by Ruhksana Aslam

Created on: August 01, 2008   Last Updated: August 02, 2008

Madhubala the indian icon

When she was a success, she was referred as the Venus Queen but when she was unsuccessful, she was called box office poison. She was often compared to sex symbol Marilyn Monroe, as they both were beautiful. The person described here could only be Madhubala.

Born in 1933 on Valentine day, young Mumtaz dreamt of becoming a movie star at a very young age. Living in Dehli her father struggled to get work so he went to Mumbai with young Mumtaz hoping she would make it as a child artist. As luck would have it, Devika Rani gave young Mumtaz an opportunity. Her first movie as a child artist was Basant in 1942 aged 8. At the age of 8, Mumtaz became the sole breadwinner of her family, this included her 10 siblings and parents.

Later in her teenage years Devika Rani renamed her Madhubala. Madhubala first adult role was with Raj Kapoor in the movie Neel Kamal aged only 14 years old. In 1949 the movie which made her box office success was Mahal, at the age of sixteen Madhubala became a star.

On the sets of Tarana, Madhubala met and fell in love with co star Dilip Kumar. Madhubala sent a rose with a note to Dilip Kumar dressing room telling him to accept it if he loved her. Dilip Kumar quite amused with the gesture accepted the rose, unaware that Madhubala had already done this with another co star on the sets of her film Badal. At the time Madhubala was young and nave and was easily falling in love with her co-stars or directors, namely Kamal Amrohi the director of Mahal. However Madhubala was madly in love with Dilip Kumar, she had become so smitten by him that she totally forgot about her other love interests.

Unfortunately for Madhubala, Dilip Kumar and Premnath her co star in Badal worked in a film together and they learnt of Madhubala deception. Premnath quickly stepped away from the relationship giving Dilip Kumar and Madhubala a chance to continue their courtship. Dilip Kumar and Madhubala had a seven year courtship and in the time they made four movies together including the unforgettable Mughal E Azam. Their relationship ended abruptly when Madhubala father refused for Madhubala to go to outdoor shooting for the movie Naya Daur. The director therefore dropped Madhubala and asked another actress to take the role. Madhubala father became angry that his daughter had suddenly gotten kicked off the movie that he threatened to sue the director, the director then counter sued and the matter ended up in court where Dilip Kumar testified against Madhubala.

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