Mehmood Ali (29 September 1932 – 23 July 2004), popularly known simply as Mehmood, was an Indian actor, singer, director and producer, best known for playing comic, serious, emotional and versatile roles in Hindi films.Indian comedy actor Mehmood dies on BBC news website Published 23 July 2004, Retrieved 5 November 2019

During his career spanning more than four decades, he worked in over 300 Hindi films and was known as Bollywood's Original Bhaijaan.Indian film comedian Mehmood dies at 72 Dawn (newspaper), Published 24 July 2004, Retrieved 7 November 2019 Mehmood received 25 nominations for film awards, 19 for 'Best Performance in a Comic Role', while the awards started in 1954, awards for the best comedian category started only in 1967. Prior to that Mehmood also received 6 nominations for 'Best Supporting Actor'.

Early life

Mehmood Ali was born on 29 September 1932. He was the second of the eight children, and eldest son to Latifunnisa and film and stage actor/dancer Mumtaz Ali, who was a huge star of the 1940s and 1950s cinema in Mumbai. Mehmood had an elder sister and six younger siblings. His sister, Minoo Mumtaz, was also a successful dancer and character actress in Bollywood movies. His youngest brother, Anwar Ali, is also an actor as well as a producer of such movies as Khud-daar and Kaash.

Career

Early career As a child, he worked in Bombay films like Kismet. He later had a number of odd jobs, selling poultry products and working as a driver for director P. L. Santoshi. Santoshi's son, Rajkumar Santoshi, would later cast him in the film Andaz Apna Apna (1994). Many of Mehmood's film songs were sung by Mohammad Rafi.

Mehmood would go on to perform small roles in films such as Do Bigha Zameen, C.I.D., and Pyaasa. He later began taking on larger roles.

He then ruled from late 50s to 70s as a Big Superstar, both as an actor and filmmaker. In the period from 1958-1979 he gave many hits, superhits and blockbusters as main lead, parallel lead, 2nd lead and supporting roles. And also did many Special Appearances & Cameos.

And during that period he gave break to many artists in the industry like - R.D. Burman, Rajesh Roshan, Aruna Irani, Amitabh Bachchan and many more.

Later career In the 1980s, Mehmood's starts doing less movie and during that time other comedy actors like Jagdeep, Asrani, Paintal, Deven Verma and Kader Khan shot to prominence. Between 1990 and 1999, he made a handful of movies, but most of them were either shelved or made no impression. He acted as Johnny in Rajkumar Santoshi's Andaz Apna Apna (1994). It was his last well-known film.

Personal life

Mehmood married Madhu Kumari in 1953; the two divorced in September 1967. The two had four children together, Masood "Pucky" Ali, Maqsood "Lucky" Ali, Maqdoom "Macky" Ali, and Masoon Ali. Mehmood would go on to marry his second wife, Tracy, and have three more children with her, Mansoor Ali, Manzoor Ali, and Latifunnissa "Ginny" Ali. Several of his children would go on to star in Mehmood related productions such as the 1976 film Ginny Aur Johnny, which starred his daughter Ginny and was based on the 1973 film Paper Moon.

Death On 23 July 2004, Mehmood died in his sleep in Pennsylvania, where he had gone for treatment of cardiovascular heart disease after suffering from poor health over several years. His fans were able to pay homage to him at Mehboob Studio in Bandra, Mumbai.

After the initial homage in Mumbai, his body was flown to Ali Estates, the family's 186-acre farmhouse in Yelahanka, on the outskirts of Bangalore A funeral procession was held there on 29 July 2004, attended by close relatives, friends, and several film personalities along with local mourners. Though relatively low-key in accordance with his wishes, the ceremony drew tributes from many senior actors and filmmakers who acknowledged Mehmood as a giant of Indian comedy whose influence extended well beyond his screen presence. The estate, which had been used as a set for many of Mehmood's films, also houses a private family graveyard. He was buried in a modest, unmarked grave at the foot of the white tomb of his father, Mumtaz Ali. His son Macky, who died in 2002, is also buried next to him.

Legacy One of Mehmood's most enduring legacies is his early support for Amitabh Bachchan, who would go on to become one of the most iconic figures in Indian cinema. At a time when leading producers hesitated to cast Bachchan in prominent roles, Mehmood offered him the lead in Bombay to Goa, marking Bachchan's first major solo project. The film featured a high-impact bus crash sequence, and Mehmood was reportedly taken aback by the raw intensity Amitabh displayed in the action scene – a performance that foreshadowed his future rise as the "Angry Young Man." Bachchan would later refer to Mehmood as his "godfather," crediting him with giving him a crucial break at a turning point in his career.

Mehmood's personal life also reflected his wide social reach. Through marriage, he was connected to the Nawab of Arcot's family, one of the oldest Muslim noble lineages in India, known for their longstanding ties to Hyderabad and Madras aristocracy.

Satish Kaushik has credited Mehmood as inspiring him to become an actor. In 2013 Mehmood was featured on a stamp of India. In 2022, Mehmood was placed in Outlook Indias "75 Best Bollywood Actors" list.

Filmography Year Film As Notes 1943 Kismet Young Shekhar Debut film1945 Sanyasi Banke1951 Nadaan Bus Conductor1952Maa1953 Do Bigha Zamin Peanuts Seller1954 Nastik Vinod's Henchman Naukri Pickpocket1956 C.I.D. Sher Singh Funtoosh Mem SahibHardeep Kumar1957 Baarish Ramu's NeighbourEk SaalDoctor Pyaasa Vijay's Brother1958Howrah Bridge Parvarish Ramesh Singh1959 Chhoti Bahen Mahesh Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor [Nominated] Kaagaz Ke Phool Special AppearanceIn the song "San San San Woh Chali Hawaa" Qaidi No. 911Anand1960KanoonVijay Prasad Mian Biwi Razi ManzilShankar Paanwala Shriman SatyawadiKishore1961 Chhote NawabChhote Nawab Mehmood provided famous music director R. D. Burman his first break in this film. Pyase PanchhiMahesh SasuralMahesh Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor [Nominated]1962AartiKumar Dil Tera Deewana Anokhe Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor RakhiKasturi Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor [Nominated]1963 BharosaPlatform M. P. P. S. Ghar Basake DekhoSunder Nominated for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor. GodaanGobar Grahasti Jaggu HamrahiMahesh Kahin Pyaar Na Ho Jaaye 1964 Beti BeteMahesh 'Munna' ChitralekhaBrahmachari Shwetant Mama Ji Madari Punjabi Punjabi Movie Sanjh Aur SaveraPrakash ShabnamKhan Mustafa / Zingarro ZiddiMahesh ZindagiJaggu1965ArzooMamdhu Mumtaz Ali Bahu BetiMahesh Bhoot Bungla Mohan KumarProduced and directed by Mehmood Do DilBahadur Singh GumnaamButler Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor [Nominated] Johar-Mehmood in GoaRahim Mohammed Salauddin KaajalBhola Namasteji Neela AakashMadanlal1966 Biwi Aur MakanSitaram Pandey Daadi MaaMahesh Love in TokyoMahesh Mohabbat Zindagi HaiManglu Pati PatniPashupati Pyar Kiye JaaAtmaFilmfare Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role1967 Chandan Ka PalnaMahesh Chandra Mukherjee Gunahon Ka Devta MehrbanMadhu Patthar ke Sanam Hariya Kumar1968 AnkhenMehmood Do KaliyanMahesh IzzatMahesh Neel KamalGirdhar Gopal Agarwal PadosanMaster Pillai with Sunil Dutt, Saira Banu and Kishore Kumar. Mehmood jointly produced this film with N. C. Sippy Sadhu Aur ShaitaanBajrang Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role [Nominated]1969 Badi Didi Madan Meri BhabhiShambhu Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role [Nominated] Tumse Achha Kaun Hai ?Mahesh WarisCID Inspector Rajan / Ram Kumar No. 3 & his mother (Double Role) Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role1970 HumjoliShivram / Balram / Parshuram (Triple Role) Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role [Nominated] JawabBajrangi MastanaSatyaCredit as Mahmood1971 Johar Mehmood in Hong KongMahesh Lakhon Me EkBhola Main Sunder HoonSunder Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role [Nominated] Naya ZamanaMahesh Mere Apne ParasMunna Sarkar Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role1972 Bombay To Goa Khanna (Bus Conductor) Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role [Nominated] Garam Masala Rajkumar Suraj Kumar1973 Do Phool Pavitra Kumar Rai "Puttan" / Mani (Double Role) Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role [Nominated] JugnuMahesh1974 BadlaHippie Duniya Ka Mela Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role [Nominated] Kunwara BaapMahesh Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role [Nominated]. Mehmood also introduced music director Rajesh Roshan in this film PocketmaarSunderUjala Hi UjalaSaraswati1975 QaidBajrangi Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role [Nominated] SalaakhenAbdul Rehman Vardaan Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role1976 Ginny Aur Johnny Jai Bajrang Bali Shakun Sabse Bada Rupaiya Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role Nominated1977 AafatMahesh Amaanat Mahesh Thief of Baghdad 1978 Des Pardes Anwar Ek Baap Chhe Bete Mahesh1979 Janta Hawaldar Nauker Dayal Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role [Nominated]1980 Khanjar Jagat Lootmaar Man Pasand Popat 1981 Hotel Nawab Arshad Ali SannataMarzabaan1982 Khud-DaarJagan Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role [Nominated] Suraag Father of prospective bride 1986 Ladies Hostel Mahesh BhattaKannada film with B. Sarojadevi in lead role 1987 Imaandaar Tiwarilal Majaal Shrichand Titarmare1988 Faisla Jaggu1993Shreemaan Aashique Menaka's Father Special Appearance in Last Scene of film Khal-Naaikaa Gangaram Tahqiqaat Micheal 1994Juaari Anita's Father Chaand Kaa Tukdaa Babumashay Andaz Apna Apna Johnny (Wah-Wah Productions)1995 Guddu 1996 Dushman Duniya Ka Bakrewale Baba1998 Ghar Bazar

Awards

See also Mehmood Ali Family List of Hindi film clans

Further reading Zaveri, Hanif. Mehmood, a Man of Many Moods, Popular Prakashan, 2005.

References

External links