Mehmood Ali (29 September 1932 – 23 July 2004), popularly known simply as Mehmood, 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(1932-09-29)29 September 1932
Died23 July 2004(2004-07-23) (aged 71)
Occupations
  • Actor
  • singer
  • film producer
  • director
Spouse
Madhu Kumari
(m. 1953; sep. 1967)
Children7, including Pucky Ali, Lucky Ali, Macky Ali, Ginny Ali
ParentMumtaz Ali (father)
RelativesMeena Kumari (sister-in-law); see also Ali-Amrohi family
FamilyMehmood 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'.

Early life edit

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]

Career edit

Early career edit

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. After marrying legendary actress Meena Kumari's younger sister Madhu in the early 1950s and becoming a father by having a son, Masood, he decided to act to earn a better living starting with a small break as a killer in the film C.I.D. (1956 film). He started off by doing small, unnoticed roles in films like the peanut seller in Do Bigha Zameen and 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 edit

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.

Death edit

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]

Legacy edit

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]

 
Mehmood on a 2013 stamp of India

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]

Filmography edit

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[6] 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[6] 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[6] 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[6]
1967 Patthar ke Sanam Hariya Kumar
1968 Padosan[6] 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[6] 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[6] Sunder Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role [Nominated]
1971 Lakhon Me Ek[6] 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[6] Sunder
1974 Kunwara Baap[6] 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[6] 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 [6]
1977 Aafat Mahesh
1977 Thief of Baghdad[6]
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[6] 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[6] Bakrewale Baba
1998 Ghar Bazar

Awards edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b Zaveri, Hanif (2005). Mehmood, a Man of Many Moods. Popular Prakashan. p. 50. ISBN 978-81-7991-213-3. Archived from the original on 24 December 2016. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  2. ^ a b c Indian comedy actor Mehmood dies on BBC news website Archived 24 December 2020 at the Wayback Machine Published 23 July 2004, Retrieved 5 November 2019
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Karan Bali (23 July 2016). "Profile of Mehmood". Upperstall.com website. Archived from the original on 24 December 2020. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  4. ^ a b c Indian film comedian Mehmood dies at 72 Archived 7 November 2019 at the Wayback Machine Dawn (newspaper), Published 24 July 2004, Retrieved 7 November 2019
  5. ^ "Gregory Peck about Mehmood | Filmfare". Archived from the original on 29 July 2021. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "Mehmood filmography". Complete Index To World Film (CITWF) website. Archived from the original on 7 November 2019. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  7. ^ a b c d Farhana Farook (29 September 2015). "Remembering Mehmood". FILMFARE.com website. Archived from the original on 6 November 2019. Retrieved 5 November 2019.

External links edit

Further reading edit

  • Zaveri, Hanif. Mehmood, a Man of Many Moods, Popular Prakashan, 2005. ISBN 81-7991-213-2