Friday, 17 February 2012

Queen of Hearts - Madhubala

By Joe Dunne


The transformation of Mumtaz Jehan Begum as Madhubala, the most beautiful star of Hindi movies who still rule the minds of thousands of fans, was decided when she entered in films as a child actress. But the popularity was one that did not last for long, as poor health and a painful private life would soon weaken her at a very young age. But she is thought to be one of the most beautiful and talented actresses ever in Bollywood.

She was born in 1933 (14th February) as the fifth child in her family. Her first entry in films was as a child artist when she turned nine, in the 1942 film Basant, made by Amiya Chakravarty. She acted as a child artist again in several films that were made later on. When she became fourteen, she was offered the pivotal role in Neel Kamal by Kidar Sharma, a popular director of earlier times. She starred opposite to Raj Kapoor. The real break, but, came with 'Mahal' (1949), which increased her and playback singer Lata Mangeshkar to nationwide popularity. By this time, Mumtaz became well known as Madhubala.

Madhubala was diagnosed with a severe heart problem, when she coughed up blood during the shooting of a movie. Her affair with Dilip Kumar was widely known but it ended after some time. In the first half of 1950's, she appeared in many well known films such as Badal, Saiyan, Taraana and Aaram. Through the main role in Mr and Mrs 55, opposite to Guru Dutt, she established that she skilled and talented to perform comedy.

Mid 1950's but, she hit a lean patch as many of her movies bombed commercially. It was also a sad time for her personally as her romantic relation with actor Dilip Kumar broke in addition to the legal case registered by B R Chopra against her. This aggravated the deteriorating health.

However things changed favorably when her films Phagun, Kala Pani, Howrah Bridge and Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi became super hits. With Kishore Kumar, her would-be life partner, she acted in the movie Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi.. However her popularity grew tremendously after Mughal-E-Azam (1960), directed by K Asif, was released. Madhubala married Kishore Kumar in this year, but that happiness did not last long.

Coming years saw her health getting worsened and she was taken to London for medication. But the step was taken very late and doctors predicted that she will live only for some years. As a result of weakening health, her film career dwindled until she succumbed to her ailment on the 23rd of February, at age 36.




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