Madhubala (born Mumtaz Jahan Begum Dehlavi; 14 February 1933 – 23 February 1969) was an Indian actress and producer who appeared in 72 films during a career spanning from the early 1940s to the mid-1960s. She made her debut at the age of nine in an uncredited role in Basant (1942). In 1944, she signed a contract with Ranjit Studios, under which she featured in minor roles for the next two years. Upon the contract's expiration in 1947, director Kidar Sharma cast Madhubala as the leading lady in the drama Neel Kamal. The film was a commercial failure but garnered her critical praise, and she subsequently rose to prominence with the drama Lal Dupatta (1948) and the horror film Mahal (1949), which was one of the biggest box office successes of the decade. Madhubala then starred in a string of successful productions, including Dulari (1949), Beqasoor (1950), Badal (1951), Tarana (1951) and Sangdil (1952), frequently collaborating with actors Dev Anand, Dilip Kumar, and Prem Nath.
During this period, Madhubala ventured into film production with Pardes (1950) and Rail Ka Dibba (1953) in collaboration with Prem Narayan Arora. In 1953, along with her father Ataullah Khan, she co-founded the production company, Madhubala Private Ltd. She subsequently starred in two high-profile productions: S. S. Vasan's fantasy film Bahut Din Huwe and Mehboob Khan's drama Amar (both 1954), and debuted as an independent producer with the drama Naata (1955), in which she also acted. However, their collective commercial failure led segments of the press to label her "box office poison". (for Amar being a financial failure) Madhubala's career took a turning point when she played a modern heiress in Guru Dutt's comedy Mr. & Mrs. '55 (1955), a satire on marriage of convenience. The film's critical and commercial success dismantled her "tragic heroine" typecasting, and cemented her status as a versatile performer. She then advanced her career by performing a wider variety of roles in the period films Raj Hath and Shirin Farhad (both 1956), the black comedy Gateway of India and the drama Ek Saal (both 1957).
Madhubala's popularity soared in the late 1950s and she received critical praise for a series of films which often co-starred actors Kishore Kumar, Dev Anand, and Bharat Bhushan. She portrayed an intrepid journalist in the thriller Kala Pani (1958), an Anglo-Indian cabaret dancer in the film noir Howrah Bridge (1958), a socialite in the comedy Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi (1958), and a romantic lead in the musical Barsat Ki Rat (1960). These films, along with Phagun (1958), Jhumroo (1961), Boy Friend (1961) and Half Ticket (1962), ranked among the highest-grossing productions of their respective years. Madhubala earned widespread critical acclaim for her performance as the doomed court dancer Anarkali in K. Asif's historical epic Mughal-e-Azam (1960). She won the Best Actress award from the Film Journalists' Association of Bombay, and also earned a nomination in the same category at Filmfare. In the 21st century, Mughal-e-Azam is frequently cited as one of the best films ever made, and holds the distinction of being the highest-grossing Indian film of all time when adjusted for inflation.
Although Mughal-e-Azam established Madhubala as a pop icon, its taxing multi-year production severely worsened her congenital heart condition. Her health declined rapidly in the 1960s, and she reduced her workload after producing Mehlon Ke Khwab (1960) and Pathan (1962). Her final completed project, Sharabi, was released in 1964 following several delays. Jwala (1971), her only film shot entirely in colour, was released two years after her death. It was completed using body doubles and marked her final screen appearance.
Filmography Film titles are listed alphabetically within each year. As an actor Year Title Role(s) Notes1942Basant Manju Uncredited1944Mumtaz Mahal Child actorCredited as "Baby Mumtaz"1945Dhanna Bhagat1946PhoolwariPujariRajputani1947Chittor VijaySobhagya DeviLost filmDil Ki RaniRaj Kumari SinghKhubsurat DuniyaMere BhagwanNeel KamalGangaCredited as "Mumtaz"1948Amar PremRadhaLost filmDesh SevaLost filmLal DupattaShobhaLost filmParai AagShobha1949AparadhiSheela RaniDawlatNirmalaDulariShobha (Dulari)ImtihaanRoopaMahalKamini (Asha)Neki Aur BadiSushilaParasPriyaSingaarSitaraSipahiyaRani1950BeqasoorUshaHanste AansooUshaFirst Indian film to be awarded an Adults certificationMadhubalaMadhubalaNiralaPoonamNishanaRadhaLost filmPardesChandaAlso producer 1951AaramLeelaBadalRatnaKhazanaAshaNadaanUshaNazneenNazneenSaiyanSaiyanTaranaTarana1952SangdilKamalaSaqiRukhsana1953ArmaanRadhaRail Ka DibbaChandaAlso producer1954AmarAnju RoyBahut Din HuweChandrakanta1955Mr. & Mrs. '55Anita VermaNaataTaraAlso producerNaqabYasminTeerandaz1956Dhake Ki MalmalShivanaLost filmRaj HathRaja BetiShirin FarhadShirin1957Ek SaalUshaGateway Of IndiaAnjuYahudi Ki LadkiHannah / Lydia1958Baghi SipahiRanjanaChalti Ka Naam GaadiRenuHowrah BridgeEdnaKala PaniAshaPhagunBananiPoliceManju1959Do UstadMadhu SharmaInsaan Jaag UthaGauriKal Hamara HaiMadhu / Bela1960Barsat Ki RatShabnamJaali NoteRenu (Beena)Mehlon Ke KhwabAshaAlso producerMughal-e-AzamAnarkali (Nadira)Won—Film Journalists' Association of Bombay award for Best Actress Nominated—Filmfare Award for Best Actress1961Boy FriendSangeetaJhumrooAnjanaPassportRita1962Half TicketAsha (Rajni)1964SharabiKamala1971JwalaJwalaOnly originallly coloured film; released posthumously1983Film Hi FilmDocumentary film where the footage of a part of the song "Idhar Toh Dekho Ik, Nazar Toh Phenko..." from the incomplete & shelved film Yeh Basti Yeh Log (1958) sung by Asha Bhosle, lyrics written by Prem Wabartani with music direction of Bhola Shreshtha & picturised on Madhubala and also featuring Balraj Sahni opposite her was shown here. The film was being produced by S. Srivastava & was being directed by Vinod Kumar. The production was said to be abandoned due to Madhubala's illness.
As a producer Year Title Acting role Director Notes 1950 Pardes Chanda M. Sadiq In collaboration with Prem Narayan Arora1953 Rail Ka Dibba Chanda Prem Narayan Arora1955Naata TaraUnder Madhubala Private Ltd.1960Mehlon Ke Khwab Asha1962Pathan
Incomplete films Year / Period Title Notes Ref. 1949 Haar Singaar Directed by Mahesh Kaul; production abandoned after a brief period of filming 1959–1960 Suhana Geet Shooting began in August 1959; six reels were filmed before production was halted in early 1960 due to Madhubala's health problems 1960 Hip Hip Hurray Featuring the lead cast of Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi; production began in January 1960 but was abandoned shortly after due to Madhubala's illness 1960 Yeh Basti Yeh Log Opposite Balraj Sahni; production abandoned due to Madhubala's illness 1960s Chalaak Directed by J. K. Nanda and co-starring Raj Kapoor; filming resumed in 1966 but was abandoned after Madhubala's health deteriorated
Replaced Year Title Replaced by Notes Ref. 1952 Daag Nimmi 1957 Naya Daur Vyjayanthimala Filmed for over a week; later replaced and sued by director B. R. Chopra for refusing outdoor shootings 1958 Dilli Ka Thug Nutan 1960 Bombai Ka Babu Suchitra Sen Dropped out due to health problems 1962 Naughty Boy Kalpana Mohan Pathan Mumtaz
Announced but not produced Year / Period Title Notes Ref. 1950s Chitralekha Announced following the success of Tarana (1951); production never started Gohar 1960s Mandir Opposite Kishore Kumar Kavi Kishordas BA 1969 Farz Aur Ishq Conceived as directorial debut shortly before her death
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External links
Madhubala on Bollywood Hungama