Madhubala’s legendary status in Indian cinema is unchallenged, her beauty and talent immortalized in reel after reel. Marking her 55th death anniversary, Jackie Shroff shared a moving Instagram Story featuring her photograph, captioning it with profound reverence: ‘Remembering Madhubala ji on her punyatithi with love and respect. Her cinematic gifts will eternally dwell in our hearts.’
Delhi-born as Mumtaz Jehan Begum Dehlavi, she began acting young to support her family, debuting in ‘Basant’ before ‘Mahal’ (1949) redefined her as the face of romance and glamour.
Her filmography sparkled with successes: the musical ‘Fagun,’ suspenseful ‘Howrah Bridge,’ dramatic ‘Kala Pani,’ and evergreen comedy ‘Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi.’ Collaborations with Dilip Kumar, Raj Kapoor, Ashok Kumar, and Dev Anand produced some of Bollywood’s most cherished moments.
Critics and fans alike hail her Anarkali in ‘Mughal-e-Azam’ (1960) as unparalleled, blending pathos, passion, and poise. She also wore the producer’s hat for ‘Naata’ (1955), ‘Mahalon Ke Khwab’ (1960), and ‘Pathan’ (1962).
Despite her stardom, health issues from a ventricular septal defect overshadowed her later years, claiming her life at 36 on February 23, 1969. ‘Jwala’ (1971) was her last on-screen appearance. Shroff’s gesture highlights why Madhubala continues to enchant, her ‘magic’ a perpetual heartbeat in Bollywood lore.