Mumbai, October 15, (NationPress) Bollywood icon Akshay Kumar took to his social media platform to express a moving tribute to his late dance mentor, the esteemed actress and dancer Madhumati, who left this world on the 15th of October.

With heartfelt emotion, Akshay remembered his guru and expressed gratitude for her role in molding his understanding of dance and performance. He shared, “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 rahi ki. Om Shanti.”

The tribute included two rare photographs, one depicting a young Akshay Kumar seated next to Madhumati amidst their dance class companions, and another capturing the two sharing a warm smile. These images reflect an early chapter in Akshay's life, long before his ascent to stardom. Madhumati, who was born in 1938 in a quaint village near Maharashtra, began her artistic journey as a dancer in an unreleased Marathi film in 1957. She went on to grace numerous films across Punjabi, Marathi, Hindi, Bhojpuri, and South Indian cinema during the 1960s. Known for her expressive dance style, elegance, and grace, she was often regarded as serious competition to Bollywood dancer Helen.

Actor Vindu Dara Singh also conveyed his condolences, stating, “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.” Madhumati ji starred in several notable films, including Railway Platform, Bhagun, and Sharabi Aparadi Kaun. She was 87 years old at the time of her passing.

Before rising to fame, Akshay Kumar worked as a martial arts instructor in Bangkok and later in Mumbai, where he honed his dance skills under the guidance of Madhumati ji. He made his Bollywood debut with the 1991 film “Saugandh”. Following his debut, Akshay faced his share of challenges in the industry, with his breakthrough coming through films like “Khiladi”, “Mohra”, and “Tu Khiladi Main Anari”.