Madhubala
Hindi film actress remembered as Anarkali in Mughal-e-Azam
- Lived
- 36 yrs
- 1933 – 1969
- Works listed
- 6
- Film
- Honours
- 0
- Awards & distinctions
- Profile views
- 1
- 0 followers
Madhubala was a Hindi film actress of the 1940s and 1950s, admired for her beauty, comic flair and her role as Anarkali in Mughal-e-Azam. She worked through a serious heart condition and died in 1969 at the age of 36.
Biography
Child actress
Born Mumtaz Jehan in Delhi into a large, poor family, she began working as a child actress in Basant (1942) to support them. Actress Devika Rani is said to have suggested the screen name Madhubala. She played her first leading role at fourteen in Neel Kamal (1947), opposite Raj Kapoor.
Stardom
Kamal Amrohi’s ghost story Mahal (1949) made her a star. She showed a gift for comedy in Mr. & Mrs. ’55 (1955) and Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi (1958), and starred in Howrah Bridge (1958), whose song “Aaiye Meherbaan” became a classic.
Mughal-e-Azam
Her role as the court dancer Anarkali in K. Asif’s Mughal-e-Azam (1960), opposite Dilip Kumar, is regarded as one of the greatest performances in Hindi cinema; the song “Pyar Kiya To Darna Kya” is among the most famous in film history. The film took about a decade to make and became a record-breaking hit.
Illness and legacy
Madhubala had been born with a hole in her heart, a condition that worsened in the late 1950s and limited her work. She married singer-actor Kishore Kumar in 1960 and died on 23 February 1969, aged 36. India Post issued a stamp in her honour in 2008, and she is still remembered as one of cinema’s great beauties.
Timeline
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1933
Born in Delhi, British India
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1942
Child debut in Basant
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1947
First leading role
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1949
Mahal
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1955
Mr. & Mrs. ’55
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1958
Howrah Bridge and Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi
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1960
Mughal-e-Azam; marries Kishore Kumar
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1969
Dies aged 36
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2008
Commemorative postage stamp
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1969
Died, aged 36
Notable works
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1949
Mahal Film
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1951
Tarana Film
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1955
Mr. & Mrs. ’55 Film
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1958
Howrah Bridge Film
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1958
Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi Film
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1960
Mughal-e-Azam Film
Did you know?
-
1
She started working in films at the age of nine.
-
2
She was born on Valentine’s Day.
-
3
Mughal-e-Azam was re-released in colour in 2004.
Connections
Related people
-
Kishore Kumar
Film & TV · Playback singer and actor, one of the greatest voices of Hindi cinema
Spouse
-
Dilip Kumar
Film & TV · Hindi cinema legend known as the “Tragedy King”
Co-star in Mughal-e-Azam
-
Raj Kapoor
Film & TV · Actor, director and producer known as the “Showman” of Hindi cinema
Co-star in Neel Kamal
Also born on 14 February
Frequently asked
Who is Madhubala?
Madhubala was a Hindi film actress of the 1940s and 1950s, admired for her beauty, comic flair and her role as Anarkali in Mughal-e-Azam. She worked through a serious heart condition and died in 1969 at the age of 36.
When did Madhubala die?
Madhubala died on 23 February 1969 at the age of 36.
Where is Madhubala from?
Madhubala was born in Delhi, British India.
What is Madhubala known for?
Madhubala is best known for Mahal, Mr. & Mrs. ’55, Howrah Bridge, Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi, Mughal-e-Azam.
Who is Madhubala married to?
Spouse: Kishore Kumar (m. 1960).
References
- Madhubala — Wikipedia. Wikipedia. Retrieved 27 October 2026.
- Madhubala — Britannica. Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved 27 October 2026.
- Madhubala — IMDb. IMDb. Retrieved 27 October 2026.
- Madhubala — Hindi Wikipedia. Wikipedia (Hindi). Retrieved 27 October 2026.
- Madhubala (Q36881) — structured data. Wikidata. Retrieved 27 October 2026.
Includes material from the Wikipedia article “Madhubala”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. That text is available under the same licence. Learn more
External links
Featured in
About this profile
- Researched by the TrackFame editorial team; reviewed by Sanjay Sokal under our editorial policy
- First published 27 October 2026
- Last updated
Cite this page
“Madhubala.” TrackFame, last updated 28 October 2026. https://trackfame.com/person/madhubala
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