In a controversy sparked suddenly, Congress leader Tikaram Jully raised a furore by calling Bollywood megastar Madhuri Dixit a "second-grade star" who is "over the hill."
This was said in the Rajasthan Assembly while discussing the just-concluded IIFA Awards. Jully resented the event's contribution to Rajasthan and remarked that over Rs 100 crore of public money were spent without bringing any dividend to the state.
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Jully's comments were directed towards the celebrity guest list, and he said that leaving Shah Rukh Khan aside, all the others were "second-grade stars."
He specifically mentioned Madhuri Dixit, bringing up her vintage films like 'Dil' and 'Beta' as evidence of her past glory. The comments drew flak heavily, with BJP MLA Balmukund Acharya coming to the event's rescue by citing its international stature.
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The controversy brings to the fore the question of the debate surrounding the value of such events towards promoting local tourism and the claimed loss of iconic actors.
In spite of the criticism, Jully was still firm on his statement, creating a broader debate about the relevance of Bollywood icons to contemporary cinema.