However, she has yet to begin shooting for the film. ``I don't know who spread the rumour that I would start shooting for Gajagamini today. All I did through the day was laze around at home and spend time with my family and friends,'' she said, the trade-mark million-dollar smile plastered firmly on her glowing face.

The actress also clarified that so far, no one from the Shiv Sena had spoken to her about walking out of the project. ``And even if there are any such demands, I am sure things can be worked out peacefully. We can always talk to each other and sort out the matter,'' she said.

Madhuri has deliberately kept a low profile down the years and has rarely interacted freely with the media. But this year she decided tocelebrate her birthday with the press.

``I am never in the city on my birthday. So this time I decided to take the opportunity to spend some time with press people -- many of whom I have met but didn't have the opportunity to know them personally,'' she said. The sole purpose for the intimate gathering of 50-odd print press journalists was to get to know them under `informal' circumstances, said M'me Dix.

This was the second party she has hosted in as many months. Last month, the do was to celebrate all the awards she won for her performance in Dil To Pagal Hai, which was attended by a virtual who's-who of Mumbai's elite and practically all of Bollywood. ``Everyone has been telling me that suddenly I am throwing too many parties. But I'd say these are just `two' many parties,'' she laughed.

And on Friday the question on everyone's lips was, is any grand announcement round the corner? ``Hold your breath -- but not for long. You might faint otherwise,'' she laughed at her own wit.

Dressed in awhite lacha with glittering gold embroidery and a prominent single white hair on her head to match, Madhuri was accompanied by her parents and secretary Rikku. And after the cake was cut and the food polished off, the star warmed up to the task of playing perfect hostess.

She even sang a few songs, including the title song of Dil To Pagal Hai and a Marathi number. The song and dance routine continued well past midnight -- with a charmed audience applauding the histrionics of Bollywood's heroine number one.