Not many actresses in Bollywood can say they’ve romanced both a father and his son on screen — but Madhuri Dixit holds that rare distinction. While her career is filled with iconic films and unforgettable performances, one troubling incident from her early days in the industry recently resurfaced, shedding light on the darker side of stardom. Madhuri stepped into the film industry at just 17, making her debut with Aabodh. While her early work caught attention, it was her powerhouse performances in hits like Tezaab (1988), Dil (1990), Beta (1992), Hum Aapke Hain Kaun (1994), and Dil Toh Pagal Hai (1997) that cemented her place as one of Bollywood’s most iconic leading ladies. But behind the glitz, a disturbing moment once unfolded on set — during a scene, an actor reportedly forgot it was just a shoot and ended up biting Madhuri’s lip. What’s more, she later went on to play the romantic lead opposite both him and his son.Vinod Khanna made his entry into Bollywood during a time when stars like Sunil Dutt, Amitabh Bachchan, and Rishi Kapoor ruled the screen. While Rishi Kapoor was celebrated for his flair and fashion, Khanna carved a niche with his intense presence—starting out with villainous roles in the late 1960s. A devoted follower of spiritual guru Osho, Khanna went on to deliver memorable performances in films such as Mere Apne, Mera Gaon Mera Desh, Achanak, Amar Akbar Anthony, and Qurbani.During the filming of Dayavan, a romantic scene between Vinod and a then-20-year-old Madhuri sparked controversy. Madhuri, still relatively new to the industry, starred alongside the veteran actor in the film’s popular song ‘Aaj Phir Tum Pe Pyar Aaya Hai.’ In the scene, Khanna reportedly got carried away and continued kissing her well beyond the director’s cue to stop, causing an on-set injury—Madhuri’s lip was cut and began to bleed. Though Khanna later apologised to her, the incident left her in tears. Despite the distressing moment, the scene was retained in the final cut of the film.Despite her request to director Feroz Khan to remove the controversial kissing scene with Vinod in Dayavan, he declined. A legal notice followed, but the scene was retained after a payment of Rs 1 crore. Madhuri also worked with Rishi Kapoor in Sahiban, Yarana, and Prem Granth—all of which underperformed, with Prem Granth being the only notable one.In 1997, the actress played the lead opposite his son, Akshaye Khanna, in the hit film Mohabbat, making her one of the few actresses to star opposite both father and son.
