Why Madhuri Would Rather Forget Bollywood’s “Struggle Chic” Era?

For today’s actors, vanity vans, luxury RVs, and five-star comforts are part of the job. But for Bollywood icon Madhuri Dixit, her early days in the industry were anything but glamorous — and she admits she doesn’t really want to remember them. Speaking candidly, Madhuri recalled shooting in places like Ooty, where actors and crew changed costumes in jungles, stood under shawls, and sat in the sun with umbrellas instead of air-conditioned vans.

“I don’t want to remember those days,” she said bluntly, even as she acknowledged the passion that defined that era. There were no luxuries, no amenities, and no complaints — because at that time, no one even realised they were making “sacrifices.” It was simply the way Bollywood functioned. Hairdressers, assistants, and actors all roughed it out, driven purely by love for cinema, not comfort or contracts.

Madhuri also didn’t sugarcoat how much the industry has changed. From the largely unorganised setups of the 80s and 90s — barring a few big banners — to today’s highly structured filmmaking with scripts, planning, and plush RVs, Bollywood has evolved dramatically. From Abodh to Mrs Deshpande, the journey reflects not just her growth, but the industry’s shift from survival mode to luxury-driven professionalism. The nostalgia may sound romantic — but as Madhuri makes clear, living it was no fairy tale.