In today’s weekend blog, I am continuing with my blogs on actresses of yesteryears, who started their careers in the 1940s.
Today I am writing about an actress who was known as “The Venus of Indian Cinema”, was extremely beautiful and had a wonderful smile ever seen on the Indian screen. Friends, I am talking about MADHUBALA.
She was born on 14th February 1933, and her maiden name was Mumtaz Jehan Begum Dehlavi. She started her acting career with a minor role in 1942 film Basant. She also acted as a child artist in five films after that. In 1946 she became the protégé of director Kidar Sharma, who gave her a leading role opposite Raj Kapoor in Neel Kamal (1947) when she was just 14 years old. She then appeared in two more films as the leading lady, Chittor Vijay and Mere Bhagwan.
She found her first critical and commercial success in Lal Dupatta (1948). In 1949, Madhubala played a leading lady’s role in Kamal Amrohi’s Mahal, which emerged as one of the biggest box office successes of that year. She followed the success of Mahal with musical Dulari (1949), and Beqasoor (1950). She subsequently acted in Hanste Ansoo and Pardes in 1950. Then came another hit film, Badal (1951). Madhubala then collaborated with Dilip Kumar in two films in a row, first the 1951 film Tarana and then Sangdil(1952).
In 1953, she had a health scare, due to which she left a few films. She came back with Mehboob Khan’s Amar (1954). In 1955, she appeared in the highly successful film Mr & Mrs 55.
In mid 1956, a conflict broke out between Madhubala-her father Ataullah Khan and director BR Chopra over the location shoot of Naya Daur, in which Madhubala was cast to play the lead role. Citing her as uncooperative, BR Chopra sued her for Rs 30,000 in damages and replaced her with Vyjayantimala. It is said that at that time she was romantically involved with Dilip Kumar, and her father was against this; he did not allow her to go to the location shoot because Dilip Kumar was the leading man of the film.
The lawsuit generated negative publicity for Madhubala, and she was replaced in films like Sohni Mahiwal and Savera. In 1956, she acted in two period films, Raj Hath and Shirin Farhad. In 1957, she was seen in Gateway of India and Ek Saal.
The year 1958 saw Madhubala starring in four of its highest-grossing films: the crime thriller Kala Pani and Howrah Bridge, the musical Phagun, and the comedy Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi. Subsequently, she featured in Insaan Jaag Utha and Kal Hamara Hai( both 1959). In the same year, she reunited with Raj Kapoor in Do Ustaad.
In the year 1960 came a film which was her crowning glory, and that film was Mughal-e-Azam, directed by K Asif, the film co-starred Prithviraj Kapoor and Dilip Kumar. In the same year, she acted in Barsat ki Raat.
In 1961, it was disclosed that she had a heart condition ( hole in the heart), and she reduced her assignment. She acted in very few films, like Jaali Note, Jhumroo, Boy Friend and Half Ticket.
Her final film released during her lifetime was Sharabi with Dev Anand in 1964.
Following her break-up with Dilip Kumar, she then got romantically involved with Kishore Kumar during the shooting of Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi, and they got married in October 1960. But their marriage was not very successful, and they had ups and downs.
After 1964, she hardly acted in films due to her health condition, and eventually she died on 23rd February 1969.
Here are some of my favourite songs of Madhubala, with their YouTube links:
1 Aayega Aanewala Aayegas- Mahal 1949 (Film-F), Lata Mangeshkar (Singer-S), Naqshab (Lyricist-L), Khemchand Prakash (Music Director-MD)
https://youtu.be/MpDE5lpDxFE?si=uhAb6mpN-RmldOve
2 Mehfil Mein jal Uthi Shama Parwane Ke Liye- Nirala 1950 (F), Lata Mangeshkar (S), PL Santoshi (L), C Ramchandra (MD)
https://youtu.be/Pa_STkt5RcI?si=F8_jbp9l0qw74lSQ
3 Jaanewale Se Mulaqat Na Hone Paayi– Amar 1954 (F), Lata Mangeshkar (S), Shakeel Badyuni (L), Naushad (MD).
https://youtu.be/BX5JSGmV2Lk?si=CllA2Nq5x5ZmQv_I
4 Thandi Hawa Kaali Ghata, Aa Hi Gayi Jhoom Ke– Mr & Mrs 55 1955 (F), Geeta Dutt (S), Majrooh Sultanpuri (L), OP Nayyar (MD)
https://youtu.be/hB_DbjaTLuw?si=DwTVrtZvqwK889G5
5 Yeh Wada Karo Chand Ke Saamne– Raj Hath 1956 (F), Lata Mangeshkar & Mukesh (S), Shailendra (L), Shankar Jaikishan (MD). On screen- with Pradeep Kumar.
https://youtu.be/ibuN4lFQt_Q?si=5AOVmZtC0tISBnUf
6 Do Ghadi who Jo Paas Aa Baithe- Gateway of India 1957 (F), Lata Mangeshkar & Mohd Rafi (S), Rajinder Krishan (L), Madan Mohan (MD). On screen- with Bharat Bhushan
https://youtu.be/b2Q8B2jLvVM?si=WNZCbefpBEa_9eal
7 Sab Kuch Luta Ke Hosh Mein Aaye To Kya Kiya– Ek Saal 1957 (F), Lata Mangeshkar (S), Prem Dhawan (L), Ravi (MD)
https://youtu.be/P1DTIuzrRyc?si=tQDHNHNTnZ-J66S8
8 & 9 Haal Kaisa Hai Janab Ka, Kya Khayal Hai Aap Ka and Main Sitaron Ka Tarana, Main Baharon Ka Phasana– Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi 1958 (F), Asha Bhosle & Kishore kumar (S), Majrooh Sultanpuri )L), SD Burman (MD). On scrn- with Kishore Kumar.
https://youtu.be/bFPDaDoruTY?si=SahjrRkgFXCs7luC
https://youtu.be/Ob56hsABMts?si=G0Or_ginqMi5gUqz
10Ek Pardesi Mera Dil Le Gaya– Phagun 1958 (F), Asha Bhosle & Mohd Rafi (S), Qamar Jalalabadi (L), OP Nayyar (MD). On screen- with Bharat Bhushan.
https://youtu.be/nJe9dNb6HZ4?si=twvkCLyReOJJjseF
11 Aaiyee Meherbaan, Baithyee Jaane Jaan– Howrah Bridge 1958 (F). Asha Bhosle (S) Qamar Jalalabadi (L), OP Nayyar (MD)
https://youtu.be/go4ixEgnecg?si=oTHZEmbfXJBisFPv
12 Achchaji Main Haari Chalo Maan Jao Na– Kala Pani 1958 (F). Asha Bhosle & Mohd Rafi (S), Majrooh Sultanpuri (L), SD Burman (MD). On screen with -Dev Anand
https://youtu.be/1LPtNHJckpw?si=PttnZMKHfG-09epb
13 Chand Sa Mukhda Kyun Sharmaya-Inssan Jaag Utha 1959 (F), Asha Bhosle 7 Mohd Rafi (S), Shailendra (L), SD Burman (MD). On screen- with Sunil Dutt
https://youtu.be/1LPtNHJckpw?si=PttnZMKHfG-09epb
14 Pyar Kiya To Darna Kya, Pyar Kiya Koi Chori Nahin Ki– Mughal-e-Azam 1960 (F). Lata Mangeshkar (S), Shakeel Badayuni (L), Naushad (MD)
https://youtu.be/uASs1_CrBnE?si=kbCpvN4tpGsJWRq0
15 Zindagi Bhar Nahin Bhoolegi Woh Barsaat Ki Raat– Barsaat Ki Raat 1960 (F), Lata Mangeshkar & Mohd Rafi (S), Sahir Ludhianvi (L), Roshan (MD). On screen- with Bharat Bhushan
https://youtu.be/wdcfQhzHTzY?si=ANcZYrfMdqLojoa1
Anil Malik
Mumbai, India
27th March 2026