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Mehmood Ali (29 September 1932 – 23 July 2004), popularly known simply as Mehmood & the Original "Bhaijaan" of bollywood, was an Indian actor, singer, director and producer, best known for playing comic roles in Hindi films.[1][2][3]
Mehmood Ali | |
|---|---|
 Mehmood in 1955 | |
| Born | 29 September 1932 |
| Died | 23 July 2004 (aged 71) Dunmore, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Occupations |
|
| Spouse |
Madhu Kumari
(m. 1953; sep. 1967) |
| Children | 7, including Pucky Ali, Lucky Ali, Macky Ali, Ginny Ali |
| Parent | Mumtaz Ali (father) |
| Relatives | Meena Kumari (sister-in-law); see also Ali-Amrohi family |
| Family | Mehmood Ali family |
During his career of more than four decades, he worked in over 300 Hindi films. He is known as India's national comedian.[2][4] Mehmood received 25 nominations for film awards, 19 for 'Best Performance in a Comic Role', while the awards started in 1954, awards for the best comedian category started only in 1967. Prior to that Mehmood also received 6 nominations for 'Best Supporting Actor'.
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Mehmood Ali was born on 29 September 1932. He was the second of the eight children, and eldest son to Latifunnisa and film and stage actor/dancer Mumtaz Ali, who was a huge star of the 1940s and 1950s cinema in Bombay. Mehmood had an elder sister and six younger siblings. His sister, Minoo Mumtaz, was also a successful dancer and character actress in Bollywood movies. His youngest brother, Anwar Ali, is also an actor as well as a producer of such movies as Khud-daar and Kaash.[3][4]
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Early career
As a child, he worked in Bombay films like Kismet. He later had a number of odd jobs, selling poultry products and working as a driver for director P. L. Santoshi. Santoshi's son, Rajkumar Santoshi, would later cast him in the film Andaz Apna Apna (1994). Many of Mehmood's film songs were sung by Manna Dey.[3]
Mehmood reportedly taught table tennis to actress Meena Kumari. Through her, he came in contact with her younger sister and his future wife Madhu, and married Madhu in the early 1950s. After having a son, Masood, he decided to act to earn a better living and started off by doing small, unnoticed roles in films like the peanut seller in Do Bigha Zameen, a killer in C.I.D. and a minor role in Pyaasa. He later went on to act in lead roles as well, but he was more appreciated for his comedy, some of which was in the Hyderabad region's Urdu accent. Mehmood knew exactly how to tickle the film viewers' funny bone. He was really good at playing the film hero's friend, who would help him out of sticky situations with his street-smart ways.[3]
Besides actress Shubha Khote, he also teamed up with fellow comedian, I. S. Johar and actress Aruna Irani.[3]
Later career
In the 1980s, Mehmood's popularity began to decline as other comedy actors like Jagdeep, Asrani, Paintal, Deven Verma and Kader Khan shot to prominence. Between 1990 and 1999, he made a handful of movies, but most of them were either shelved or made no impression. He acted as Johnny in Rajkumar Santoshi's Andaz Apna Apna (1994)– his last known film as an actor.
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On 23 July 2004, Mehmood died in his sleep in the American state of Pennsylvania, where he had gone for treatment of cardiovascular heart disease after suffering from poor health over several years. His fans were able to pay homage to him at Mehboob Studio in Bandra, Mumbai.[2][3][4]
One of his sons, Lucky Ali (Maqsood Ali), is a singer and composer who has also appeared in films. Mehmood was one of the most respected and loved entertainers in the Indian film fraternity. A performer of such caliber that leading men back in the day used to reject films because their presence used to diminish in films if they starred with Mehmood.[3]
He was the one who introduced Amitabh Bachchan into the commercial cinema space. Mehmood saw potential in Amitabh and put him in films like Bombay To Goa (1972) which was a success. He also gave a break to the music director R. D. Burman whose first independent film as music director was Chhote Nawab (1961) and to Rajesh Roshan with his own production Kunwara Baap (1974).[3]
Famous American actor, Gregory Peck said Mehmood was too handsome to be a comedian.[5]
According to actor Satish Kaushik, Mehmood's iconic role in Padosan inspired him to become an actor, an was fortunate enough to pay homage to him by recreating a similar role in Saajan Chale Sasural, for which he won a Filmfare Award.[6]
He and Tamil Comedian Nagesh were heavily influenced by the American Comedian Jerry Lewis. They copied his slapstick comedy and dancing style.
Just like, Martin and Lewis, Mehmood formed a comical partnership with another Bollywood legend I. S. Johar.
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| Year | Film | As | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1943 | Kismet | Young Shekhar | Childhood Version of Ashok Kumar |
| 1945 | Sanyasi | Banke | |
| 1951 | Nadaan | Bus Conductor[1] | |
| 1952 | Maa | ||
| 1953 | Do Bigha Zamin | Peanuts Seller | |
| 1954 | Nastik | Vinod's Henchman | |
| 1954 | Naukri | PickPocket, Rowdy @ 1 hour, 38 min of film | |
| 1956 | C.I.D. | Sher Singh | |
| 1956 | Mem Sahib | Hardeep Kumar | |
| 1956 | Funtoosh | ||
| 1957 | Baarish | Ramu's Neighbour | |
| 1957 | Pyaasa | Vijay's Brother | |
| 1957 | Ek saal | Doctor | |
| 1958 | Parvarish | Ramesh Singh | |
| 1958 | Howrah Bridge | ||
| 1959 | Qaidi No. 911 | Anand | |
| 1959 | Kaagaz Ke Phool | Special Appearance | In the song "San San San Woh Chali Hawaa" |
| 1959 | Chhoti Bahen | Mahesh | Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor [Nominated] |
| 1960 | Mian Biwi Razi | ||
| 1960 | Manzil | Shankar Paanwala | |
| 1960 | Shriman Satyawadi | Kishore | |
| 1961 | Chhote Nawab | Leading Role | Mehmood provided famous music director R. D. Burman his first break in this film |
| 1961 | Pyaase Panchhi | Mahesh | |
| 1961 | Sasural | Mahesh | Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor [Nominated] |
| 1962 | Rakhi[7] | Kasturi | Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor [Nominated] |
| 1962 | Dil Tera Deewana | Anokhe | Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor |
| 1963 | Hamrahi | Mahesh | |
| 1963 | Ghar Basake Dekho | Sunder | Nominated for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor. |
| 1963 | Godaan | Gobar | |
| 1963 | Kahin Pyaar Na Ho Jaaye | ||
| 1963 | Bharosa[7] | Platform M. P. P. S. | |
| 1963 | Grahasti | Jaggu | |
| 1964 | Mama Ji | Madari | Punjabi Punjabi Movie |
| 1964 | Zindagi | Jaggu | |
| 1964 | Ziddi | Mahesh | |
| 1964 | Beti Bete | Mahesh 'Munna' | |
| 1964 | Shabnam | Khan Mustafa / Zingarro | |
| 1964 | Chitralekha | Brahmachari Shwetant | |
| 1964 | Sanjh Aur Savera | Prakash | |
| 1965 | Johar-Mehmood in Goa | Rahim Mohammed Salauddin | |
| 1965 | Do Dil | Bahadur Singh | |
| 1965 | Namasteji | ||
| 1965 | Gumnaam | Butler | Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor [Nominated] |
| 1965 | Bhoot Bungla | Mohan Kumar | Produced and directed by Mehmood |
| 1965 | Neela Aakash | Madanlal | |
| 1965 | Bahu Beti | Mahesh | |
| 1965 | Kaajal | Bhola | |
| 1966 | Pyar Kiye Jaa | Atma | Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role |
| 1966 | Mohabbat Zindagi Hai | Manglu | |
| 1966 | Biwi Aur Makan[7] | Sitaram Pandey | |
| 1966 | Pati Patni | Pashupati | |
| 1966 | Love in Tokyo | Mahesh | |
| 1966 | Daadi Maa | Mahesh | |
| 1967 | Chandan Ka Palna | Mahesh Chandra Mukhopadhyay | |
| 1967 | Mehrban | Madhu | |
| 1967 | Gunahon Ka Devta[7] | ||
| 1967 | Patthar ke Sanam | Hariya Kumar | |
| 1968 | Padosan[7] | Master Pillai | with Sunil Dutt, Saira Banu and Kishore Kumar. Mehmood jointly produced this film with N. C. Sippy |
| 1968 | Ankhen | Mehmood | |
| 1968 | Neel Kamal | Girdhar Gopal Agarwal | |
| 1968 | Do Kaliyan | Mahesh | |
| 1968 | Izzat | Mahesh | |
| 1968 | Sadhu Aur Shaitaan[7] | Bajrang | Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role [Nominated] |
| 1969 | Meri Bhabhi | Shambhu | Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role [Nominated] |
| 1969 | Badi Didi | Madan | |
| 1969 | Waris | CID Inspector Rajan / Ram Kumar No. 3 & his mother (Double Role) | Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role[3] |
| 1970 | Humjoli | Shivram / Balram / Parshuram (Triple Role) | Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role [Nominated] |
| 1970 | Jawab | Bajrangi | |
| 1970 | Mastana | Satya | Credit as Mahmood |
| 1971 | Main Sunder Hoon[7] | Sunder | Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role [Nominated] |
| 1971 | Lakhon Me Ek[7] | Bhola | |
| 1971 | Paras | Munna Sarkar | Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role |
| 1971 | Johar Mehmood in Hong Kong | Mahesh | |
| 1971 | Naya Zamana | Mahesh | |
| 1971 | Mere Apne | ||
| 1972 | Bombay To Goa | Khanna (Bus Conductor) | Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role [Nominated] |
| 1972 | Garam Masala | Rajkumar Suraj Kumar | |
| 1973 | Do Phool | Pavitra Kumar Rai "Puttan" / Mani (Double Role) | Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role [Nominated] |
| 1973 | Jugnu | Mahesh | |
| 1974 | Pocketmaar[7] | Sunder | |
| 1974 | Kunwara Baap[7] | Mahesh | Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role [Nominated]. Mehmood also introduced music director Rajesh Roshan in this film |
| 1974 | Ujala Hi Ujala | Saraswati | |
| 1974 | Badla | Hippie | |
| 1974 | Duniya Ka Mela | Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role [Nominated] | |
| 1975 | Salaakhen[7] | Abdul Rehman | |
| 1975 | Vardaan | Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role | |
| 1975 | Qaid | Bajrangi | Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role [Nominated] |
| 1976 | Ginny Aur Johnny | ||
| 1976 | Jai Bajrang Bali | Shakun | |
| 1976 | Sabse Bada Rupaiya | Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role Nominated | |
| 1977 | Amaanat | Mahesh | [7] |
| 1977 | Aafat | Mahesh | |
| 1977 | Thief of Baghdad[7] | ||
| 1978 | Des Pardes | Anwar | |
| 1978 | Ek Baap Chhe Bete | Mahesh | |
| 1979 | Janta Hawaldar | ||
| Nauker | Dayal | Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role [Nominated] | |
| 1980 | Khanjar | Jagat | |
| 1980 | Lootmaar | ||
| 1980 | Man Pasand[7] | Popat | |
| 1982 | Suraag | Father of prospective bride | |
| 1982 | Khud-daar | Jagan | Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role [Nominated] |
| 1986 | Ladies Hostel | Mahesh Bhatta | Kannada film with B. Sarojadevi in lead role |
| 1987 | Majaal | Shrichand Titarmare | |
| 1988 | Faisla | Jaggu | |
| 1993 | Shreemaan Aashique | Menaka's Father | Special Appearance in Last Scene of film |
| Khal-Naaikaa | Gangaram | ||
| 1994 | Juaari | Anita's Father | |
| Chaand Kaa Tukdaa | Babumashay | ||
| Andaz Apna Apna | Johnny (Wah-Wah Productions) | ||
| 1995 | Guddu | ||
| 1996 | Dushman Duniya Ka[7] | Bakrewale Baba | |
| 1998 | Ghar Bazar |
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- Zaveri, Hanif. Mehmood, a Man of Many Moods, Popular Prakashan, 2005. ISBN 81-7991-213-2
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