Madhubala

Nobody will hesitate in saying that Madhubala was the most striking heroine. She will be ever remembered not only for her beauty but also for her brilliant performance in the films.

The real name of Madhubala was Mumtaz Jehan Begum Dehlavi. She was the 5th child out of 11 children belonging to a poor traditional Muslim family. It is said that a Moulvi (Muslim priest) predicted that Mumtaz would receive reputation and destiny but would not lead a happy life as well as expire at a young age. Ataullah Khan, her father, was a coachman in Dehli who later on migrated to Bombay for a better source of revenue.

After struggling for over a year Mumtaz entered Bollywood as a child-artist as Baby Mumtaz.
Devika Rani was impressed by her performance in her first film Basant (1942) and changed her name as Madhubala for future films. Madhubala played a role in the film Jwar Bhata (1944) in which Dilip Kumar was hero.

Kedar Sharma produced the film Neel Kamal (1947) in which Madhubala and Raj Kapoor were in leading role. This film proved to be a big break for both of them.

The film Neel Kamal established Madhubala in the Indian screen very well. She became a part of Bombay Talkies. In 1949 Bombay Talkies produced the film Mahal in which Ashok Kumar and Madhubala were in leading role. The film came out as a super hit. The song ‘Ayega aanewal’ was appreciated vastly and due to this song Madhubala as well as playback singer Lata Mangeshkar became most popular.

She performed with the leading actors viz. Ashok Kumar, Dilip Kumar, Dev Anand, Rehman etc. of those days and became more and more popular. Mid-1950s proved critical days for her as some her films flopped but in 1958 her films Phagun, Howrah Bridge, Kalapani and Chalti Ka Naam Gadi turned out to be superhits.

Madhubala made her supreme performance in the film Mughal-e-Azam (1960) as ‘Anarkali’. After Mughal-e-Azam she acted in Passport (1961), Jhumroo (1961), Boy Friend (1961), Half Ticket (1962) and Sharabi (1964). Jwala, one of her films, was released in 1971 i.e. two years after her death.

Madhubala's was suffering from heart problem since 1950. Heart surgery was not available in those days. She faced the disease bravely and even she managed to keep her illness a secret from the industry for many years. After 1964 she could not continue to act in films due to her illness. She died in 1969.

List of films


1. Baghdad Ka Chor
1934
2. Shaheed-E-Mohabbat
1936
3. Basant
1942
4. Mumtaz Mahal
1944
5. Dhanna Bhagat
1945
6. Rajputani
1946
7. Pujari
1946
8. Phoolwari
1946
9. Saat Samundaron Ki Mallika
1947
10. Mere Bhagwan
1947
11. Khubsoorat Duniya
1947
12. Dil-Ki-Rani Sweet-Heart
1947
13. Chittor Vijay
1947
14. Neel Kamal
1947
15. Parai Aag
1948
16. Lal Dupatta
1948
17. Desh Sewa
1948
18. Amar Prem
1948
19. Sipahiya
1949
20. Singaar
1949
21. Paras
1949
22. Neki Aur Badi
1949
23. Mahal
1949
24. Imtihaan
1949
25. Dulari
1949
26. Daulat
1949
27. Apradhi
1949
28. Pardes
1950
29. Nishana
1950
30. Nirala
1950
31. Madhubala
1950
32. Hanste Aansoo
1950
33. Beqasoor
1950
34. Tarana
1951
35. Saiyan
1951
36. Nazneen
1951
37. Nadaan
1951
38. Khazana
1951
39. Badal
1951
40. Aaram
1951
41. Saqi
1952
42. Sangdil
1952
43. Rail Ka Dibba
1953
44. Armaan
1953
45. Bahut Din Huye
1954
46. Amar
1954
47. Teerandaz
1955
48. Naqab
1955
49. Naata
1955
50. Mr. & Mrs. '55
1955
51. Shirin Farhad
1956
52. Raj Hath
1956
53. Dhake Ki Malmal
1956
54. Yahudi Ki Ladki
1957
55. Gateway of India
1957
56. Ek Saal
1957
57. Police
1958
58. Phagun
1958
59. Kalapani
1958
60. Howrah Bridge
1958
61. Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi
1958
62. Baghi Sipahi
1958
63. Kal Hamara Hai
1959
64. Insaan Jaag Utha
1959
65. Do Ustad
1959
66. Mehlon Ke Khwab
1960
67. Jaali Note
1960
68. Barsaat Ki Raat
1960
69. Mughal-E-Azam
1960
70. Passport
1961
71. Jhumroo
1961
72. Boy Friend
1961
73. Half Ticket
1962
74. Sharabi
1964
75. Jwala
1971