Madhuri Dixit is basking in the praise coming her way for ‘Maa Behen’, her latest OTT release. The pulp comedy has struck a chord with audiences for blending humour with a deeper commentary on the judgments women routinely face and the casual slut-shaming they often endure simply for being themselves.The film’s themes resonate with experiences Madhuri has encountered in her own life. The actor opened up about facing criticism and body-shaming during the early days of her career in the 1980s.“You’re a public figure. You’re putting yourself out there. There will, of course, be some comments coming your way that yeh aisi hai, yeh waisi hai. When I had started out, they thought I was too skinny. They would be like, isko kuch khilaao (laughs). When it comes to these things, people are very fast to judge,” Madhuri said in an interview with News18 Showsha, as she underlines how women actors are often body shamed.Reflecting on society’s tendency to comment on women’s appearances, the actor pointed out how such judgments are deeply ingrained in everyday interactions.“They judge you for putting on weight, they judge you if you’ve lost weight. Waise bhi, India mein, jaise hi aap kisi ko milte hai, they say, ‘Arrey, yeh toh kitni moti ho gayi hai ya toh kitni patli ho gayi hai.’ That’s the first thing they say. There isn’t any filter here.”Madhuri believes she had one advantage that many public figures today do not, the absence of social media. The actress said that the criticism existed then as well, but it did not reach celebrities as directly as it does now.“But I believe that one has to take these things to their stride and not pay too much attention to that. Back in the day, judgments were there [much like today], but we didn’t come to know because there was no social media,” she states.The actor added that self-acceptance is essential when dealing with constant scrutiny and online negativity.“Today, because of social media and the anonymity that comes with it, people can say anything. But one should be more focused on what they’re doing and what they’re passionate about and enjoy and love doing. The idea is to love yourself,” she says.Meanwhile, Madhuri’s name recently resurfaced in connection with an old rumour claiming that singer Suresh Wadkar had rejected a marriage proposal from her family because he felt she was “too thin”. Addressing the speculation, Wadkar dismissed the claim during an interview with The Lallantop.“She was thin at the time. If you watch Abodh, you’ll see how slim she was. [But] the proposal never even reached me, so how could I reject her?” he said.As for ‘Maa Behen’, the film is earning appreciation for showcasing a different side of Madhuri’s talent. Her portrayal of Rekha has particularly won over audiences and critics alike. News18’s review praised her performance, stating, “While she is often celebrated for her dancing and dramatic roles, Maa Behen reminds audiences of her exceptional comic timing. As Rekha, she delivers a performance that is funny, vulnerable, and immensely relatable.“