Dixit lahir pada 15 Mei 1967 dengan nama Madhuri Shankar Dixit di [[Mumbai|Bombay]] (sekarang Mumbai) dalam sebuah keluarga kelas menengah berketurunan [[Orang Marathi|Marathi]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/1999/99nov05/head5.htm|title=Madhuri Dixit weds surgeon|last=|first=|date=5 November 1999|website=|publisher=The Tribune|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020226131456/https://www.tribuneindia.com/1999/99nov05/head5.htm|archive-date=26 Februari 2002|access-date=23 Maret 2020}}</ref><ref name="ZeeNews1">{{cite web|url=http://zeenews.india.com/entertainment/celebrity/lets-get-to-know-madhuri-dixit-better_1595676.html|title=Let's get to know Madhuri Dixit better!|last=Handoo|first=Ritika|date=15 Mei 2015|website=|publisher=Zee News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191113041601/https://zeenews.india.com/entertainment/celebrity/lets-get-to-know-madhuri-dixit-better_1595676.html|archive-date=13 November 2019|accessdate=23 Maret 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pinkvilla.com/entertainment/event/eternal-beautymadhuri-dixit|title=Eternal Beauty..Madhuri Dixit|last=|first=Shona|date=23 November 2007|website=|publisher=Pink Villa|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200323100054/https://www.pinkvilla.com/entertainment/event/eternal-beautymadhuri-dixit|archive-date=23 Maret 2020|access-date=23 Maret 2020}}</ref>{{Sfn|Bose|2019|p=20}} Ia merupakan putri ayahnya yang bernama Shankar Dixit, seorang insinyur listrik, dan ibuibunya yang bernama Snehlata Dixit, seorang guru musik, serta merupakan yang termuda dalam empat bersaudara; saudara laki-lakinya adalah Ajit Dixit dan dua saudara perempuannya adalah Rupa Dixit dan Bharti Dixit.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://m.rediff.com/news/1999/nov/06us2.htm|title=Hubby Hardly Knew Of Madhuri's Screen Life|last=Chhabra|first=Aseem|date=6 November 1999|website=|publisher=Rediff|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200323100053/https://m.rediff.com/news/1999/nov/06us2.htm|archive-date=23 Maret 2020|access-date=23 Maret 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.couponraja.in/theroyale/interesting-facts-about-madhuri-dixit/|title=Interesting Facts About Madhuri Dixit|last=|first=|date=12 Mei 2016|website=|publisher=The Royale|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200323100055/https://www.couponraja.in/theroyale/interesting-facts-about-madhuri-dixit/|archive-date=23 Maret 2020|access-date=23 Maret 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.maryellenmark.com/text/magazines/premiere/919V-000-018.html|title=In India's Bollywood, the model isn't Satyajit Ray, it's John Rambo|last=Powell|first=Andrew|date=15 Juni 1994|work=|access-date=25 Maret 2020|publisher=Mary Ellen Mark|archive-date=25 Maret 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200325061002/http://www.maryellenmark.com/text/magazines/premiere/919V-000-018.html}}</ref><ref name="works">{{Cite web|url=https://www.mapsofindia.com/who-is-who/entertainment/madhuri-dixit.html|title=Madhuri Dixit Biography|last=|first=|date=31 Januari 2018|website=|publisher=Maps of India|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170704143001/http://www.mapsofindia.com/who-is-who/entertainment/madhuri-dixit.html|archive-date=04 Juli 2017|access-date=31 Maret 2020}}</ref> Rupa tinggal di [[Washington, D.C.]] dan Bharti tinggal di [[Saratoga, California]], sedangkan Ajit tinggal di [[Pantai Laguna, California]].<ref name="Marriage&Sibling">{{Cite web|url=https://www.wired.com/2006/04/bollywood_bombs/|title=Bollywood Bombshell as L.A. Doctor’s Wife|last=|first=|date=04 Mei 2006|website=|publisher=Wired|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200325055853/https://www.wired.com/2006/04/bollywood_bombs/|archive-date=25 Maret 2020|access-date=25 Maret 2020}}</ref> Ia merupakan seseorang yang tertutup, terutama mengenai kehidupan pribadinya.<ref name="marriage">{{Cite news|url=https://www.thebridalbox.com/articles/madhuri-dixit-wedding-and-why-everyone-went-crazy-over-it_006395/|title=Madhuri Dixit Wedding: The Real Insider Story|last=Bhagavatula|first=Tejaswi|date=29 Juni 2016|work=|access-date=27 Maret 2020|publisher=The Bridal Box|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191228125347/https://www.thebridalbox.com/articles/madhuri-dixit-wedding-and-why-everyone-went-crazy-over-it_006395/|archive-date=28 Desember 2019}}</ref> Mengenyam pendidikan di Sekolah Umum Delhi, ia awalnya memilki cita-cita untuk menjadi seorang [[mikrobiolog]] setelah lulus dari Kolese Sathaye dengan gelar [[Sarjana Sains|B. Sc]].<ref name="sekolah">{{Cite web|url=https://hamaraphotos.com/bollywood/scoops/interesting-facts-and-figures-madhuri-dixit-2.html|title=Interesting Facts and Figures: Madhuri Dixit|last=|first=|date=12 April 2009|website=|publisher=Hamara Photos|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200323100055/https://hamaraphotos.com/bollywood/scoops/interesting-facts-and-figures-madhuri-dixit-2.html|archive-date=23 Maret 2020|access-date=23 Maret 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.customercarephonenumber.in/madhuri-dixit-contact-address-phone-number-email-id-website/|title=Madhuri Dixit Contact Address, Phone Number, Email ID, Website|last=|first=|date=17 Oktober 1999|website=|publisher=Custom Care Phone Number|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200323103519/https://www.customercarephonenumber.in/madhuri-dixit-contact-address-phone-number-email-id-website/|archive-date=23 Maret 2020|access-date=23 Maret 2020}}</ref> Namun, enam bulan setelah ia memulai studinya, ia memutuskan untuk berhenti dan mengejar karier penuh waktu dalam dunia perfilman.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://in-vid.net/video/aib-podcast-feat-madhuri-dixit-oG-9BZiocYg.html|title=AIB Podcast with Madhiri Dixit Nene|last=|first=|date=26 Mei 2018|website=|publisher=AIB|accessdate=23 Maret 2020}}</ref> [[File:Madhuri Dixit in Abodh.jpg|224x224px|pra=Special:FilePath/Madhuri_Dixit_in_Abodh.jpg|al=Madhuri Dixit memalingkan muka dari arah kamera|Dixit sedang berperan sebagai seorang mempelai muda pada film pertamanya ''[[Abodh]]'' (1984).<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.desimartini.com/news/martini-shots/archive/madhuri-dixit-tezaab-to-lajja-and-more-10-iconic-films-of-the-dhak-dhak-girl-article52121.htm|title=10 Most Iconic Films Of The 'Dhak Dhak Girl' Madhuri Dixit!|last=|first=|date=12 Maret 2019|work=|access-date=31 Maret 2020|publisher=Desimartini|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200331085700/https://www.desimartini.com/news/martini-shots/archive/madhuri-dixit-tezaab-to-lajja-and-more-10-iconic-films-of-the-dhak-dhak-girl-article52121.htm|archive-date=31 Maret 2020}}</ref>|jmpl|tepi]]
Ia memenangkan sebuah Beasiswa Bakat Nasional India pada usia sebelas tahun dan ikut serta dalam kompetisi tari, pidato, dan drama yang diadakan di sekolahnya.{{Sfn|Bose|2019|p=20}} Ia merupakan seorang penari [[Kathak]] terlatih dan telah berlatih sejak berusia tiga tahun.<ref name="sekolah" /> Dalam sebuah wawancara dengan [[Karan Thapar]], Dixit mengatakan bahwa teman-teman masa kecilnya menggambarkannya sebagai seseorang yang mudah bergaul serta tidak pernah ragu-ragu untuk mengambil bagian dalam segala jenis diskusi, pidato, maupun kontes.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bollywoodbubble.com/bubble-diaries/nostalgia/did-you-know-little-madhuri-dixit-once-started-dancing-in-a-train/|title=Did you know? Little Madhuri Dixit once started dancing in a train|last=Pandit|first=Amod|date=23 Oktober 2017|work=|access-date=24 Maret 2020|publisher=Bollywood Bubble|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200324044527/https://www.bollywoodbubble.com/bubble-diaries/nostalgia/did-you-know-little-madhuri-dixit-once-started-dancing-in-a-train/|archive-date=24 Maret 2020}}</ref> Dalam wawancara lainnya, ia mengatakan bahwa dirinya merupakan seorang murid yang cukup baik di sekolahnya.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://madeinatlantis.com/madhuri_dixit/interview1.htm|title=I have used to USA but India is my home|last=|first=|date=22 Mei 2006|website=|publisher=Maiden Atlantis|access-date=25 Maret 2020}}</ref> Ia memulai kariernya setelah terinspirasi dari pemeran [[Amitabh Bachchan]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.asianage.com/entertainment/bollywood/300519/i-take-inspiration-from-amitabh-bachchan-madhuri-dixit.html|title=I take inspiration from Amitabh Bachchan: Madhuri Dixit|last=Chandani|first=Priyanka|date=31 Mei 2019|website=|publisher=The Asian Age|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200328101713/https://www.asianage.com/entertainment/bollywood/300519/i-take-inspiration-from-amitabh-bachchan-madhuri-dixit.html|archive-date=28 Maret 2020|access-date=28 Maret 2020}}</ref>
