Few stars have left an indelible mark like Madhubala, whose grace and genius still mesmerize. On this poignant death anniversary, February 23, Jackie Shroff touched hearts by posting her iconic image on Instagram Stories, writing, ‘Madhubala ji, on your punyatithi, we cherish you with love and honor. Your contributions to cinema live forever in us.’
Real name Mumtaz Jehan Begum, the Delhi girl entered films at nine amid poverty, with ‘Basant’ as her launchpad. True fame arrived via ‘Mahal’ (1949), where her haunted-house romance bewitched viewers.
The decade of the 1950s gifted audiences treasures like ‘Fagun,’ the thrilling ‘Howrah Bridge,’ poignant ‘Kala Pani,’ and riotous ‘Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi.’ Her chemistry with Dilip Kumar, Raj Kapoor, Ashok Kumar, and Dev Anand was pure alchemy.
As Anarkali in the monumental ‘Mughal-e-Azam,’ she delivered a career-defining tour de force, immortalized in Technicolor splendor. Production credits include ‘Naata,’ ‘Mahalon Ke Khwab,’ and ‘Pathan,’ showcasing her multifaceted talent.
Ventricular septal defect confined her to a short life, ending at 36 in 1969, though ‘Jwala’ reached theaters in 1971. In an industry of fleeting fame, Madhubala’s enduring magic, as echoed by Shroff, proves her place among the immortals.