‘Few films and then comes a new girl’: Actress who worked with Ajay Devgn, Mammootty reveals why 90s heroines had longer careers

Actress Madhoo, who has shared the screen with stars like Ajay Devgn, Mammootty and many leading actors of Indian cinema, spoke about how dramatically the film industry has changed for actresses over the years.

Phool Aur Kaante The actress feels that performers in the 1990s were lucky to have had time to develop, while today’s new actors face huge pressure to prove themselves right from their first films.

’90s actresses had time to develop’

Speaking to IANS, Madhoo said actresses of her generation have had much longer careers because filmmakers and audiences allowed them to grow with experience rather than expecting perfection from day one.
“We all have a long career span. I left voluntarily within 9 years, but other actors moved on and transformed and moved on and it was a long time. Actors today don’t have that long span. They look amazing in their first movies, they have a few more movies and then the new girl comes in. So that was the advantage of not starting off perfect, and today the advantage is that you start off perfect. There is a lot of support,” he said.

According to Madhoo, although today’s players are much flashier at the beginning of their careers, the competition is fiercer than ever and leaves little room for error.

‘We have second and third chances’

Looking back on his own journey, Madhoo said audiences in the 1990s were much more forgiving and provided actors with many opportunities to grow.
“If the audience didn’t like us, we would get a second, third chance. Throughout my 9-year career, every film of mine was like a training ground for me. So, I got a chance to go from ‘not so good’ to ‘good’. The audience gave me that time and I got the opportunity to grow because when I came to ‘Phool Aur Kaante’, I wasn’t the best but people bonded and then I got a chance to improve my looks like hair and make-up. But today, people come with perfection, so either you impress in your first try or “You will be eliminated,” he added. Madhoo said that every film was a stepping stone that helped him hone his craft and gain confidence as an actor.

From Phool Aur Kaante with Roja

Madhoo made her acting debut opposite Ajay Devgn. Phool Aur Kaante (1991), before going on to star in several hit films in various languages. Some of his best-known performances include: Roja, Allari Priyudu, yoddha And GentlemenShe became one of the most well-known actresses of the 1990s.