Behind this successful woman was a man. And it wasn't Dr Sriram Nene. The man to have stood by former superstar Madhuri Dixit since 1985, handling her publicity, managing the accounts, even accompanying her to and from the airport each time she landed in Mumbai from her home in Denver where she was based since 1999 after marrying Dr Nene, was her manager Rakeshnath.
After 27 years of what Rikku, as he's fondly called by the industry, has often referred to as "taking care of Madhuri", there is news of a split. If sources close to the actress are to be believed, the two have parted ways.
And the reason, we hear, is Dixit's husband, a UCLA-trained cardiovascular surgeon, who holds the opinion that his wife should sign up with a professional career management firm that can lend an effective boost to her second acting stint.
"Madhuri has done well for herself in the last one year after having moved with her family to Mumbai. He feels she will land more work if a professional agency handles her assignments," says the source.
Surprisingly, Dixit we hear, agrees with her husband. According to a source, the actress has been avoiding Rikku, refusing to answer his calls even.
That isn't reason for an animosity build-up, though. On Rikku's 60th birthday last November, the actress co-organised a party together with his children Shaina, Karannath and Dakshina, and former actress Namrata Shirodkar whose account Rikku had once handled.
Six years ago, when she was planning a comeback in Bollywood, she had planned to do it with a film her manager had planned to produce. "She respects him just as much as she once did. And it's not about his fees either. Times have changed, and the biggest stars are now being managed by professional agencies. Even the likes of Karan Johar and Farhan Akhtar, whose productions firms Dharma Productions and Excel Entertainment respectively, are mentoring new talent and managing their careers.
Dixit has always maintained that Rikku has played a significant role in her professional success.
"It is great to have someone take care of your dates, fix appointments with directors and producers, and everyone who wants to meet you. It is difficult for an actor to keep track of everything that's going on," she is said to have told journalists.
Rikku is also said to have micromanaged Dixit's affairs, "deciding on the costumes, telling her if her make-up is right or wrong, and getting the best for her."
Two men & a lady
Rikku, whose career was going through a lill after Dixit's move to the US, was looking forward to her return. Reportedly, the actress was back but Rikku wasn't a happy man.
Dr Nene, who was yet to kick start his medical practice in the city, was taking a keen interest in his wife's career. Involved not just in negotiations, but also handling her financial matters, it was Dr Nene holding the reins, leaving Rikku answerable to him.
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