Madhuri's director blames critics over "Aaja Nachle"

MUMBAI (Reuters) - The director of "Aaja Nachle", Madhuri Dixit's comeback film, has blamed critics for hurting the film at the box office through their negative reviews.

The much-hyped film narrates the story of a divorced New York-based choreographer who returns to India to save a theatre, where she learnt her first moves, from demolition.

It marks the return of Dixit, Bollywood's dancing queen, after a six-year hiatus and was eagerly awaited by her fans as well as the industry.

But critics panned "Aaja Nachle", which opened last week, blaming its loose plot for the film's failure to connect with the audiences.

"Many of us read what the critics have to say before going to the theatres and with such negative reviews coming out, it has automatically hurt the film badly," director Anil Mehta said.

"Reviews like this create a very bad word-of-mouth and that is what has happened," he said.

Despite the film's average first weekend opening at the box office, Mehta said he was hopeful that ticket sales would pick up during the week.

"I'm hoping that people will go to the theatres and see the film for themselves," he said. "I believe that no matter what the critics write, people will surely go and watch Madhuri's comeback film at least once."