Kishore Kumar never converted to Islam to marry Madhubala, sister Madhur Bhushan claims
Late actor Madhubala’s sister Madhur Bhushan has once again talked about the late superstar. Madhubala is regarded as one of India’s most stunning and successful actors. Even though she died at the age of 36 due to a heart condition her popularity is yet unmatchable. A few years before her death, she married legendary actor, singer Kishore Kumar, who was rumoured to have converted to Islam in order to marry her. Now, her sister Madhur has revealed that Kishore Kumar never converted her religion.
Mumtaz Jehan Begum Dehlavi was Madhubala’s birth name. She married Kishore Kumar in 1960, just before they left for her treatment in London.
Rubbishing rumours that Kishore Kumar changed his religion to marry Madhubala, who was a Muslim, Madhur told ETimes in an interview, “A lot of people say that Kishore Kumar had converted to Islam to marry Madhu apa, but that’s not true. He was a Hindu and he passed away a Hindu. None of the husbands who married into our family changed their religion.” Madhubala’s sister Madhur Bhushan is married to a Hindu Punjabi. Her other sister Chanchal also married a Punjabi and two of their sisters Altaf and Kaneez married Parsis.
Talking to ETimes Madhur also raised some questions, “Bollywood shouldn’t feel bad, but my question is to all the actors, filmmakers, producers of Hindi cinema. It’s been 53 years since my sister passed away, why couldn’t anyone hold one event in her memory? Why couldn’t one organisation give her a posthumous award? Why has there been no recognition awarded to her? Why wasn’t she ever considered for a Bharat Ratna? Everyone says she was so beautiful and talented. Her beauty cannot be emulated. But if she was so special, why didn’t anyone come forward and show her some recognition, why didn’t anyone facilitate her or celebrate her legacy? Bollywood played a huge role in making Madhubala. It was Hindi cinema’s directors like K Asif, Mehboob Khan, Kedar Sharma and stars like Dev Anand and Raj Kapoor who helped make her career. We can’t ignore that. But we also can’t ignore the fact that Madhubala needs honour and a recognition, ” she said.
Madhubala and Kishore Kumar were married until her death in 1969. After being given only two years to live during her treatment in London in 1960, she was bedridden for nine years.
Madhubala made her debut as a child actor in the 1942 film Basant, and her first adult role was in Neel Kamal (1947). She is also known as the Indian Marilyn Monroe and the Bollywood tragedy queen. Mughal-e-Azam, Mr. & Mrs. ’55, Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi, Half Ticket, Howrah Bridge, Kala Pani, and Barsaat Ki Raat are among her other memorable films.
