In May 2012, then Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar criticised Madhuri Dixit for not attending a state government awards ceremony. Pawar was upset that the actress had attended other events but skipped the government's felicitation ceremony. This controversy arose after reports surfaced that Madhuri Dixit had turned down an offer to become the brand ambassador for Maharashtra Tourism because she was not being offered her desired fee.

Following this, according to a Times of India report, Nitesh Rane also severely criticised her. Ajit Pawar had said, "This is a state honor, a symbol of the love of 11 crore citizens. Some stars were free to attend other award functions two days ago, but they don't have time to receive a state honor." This comment came after Madhuri Dixit attended an event presided over by Bal Thackeray and accepted the Dinanath Mangeshkar Award, but did not attend the state awards ceremony.

Reports stated that she had demanded a high fee to become the brand ambassador for Maharashtra Tourism, which the government did not agree to.

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Ajit Pawar Plane Crash

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP chief Ajit Pawar and five others died after an aircraft carrying them crashed in Baramati, Pune district, on Wednesday morning, PTI reported quoting an official. The Learjet 45 (VT-SSK), operated by VSR, went down around 8.45 am while attempting an emergency landing, according to officials and the DGCA.

Ajit Pawar was travelling with a personal security officer, an attendant and two crew members, including the pilot-in-command and first officer. Initial reports said there were no survivors. Sources said Pawar was on his way to Baramati to attend a zilla panchayat election-related event. He had been in Mumbai a day earlier for a Maharashtra Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure meeting chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

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Visuals from the crash site showed the aircraft wreckage engulfed in flames as villagers and emergency personnel rushed to the spot.