Remembering 7 Iconic Movies Of Madhubala On Her Birthday

The goddess of the screen rich in beauty and a dazzling smile, the legendary Madhubala has no standing competition to date. As she achieved a skyscraper of success in her work life, she suffered deeply when it came to the personal side.

Madhubala, the queen of beauty and elegance, was born on the day of love i.e. Valentine's day. The actress died at a very young age of 36. The Venus of Bollywood was born with congenital heart disease, Ventricular Septal Defect, which loosely translates to ‘hole in the heart’. In simple terms, it meant that her body would produce more blood than necessary and it would spill out of her mouth and nose.

Talking about Madhubala In Dilip Kumar's autobiography, Times Now quoted him saying, "Was I in love with Madhubala as the newspapers and magazines reported at that time? As an answer to this oft-repeated question straight from the horse’s mouth, I must admit that I was attracted to her both as a fine co-star and as a person who had some of the attributes I hoped to find in a woman at that age and time. We had viewers admiring our pairing in Tarana and our working relationship was warm and cordial."

Despite ill health, which was discovered in 1954, she found love. Sadly, she also lost it soon. Though she married singer Kishore Kumar and reportedly had other dalliances before, the love of her life was thespian Dilip Kumar. Madhubala passed away on 23 February 1969.

Today as we celebrate her birthday, let us remember her iconic roles from the movies of a different time.

1. Mughal-e-Azam

Madhubala played the role of Anarkali in the epic movie of its time, Mughal-e-Azam. The plot consisting of Emperor Akbar and his wife Jodha with their son Salim accompanies a major twist when Salim falls in love with a court dancer renamed Anarkali. Just after the plot twist, there are more twists than you seriously need to go and watch.

2. Chalti Ka Naam Gadi

Featuring the legendary actor Kishore Kumar, his two brothers Anoop Kumar and Ashok Kumar, and Madhubala in the comedy movie Chalti Ka Naam Gadi which becomes a must-watch for today's generation.

3. Kaala Paani

Kaali Paani (meaning solitary confinement in jail) is a story about a young man who, upon learning about his father's wrongful implication in a fifteen-year-old murder, vows to bring the true criminals to justice and release his innocent father from prison. The film is produced by Dev Anand

4. Mehlon Ke Khwab

Mehlon Ke Khwab, produced by Madhubala Private Ltd. revolves around two aspiring actresses who are framed for stealing a precious necklace.

5. Howrah Bridge

The movie featuring Ashok Kumar and Madhubala, Howrah Bridge is a crime-thriller film. The plot focuses on Prem Kumar, a businessman from Rangoon, who travels to Calcutta to try and track down his brother's murderers. It also included the chartbusters "Mera Naam Chin Chin Chu" and "Aaiye Meherbaan".

6. Half Ticket

Starring Madhubala with Kishor Kumar and Pran, Half Ticket is a light-hearted comedy movie produced by Bombay Talkies. Half Ticket becomes another must-watch on the list.

7. Mr and Mrs '55

Madhubala plays the role of a naive heiress forced to marry an unemployed cartoonist to save her millions. The movie is a rom-com directed by Guru Dutt.

Image Credits: Indian Express