# Madhoo

Madhoo Shah (born Madhoobala Raghunath Malini; 26 March 1969), also known formerly as Madhubala, is an Indian actress known for her works predominantly in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada language films. She was a part of Movies like Phool Aur Kaante (1991), Roja (1992), Allari Priyudu (1992), Yoddha (1992), and Gentleman (1993).

## Early life and family

Madhoobala Raghunath Malini was born in a Tamil family. She was educated at St. Joseph's High School, Juhu and at University of Mumbai. She is the niece of actress Hema Malini and therefore the cousin of Esha Deol.

## Career

Madhoo was signed on by action director Veeru Devgan for his son Ajay Devgan's debut in Phool Aur Kaante (1991), but her first release was K. Balachander' s Azhagan (1991), co-starring Mammooty, Bhanupriya and Geetha. She made her Hindi movie debut with in Phool Aur Kaante in 1991. She made her debut in the Malayalam film Ottayal Pattalam (1991), opposite Mukesh. The title role in Mani Ratnam's Roja (1992) made her very popular. She made her comeback in 2008, in the Hindi-language film, Kabhi Socha Bhi Na Tha, and has been appearing in supporting roles in films since then. She has acted in 5 films with her real name Madhu. She made a comeback to the Tamil screen with Balaji Mohan's Tamil-Malayalam bilingual Vaayai Moodi Pesavum / Samsaaram Aarogyathinu Haanikaram in 2014. She has been hosting the DD National music television series Rangoli since August 2019.
Besides it, she has worked in television series such as Kaveri, Devi, Soundaravalli and Aarambh: Kahaani Devsena Ki. She has also appeared as a guest judge at some reality shows.

## Personal life

She married Anand Shah on 19 February 1999 whom she met during a photoshoot. They have two daughters Amaya and Keia. Madhoo's husband is the cousin of Jay Mehta, who is married to actress Juhi Chawla.

## Filmography
### Feature films

| Year | Title | Role | Language | Notes |
| 1991 | Azhagan | Swapna | Tamil | |
| 1991 | Phool Aur Kaante | Pooja | Hindi | Nominated - Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut |
| 1991 | Ottayal Pattalam | Gopika Varma/Indu | Malayalam | |
| 1991 | Neelagiri | Anitha | Malayalam | |
| 1992 | Ennodishtam Koodamo | Aarathi Menon | Malayalam | |
| 1992 | Yodha | Ashwathy | Malayalam | |
| 1992 | Vaaname Ellai | Karpagam | Tamil | |
| 1992 | Roja | Roja | Tamil | Tamil Nadu State Film Award Special Prize Nominated-Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Tamil |
| 1992 | Allari Priyudu | Kavita Rani | Telugu | |
| 1993 | Annayya | Saraswathi | Kannada | |
| 1993 | Gentleman | Susheela | Tamil | |
| 1993 | Pehchaan | Tina | Hindi | |
| 1994 | Fauj | Kamli | Hindi | |
| 1994 | Elaan | Mohini Sharma | Hindi | |
| 1994 | Prem Yog | Anita | Hindi | |
| 1994 | Avesham | Madhu | Telugu | |
| 1994 | Senthamizh Selvan | Vaidegi | Tamil | |
| 1994 | Zaalim | Madhu | Hindi | |
| 1994 | Brahma | Chanda | Hindi | |
| 1994 | Janta Ki Adalat | Malathi | Hindi | |
| 1994 | Puttinilla Metinilla | | Telugu | |
| 1995 | Mohini | Ragini | Hindi | |
| 1995 | Diya Aur Toofan | Aasha | Hindi | |
| 1995 | Hathkadi | Rani | Hindi | |
| 1995 | Jallaad | Gayetri | Hindi | |
| 1995 | Ravan Raaj | Geeta Suzie face | Hindi | |
| 1995 | Hum Hain Bemisaal | Marya | Hindi | |
| 1996 | Mr. Romeo | Madhu | Tamil | |
| 1996 | Diljale | Shabnam | Hindi | |
| 1996 | Return of Jewel Thief | Madhu | Hindi | |
| 1996 | Panchalankurichi | Pottu Kanni | Tamil | |
| 1997 | Chilakkottudu | Madhu | Telugu | |
| 1997 | Udaan | Madhu | Hindi | |
| 1997 | Mere Sapno Ki Rani | Vandana Nehle | Hindi | |
| 1997 | Yeshwant | Raagini Yeshwant Lohar | Hindi | |
| 1997 | Iruvar | Dancer | Tamil | Special appearance in "Narumughaye" song |
| 1997 | Sher-E-Hindustan | Dancer | Hindi | Special appearance in song |
| 1998 | Hafta Vasuli | Inspector Durga | Hindi | |
| 1998 | Khote Sikkey | Suman | Hindi | |
| 1998 | Ganesh | Divya | Telugu | |
| 1998 | Zulm-O-Sitam | Meena 'Billo' | Hindi | |
| 1998 | Sar Utha Ke Jiyo | Shalu | Hindi | |
| 1999 | Chehraa | Simran | Hindi | |
| 2002 | Mulaqaat | Archana Patkar | Hindi | |
| 2008 | Kabhi Socha Bhi Na Tha | Radhika | Hindi | |
| 2011 | Tell Me O Kkhuda | Geeta | Hindi | |
| 2011 | Love U...Mr. Kalakaar! | Ritu's Aunt | Hindi | |
| 2013 | Anthaku Mundhu Aa Tharuvatha | Vidhya | Telugu | |
| 2014 | Vaayai Moodi Pesavum | Sridevi/Vidhya | Tamil | Bilingual film |
| 2014 | Samsaram Aarogyathinu Haanikaram | Sridevi/Vidhya | Malayalam | Bilingual film |
| 2015 | Ranna | Saraswathi | Kannada | Nominated - Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress Kannada |
| 2015 | Surya vs Surya | Nikhil's Mother | Telugu | |
| 2016 | Nannaku Prematho | Divya's Mother | Telugu | |
| 2016 | Naanu Mattu Varalakshmi | | Kannada | |
| 2019 | Seetharama Kalyana | Geetha's mother | Kannada | |
| 2019 | Agni Devi | Shakuntala Devi | Tamil | |
| 2019 | Premier Padmini | Shruthi | Kannada | |
| 2020 | College Kumar | Janaki | Tamil Telugu | Bilingual |
| 2021 | Nail Polish | Shoba Bhusan | Hindi | ZEE5 Film |
| 2021 | Thalaivi | V. N. Janaki Ramachandran | Hindi Tamil | |
| 2022 | Dejavu | DGP Asha Pramod | Tamil | |
| 2022 | Raymo | Bhavana | Kannada | |
| 2022 | Repeat | | Telugu | |
| 2023 | Premadesam | Arjun's mother | Telugu | |
| 2023 | Shaakuntalam | Menaka | Telugu | |
| 2024 | Eagle | Gayatri Devi | Telugu | |
| 2024 | Kartam Bhugtam | | Hindi | |
| 2025 | Kannappa | Pannaga | Telugu | |

### Television series

| Year | Title | Role | Language | Notes |
| 2001 | Kaveri | Kaveri | Tamil | |
| 2004 | Devi | Devi Parvati | | |
| 2012 | Soundaravalli | Soundaravalli | Tamil | Cameo |
| 2017 | Aarambh: Kahaani Devsena Ki | Maharani Sambhavija | | |
| 2017 | Aarambh: Kahaani Devsena Ki | Padmavija | | |
| 2017 | Koshish Se Kamyabi Tak | Celebrity guest | Hindi | |
| 2017 | D4 Junior v/s Senior | Celebrity Judge | Malayalam | Grand finale episode |
| 2021 | Super Dancer | Guest | Hindi | Grandparents Special (Sat) Madhoo Shah Special (Sun) |
| 2021 | The Kapil Sharma Show | Guest | Hindi | Along with Juhi Chawla and Ayesha Jhulka |
| 2023 | Fireflies: Parth Aur Jugnu | Ira Ranaut | Hindi | ZEE5 |
| 2023 | Sweet Kaaram Coffee | Kaveri | Tamil | Amazon Prime Video |
| 2024 | Manorathangal | Gita Parekh | Malayalam | ZEE5 Anthology film segment : Vilpana |