Madhubala: The epitome of beauty

Some More:-In 2008 a postage stamp featuring Madhubala was issued by India Post in a limited edition presentation pack featuring images of the actress. Those who worked with Madhubala maintained that her skin was so fair and translucent that when she chewed paan, one could almost see the red colour going down her throat. Despite acting in over 70 films, she never received an award.

Final Years:- In 1960, as her condition began to deteriorate, Madhubala sought treatment in London. When acting was no longer an option, the actress turned to film making. In 1969 she was geared up to make her directorial debut with the film Farz aur Ishq. However the film did not come through as during the pre production stages, Madhubala succumbed to her illness and passed away on 23 February 1969 at the age of 36.

The Mangeshkar Connection:- Most of Madhubalas memorable songs were voiced by Lata Mangeshkar or Asha Bhosle. Madhubala proved lucky for both. The songs from Mahal picturised on Madhubala in 1949 were some of Latas earliest successes. Few years later, Ashas vocals for the actress in four films established her as a major playback singer, equalling elder sister Lata Mangeshkar.

Marital WoesDuring the filming of Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi, she met actor and playback singer, Kishore Kumar. At the time he was married to the Bengali singer and actress Ruma Guha Thakurta. Post his divorce, since Kishore Kumar was a Hindu and Madhubala a Muslim, they had a civil wedding ceremony in 1960 that the formers parents refused to attend. The couple also underwent a Hindu ceremony to please Kumars parents, but Madhubala was never really accepted as his wife. Within a month of the wedding she moved back to her Bandra home owing to tension in the Kumar household.

Of Love, Life Controversies:- The actress was famed for her epic affair with actor Dilip Kumar. The two first met on the sets of Jwar Bhata in 1944 and it was during the filming of Tarana in 1951 that their off-screen relationship began creating waves. They also became a popular romantic on-screen couple appearing in four films together. However, their association ended following a highly controversial and widely publicized court case. B.R. Chopra, the director of the film Naya Daur starring Madhubala and Dilip Kumar wanted the unit to travel to Bhopal for an extended outdoor shooting. Madhubalas father objected and claimed that the entire Bhopal schedule was a con to give Dilip Kumar the opportunity to romance his daughter. This led Chopra to sue Madhubala for the cash advance she had taken for a film. Madhubala dutifully supported her father and Kumar testified against the father-daughter duo in favor of the director B.R. Chopra in open court. Madhubala lost the case amid much negative publicity thereby damaging her image.

Reaching the Top:- In the mid-1950s, Madhubala gave a string of flop films, including Amar in 1954. However, she managed to retain the top slot with films like Howrah Bridge. This was followed by other successes, like Phagun, Kala Pani, Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi and Barsaat Ki Raat. The 1960s brought with it the glory of Mughal-E-Azam, showcasing her charm yet again.

Hollywood Calling:- Rising to fame in the 50s, Madhubala also attracted major Hollywood interest. She appeared in several American magazines such as Theatre Arts. In their August 1952 issue, Madhubala was featured in an all-embracing article with a full page photograph with the piece entitled: The Biggest Star in the World -And Shes Not in Beverly Hills. It presented the actress as a mystifying woman of mythical beauty with a large number of fans. At that time, the American filmmaker Frank Capra who was on his India tour came by to meet the actress and offered her a Hollywood opportunity. However, Madhubalas father declined the pitch putting a forceful end to her potential Hollywood career.

Illness:- In 1950, the actress was diagnosed with a heart condition. The illness comprised of a hole in the heart condition and Madhubala hid the illness from media glare for a long time. However, in 1954, while she was filming in Madras for S. S. Vasans Bahut Din Huwe, she coughed blood on the sets. Madhubalas family was tremendously protective of her owing to of her health concerns. While filming at the studios, she would eat only home-made food and drink water from a particular well only in order to minimize any infection risk. However, through the 1950s, Madhubala performed successfully despite her health woes.

The Madhubala Christening:- Mumtazs first movie Basant came in 1942 that was a box-office success. She further went on to act in several movies as a child artist. Then actress Devika Rani was so impressed by her performances that she advised her to assume the name Madhubala that meant a woman of honey. And since then the actress continued to use the name eventually garnering more fame.

Early Life:- Madhubala was born as Mumtaz Jahan Begum Dehlavi in New Delhi and was the fifth child among eleven children. After Madhubalas father, Ataullah Khan lost his job at the Imperial Tobacco Company in Delhi, the family relocated to Mumbai where they faced several hardships including the death of her three sisters and two brothers at the age five and six. Young Mumtaz began to pay frequent visits to the Bombay Studios looking for work along with her father. It was then Mumtaz made way to the movie industry at the age of nine.

Rightly known as the timeless beauty of Indian cinema, Madhubala has been one of the greatest gifts of Bollywood. An epitome of grace, her finest dramatic performance in Mughal-e-Azam, flirtatiousness in Aaiye meherbaan, playful act in Achha ji main haari and dreaminess in Aayega aanewala have enthralled the filmy lovers to the hilt. On February 14, 1933, as we celebrate her 80th birth anniversary, heres taking you through the glorious life and times of this yesteryear diva.