Madhubala! The name conjures hundred of images of the most sought after Indian actress of 1950s and 60s, each more beautiful than the other! With her sensuous yet innocent face, translucent complexion, infectious smile, expressive eyes and vivacious persona, she was an epitome of beauty, talent and style. Her delicate silky features, curly locks, exceptional dressing style and pout causes millions of heart to flutter even today. Her rare combination of intriguing beauty san makeup and matchless talent makes her one of the most celebrated legend and prolific Indian actress of all the times.
Born in Muslim family in Delhi, on Valentines Day in the year 1933, Madhubala (her stage name) was a true romantic to the core. Her real name was Mumtaz Jahan Dehlav, she was 5th of 11 children. To support her poor family she started her acting career at a tender age of nine with the movie Basant (1942) as a child artist. She went on to play roles in movies lik Jawar Bhata (1944), Mutaz Mahal (1944), Pujari (1946) and Phoolwari (1946).
Perceived as “Venus of Indian Screen” she acted in as many as 70 movies during her short lifespan of 36 years and secured her place in history of Indian Cinema despite various odds. Her big break as a lead heroine came at the age of 14 with Neel Kamal (1947) opposite Raj Kapoor. After her astounding performance in Mahal (1949), Madhubala became a superstar and a household name. Her subtle and skillful act shadowed her much experienced co-star, Ashok Kumar. She was just 16 at the time.
An excellent artiste with a lot of versatility, she could convey romance, sensuality, raw sex appeal and tragedy all through her animated eyes. She executed the highly dramatic role in Amar (1954) with ease and was simply outstanding in Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi (1958) with her perfect comic timing. She was sensational as a modern spoilt heiress in the classic satire Mr.& Mrs.’55 (1955) and equally successful in costume dramas like Shirin-Farhad (1956).
In Hawrah Bridge (1958) she boldly portrayed a cabaret dancer. In Kal Hamara Hai (1959) she was marvelous in double role of conventional Madhu and modish dancer Bela and went on to smoke on screen. She had no inhibition in depicting westernized charters and even a vamp, while the self sacrificing modest woman was the norm in Indian cinema during that phase.
She essayed the tragic role of unforgettable and immortal Anarkali in Mughal-e-Azam (1960) with conviction only because of her strong will. Making of Mughal-e-Azam, the biggest grosser of its time, marked the toughest phase of her personal life. She gradually breathed soul into her screen characters and imparted to it shades of her own personality, making the character vibrant and three dimensional. Some of her other important works are Tarana (1951), Phagun (1958), Kalapani (1958), Jhumroo (1961), Barsaat Ki Raat (1960) and Half Ticket (1962).
It is said that in the August 1952 issue of Theater Arts, Madhubala at 19, was featured in an extensive article titled 'The Biggest Star in the World -And she's not in Beverly Hills', with a full page photo. That makes her the only actress of her times to be covered by Western media.
Hold your heart for the legendary song & Dance that broke all records in Indian Film History. Filmed in year 1960.
(Mugal-e-Azam)
(Mugal-e-Azam)
A generous donor, a loving sister and an obedient daughter, she was totally dedicated to her family and work. She had a good voice and loved singing. She was also passionate about writing Urdu couplets, watching Hollywood movies and driving.
It’s a pity that this exuberant, fun loving and sensitive lady who was in love with love itself had a tragic personal life. She was discovered to have been born with a ventricular septal defect (hole in the heart) in 50s. She hid her ailment from the industry till the time she started coughing up blood on the sets.
She was naïve, candid and emotional to a fault. After her brief fling with Prem Nath she fell madly in love with Dilip Kumar, her co-star in four films including the epic Mughal-e-Azam. They were perhaps the hottest couple of their times in Bollywood. However, their picture perfect relationship could not stand the test of time and succumbed to decree of destiny. She surrendered to her affectionate but domineering father’s desire and sacrificed her love. She could never really recover from the heartbreak.
In 1960 she married Kishore Kumar on the rebound but the marriage was doomed right at the onset. Her heart ailment cut her soaring career and eventually her life short; she died a lonely death on 23 February, 1969 after nine long tortures years of being bedridden.
Often compared to Marilyn Monroe, Madhubala continues to rule million of hearts even after more then four decades of her bereavement. The life and works of this intoxicatingly beautiful and glamorous diva still fascinates cinema lovers across the age groups!
BY PUJA MALIK.
In 1960 she married Kishore Kumar on the rebound but the marriage was doomed right at the onset. Her heart ailment cut her soaring career and eventually her life short; she died a lonely death on 23 February, 1969 after nine long tortures years of being bedridden.
Often compared to Marilyn Monroe, Madhubala continues to rule million of hearts even after more then four decades of her bereavement. The life and works of this intoxicatingly beautiful and glamorous diva still fascinates cinema lovers across the age groups!
BY PUJA MALIK.
