilty that she isn’t really doing much. "When I’m in LA and Ram is at work, I try my hand at a little cooking, I go out shopping, or just take long walks during the day," she reveals. Nene, she says, hasn’t complained about her cooking yet. "I’m not very bad at it. I can follow instructions from a recipe book," she says, adding that she can whip up a mean chicken curry and prawn pulao. "The first time I cooked for Ram, I surprised myself with what a good job I did," she says, blushing at the memory.

For an actress who has made an effort to display her versatality with such diverse roles as those in Tezaab, Ram Lakhan, Hum Aapke Hain Koun, Anjaam, Khalnayak, Dil To Paagal Hai, Mrityudand and more recently Pukar, it can’t be very satisfying to have to stay away from the studios too long, can it? "I don’t feel the need to prove anything anymore," she says. "But I want to be the best at whatever it is that I’ve decided to do."

Shuttling between LA and Mumbai may not be entirely comfortable, "but if it was a strain on our relationship, I wouldn’t be doing it," she says. Ask her where her heart belongs now, and she can’t come up with an answer. "It’s like having two homes. My stuff is scattered everywhere," she replies safely. And although both husband and wife grumble about not being able to spend enough time together, "we knew from the very start that this was how it was going to be, so it’s not like it’s been a rude shock."

As is the case with most long-distance relationships, this one isn’t rid of those little insecurities either. "I talk to him almost every single day," she says, revealing that those phone bills are exorbitant. "I make it a point to ask him who he is with, what he’s had for dinner, and what time he’s going to bed," she adds, knowing fully well that he is too tied up with his work and too committed a man to fool around behind her back. She’s lucky that even her fans seem excited about her marriage. "Now I get my mail at two addresses across the world," she says, revealing that those marriage proposals from fans have almost stopped. "Some do send dukhi letters saying they are heartbroken, but I don’t think they really mean it," Madhuri adds with a smile.

She’s particularly fond of babies, but says she’s not ready for them yet. "We just got married. Babies will come, but later," she promises. Even as she talks about her new family, the actress’ parents sit in to listen. "I miss my mum and dad most, when I’m in LA," she says, putting her arm around her mother affectionately. "I know they’re happy that I’m settled, but they miss having me close to them," she adds, as her mother returns the gesture by planting a kiss on her head.

Her 11 year-old nephew Shonak, who is visiting from the US, is clearly bored. He switches channels mechanically, then slams down the remote control, hoping to attract some attention around the house. Noticing this, Madhuri offers him a go at her personal computer. "I’ve just installed the Internet," she tells him, suggesting he send an email to his parents. Almost simultaneously, the doorbell rings. Her designer has arrived with the outfits she ordered. Sensing that the actress has more pressing duties to attend to, we call the interview to an end.