"The Venus of Indian Cinema" and "Marilyn Monroe of Bollywood - MADHUBALA

"The Venus of Indian Cinema" and "Marilyn Monroe of Bollywood - MADHUBALA

The real name of Madhubala was Mumtaz Jehan Begum Dehlavi, She was born on February 14, 1933 – February 23, 1969) she was an Indian actress and producer. Famous for playing unconventional roles of independent female characters, she became one of the most popular and highest-paid film stars of the Indian film industry in the 1950s and early 1960s, attracting worldwide attention to a certain extent. Long after her death, Madhubala is regarded as an Indian cultural icon and is often referred to in the media as one of the greatest and most influential figures of Indian cinema.

Apart from appearing in several commercially successful films, Her highest-grossing releases came with the comedy Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi (1958), the romantic musical Barsaat Ki Raat, and the magnum opus Mughal-e-Azam (both in 1960). Her performance in Mughal-e-Azam as the ill-fated courtesan Anarkali was widely acclaimed by critics, who labeled it as the finest given by her; and earned her her only nomination for Filmfare Award for Best Actress. In the early 1960s, Madhubala continued starring in commercial successes such as Jhumroo (1961), Passport (1961), and Half Ticket (1962).

Madhubala's life and career was cut short when she died in 1969 from a prolonged illness at the age of 36. Her beauty and comparison with Hollywood actress Marilyn Monroe eventually earned her the titles "The Venus of Indian Cinema" and "Marilyn Monroe of Bollywood.