Madhuri Dixit on 90s trolling: 'Magazines would comment, but not like today'
Synopsis
Madhuri Dixit has revealed that even in the 90s, Bollywood stars faced criticism — just through magazines rather than smartphones. Speaking on Kon Honar Crorepati, she drew a striking contrast between the limited print trolling of her peak era and today's relentless social media pile-ons, offering a rare five-decade perspective on fame, criticism, and staying grounded.
Key Takeaways
Madhuri Dixit spoke about facing criticism during her peak years in the 1990s on the show Kon Honar Crorepati .
She said magazines would comment on actors back then, but the scale and repetition of social media trolling today is far greater.
Madhuri credited her love for her work as the reason she never let negative comments affect her.
Contestants Shiv Thakare and Gautami Patil were on the hot seat during the episode.
Madhuri made her acting debut in 1984 with Abodh and has worked in Bollywood for over five decades .
Bollywood legend Madhuri Dixit has opened up about facing criticism and trolling during her peak years in the 1990s, drawing a sharp contrast between the magazine culture of that era and the relentless social media pile-ons of today. The actress made the revelations during a recent episode of the Marathi quiz reality show Kon Honar Crorepati, where she serves as host.
What Madhuri Said on the Show
Contestants Shiv Thakare and Gautami Patil joined Madhuri on the hot seat during the episode. Thakare asked the actress how she had managed to stay grounded through decades of superstardom and how she dealt with detractors — noting that some people struggle to handle even a small degree of fame.
Madhuri credited her deep passion for her craft as the shield that kept her centred. 'I love my work very much, and I really enjoy what I do. Because of that, I never paid attention to trolls,' she said. 'Back then, there were some magazines that would comment about you or something like that. But it wasn't like today, where there is so much trolling and people keep saying the same thing again and again. We should love whatever we are doing, and our intentions should be good. That's it. Then nothing else matters that much.'
The 90s Versus Social Media Today
Madhuri's remarks highlight a generational shift in how public figures face criticism. In the pre-internet era, negative commentary was largely confined to print magazines — limited in reach, printed on a fixed schedule, and far less immediate. By contrast, contemporary social media enables criticism to cascade in real time, repeatedly, and from anonymous accounts at scale. Notably, several Bollywood contemporaries of Madhuri have spoken about the psychological toll of online trolling in recent years, making her perspective particularly relevant.
A Career Spanning Five Decades
Madhuri made her acting debut with Abodh in 1984. She rose to become one of the most celebrated actresses in Hindi cinema, with landmark films including Tezaab, Ram Lakhan, Dil, Saajan, Beta, Mrityudand, Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!, Dil To Pagal Hai, and Devdas to her credit. Renowned equally for her acting and her dancing, she has remained a prominent figure in Indian entertainment across five decades.
Why It Matters
The conversation around celebrity mental health and the pressures of online trolling has gained significant ground in India over the past few years. When a star of Madhuri's stature speaks candidly about navigating criticism — both past and present — it lends mainstream weight to a discussion that affects not just public figures but ordinary social media users. Her advice to focus on the work and keep intentions pure resonates as a practical, if personal, coping framework.
Point of View
Publishing cycles, limited readership. Social media has none of that, and the psychological cost on public figures — and ordinary users — is well-documented. What is missing from this conversation, however, is an acknowledgement that magazine culture in the 90s was far from benign; Bollywood actresses of that era faced intrusive body commentary and sexist coverage that today's critics would rightly call out. Madhuri's framing reflects a genuine difference in scale and speed, but arguably understates the nature of what came before.
NationPress
4 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Madhuri Dixit say about being trolled in the 90s?
Madhuri Dixit said that during her early years, magazines would comment on actors, but it was very different from today's social media trolling, which is far more relentless and repetitive. She made the remarks on the Marathi reality show Kon Honar Crorepati.
Which show did Madhuri Dixit make these revelations on?
Madhuri made these comments during an episode of the Marathi quiz reality show Kon Honar Crorepati, where she serves as host. Contestants Shiv Thakare and Gautami Patil were on the hot seat during the episode.
How did Madhuri Dixit handle criticism and trolling throughout her career?
Madhuri said her love for her work helped her stay focused and ignore negative comments. She advised that people should love what they do and keep their intentions good, saying 'then nothing else matters that much.'
What are some of Madhuri Dixit's most notable films?
Madhuri Dixit debuted with Abodh in 1984 and went on to star in celebrated films including Tezaab, Ram Lakhan, Dil, Saajan, Beta, Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!, Dil To Pagal Hai, and Devdas. She has had a career spanning over five decades in Hindi cinema.
How is trolling today different from criticism Bollywood stars faced in the 90s?
According to Madhuri Dixit, criticism in the 90s was largely confined to print magazines and was limited in reach and frequency. Today's social media trolling, by contrast, is instantaneous, anonymous, and repetitive — with the same negative comments amplified across platforms continuously.
