Madhuri Dixit Reveals Husband Dr. Nene's Initial Unawareness of Her Bollywood Stardom
In a recent interview, Bollywood icon Madhuri Dixit shared a charming anecdote about her husband, Dr. Sriram Nene, and his unfamiliarity with her illustrious film career before their marriage. The revelation highlights a unique aspect of their relationship, where personal connection transcended the glitz and glamour of the Hindi film industry.
Madhuri Dixit married Dr. Sriram Nene, a cardiovascular surgeon, in 1999. At the time, Madhuri was at the peak of her career, a superstar recognized and adored by millions. However, Dr. Nene, who grew up in the United States, had limited exposure to Bollywood and Hindi cinema.
According to Madhuri, Dr. Nene was largely unaware of her fame and the impact she had on Indian cinema. In fact, he hadn't watched many Hindi films and only recognized one Bollywood personality at their wedding reception: Amitabh Bachchan. He had seen Bachchan's film Amar Akbar Anthony during his school days and remembered his face.
Madhuri recounted that when she first met Dr. Nene, he simply asked what she did for a living. When she told him she worked in films, he thought it was "nice" but didn't grasp the scale of her celebrity. This naivete, Madhuri confessed, was one of the things she found most attractive about him. She appreciated the opportunity to connect with him without preconceived notions or the weight of her public image.
Dr. Nene's limited knowledge of Bollywood stemmed from his upbringing and cultural background. Born in London, he moved to the US at a young age and primarily spoke Marathi, his family's language. While he understood Marathi, Hindi was not a language he was familiar with, and he didn't grow up watching Hindi movies. He was more accustomed to plot-driven thrillers from the West, such as Star Wars.
Dr. Nene admitted that his parents weren't initially thrilled about him leaving his established career as a heart surgeon. He had even worked with people in Hollywood and wasn't particularly interested in marrying someone from the film industry. However, after meeting Madhuri's brother and finding him to be "phenomenal and very down-to-earth," he reconsidered his stance.
Over time, Dr. Nene has gained a greater appreciation for Hindi cinema, attending premieres and acknowledging the art of storytelling within the industry. Madhuri and Dr. Nene tied the knot in 1999 and have two sons, Arin and Ryan. After their marriage, Madhuri relocated to Denver, Colorado, and took a break from her acting career. In 2011, the family moved back to India.
