Aaja Nachle: Celebrating the dance diva Madhuri Dixit's birthday

On 15 May, the ‘Dhak Dhak’ girl Madhuri Dixit Nene will be celebrating her 49th birthday. In a career that has spanned almost three decades, Madhuri has been known as the Bollywood dance diva. So today, we celebrate her birthday by revisiting some of her most famous dance moves. Ek do teen, Tezaab

‘Mohini! Mohini! Mohini!’ The name became synonymous with the dancing diva and even years later she had the same name when she danced to ‘Ghagra’ in Yeh Jawaani hain Deewani. The song turned her into an overnight sensation. Humko aaj kal hai intezaar, Sailaab

While many in Bollywood have tried the koli act, none have matched the charisma of Madhuri. Her confident moves took the song to new heights. Dhak Dhak, Beta

It was with this song that the timeless beauty got the ‘Dhak Dhak’ tag. Her smooth moves in this song are sensual yet stop short of being vulgar. ‘Tamma tamma loge’, Thanedaar

This song has left a mark in everyone’s mind for its beautifully synchrnonised chair dance. The shot was approved in the 48th take after a 12 hour shoot and left both Madhuri and Sanjay’s knees bruised and bleeding. Channe ke khet, Anjaam

This song portrayed Madhuri in her playful best and her steps from this song went on to become one of her most iconic dance moves. Choli ke peeche, Khal Nayak

A controversial song of the 1990s, left the audience mesmerised, yet craving for more. The song went on to become a rage and Madhuri, a dance diva. Ankhiyan milaun, Raja

This song proved that Madhuri did not require a body to show her graceful moves. She could dance with her eyes. And the thousand watt smile just added to the song. Mera Piya Ghar Aaya O Ramji, Yaarana

Madhuri danced her way into the hearts of her audience with the song. Flavoured with thumkas and jhatkas, it is hard to forget her in this avatar. The Dance of Envy, Dil Toh Pagal Hain

In a song that paired her with Karisma Kapoor, Madhuri held her own. She flaunts her dance prowess with style and confidence. Que sera sera, Pukar

Speaking of Madhuri’s dance moves, Prabhudeva said, “She not only matched me but even outdid me in the number.” The song saw her dancing on AR Rahman’s beats with Michael Jackson’s steps. She even did a perfect moonwalk. ‘Aaja Nachle’, Aaja Nachle

Madhuri returned to Bollywood after a five- year sabbatical in a film based on dance. Could there be any better way for the classically trained dancer to make a come- back? Indian painter MF Husain, who considered Madhuri as his muse, booked an entire theatre to watch this film. She came sashaying onto the screen in a black- blue lehenga and her expressions left her audience speechless.