Congress leader Tikaram Jully calls Madhuri Dixit a 'second-grade actor': “Her prime has gone..”

Madhuri Dixit, lovingly called the ‘Dhak Dhak Girl’ of Bollywood, is one of Indian cinema’s most loved actresses. She is known for her beautiful expressions, graceful dance moves, and strong performances. With a career of over 40 years, she has won many hearts with her talent and charm. Some of her most famous films include ‘Tezaab’, ‘Ram Lakhan’, ‘Dil’, ‘Beta’, ‘Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!’, ‘Dil To Pagal Hai’, ‘Devdas’, and ‘Lajja’. With her grace and emotions, she still remains a favourite in Bollywood, inspiring many with her timeless beauty and talent.

But recently, Congress leader Tikaram Jully sparked controversy by calling Madhuri Dixit a "second-grade star" who is "past her prime." His remarks were made during a discussion in the Rajasthan Assembly, where he questioned the state's spending on the IIFA Awards held in Jaipur.
As per TOI, Jully criticised the government’s decision to allocate over Rs. 100 crore for the event, arguing that it did not significantly benefit Rajasthan. Addressing the calibre of celebrities present, Jully remarked, "And which big name from the industry appeared? Apart from Shah Rukh Khan, all others were second-grade stars. No other first-grade actor came." When Assembly members mentioned Madhuri Dixit, he responded, "Now, Madhuri Dixit is a second-grade star, her prime has gone. She was a star in the times of her movies like ‘Dil’ and ‘Beta’."

These comments have sparked widespread criticism online, with many defending Dixit's legacy in Indian cinema. Deputy Chief Minister Diya Kumari condemned Jully's remarks, she told ANI, "Every actor should be respected, we should respect their art. He (Tikaram Jully) said something absurd about a woman actor; he shouldn't have said that... What he said in the House is condemnable."
On the work front, Madhuri Dixit was last seen in Anees Bazmee's horror comedy ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3’ also starring Kartik Aaryan, Vidya Balan and Tripti Dimrii.