I was never in love with Madhubala, when Kishore Kumar spoke about his relationship

Kishore Kumar and Madhubala’s relationship has long been a subject of intrigue for fans and film historians alike. On the occasion of Madhubala’s 92nd birth anniversary, Filmfare revisited its archives and unearthed an old interview that shed new light on their relationship.

A striking revelation from a Filmfare feature from 1989 contained a candid quote from Kishore Kumar: “I was never in love with Madhubala.” These words, coming from one of the most enigmatic personalities in Indian cinema, add a fresh perspective to their much-discussed relationship.

Despite being one of Bollywood’s most celebrated screen pairs, Kishore Kumar and Madhubala’s personal life remained a mystery. Their chemistry in films like Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi (1958), Jhumroo (1961), and Half Ticket (1962) is still adored by audiences. However, according to Kishore Kumar, their real-life relationship was not based on love. “To me, she was my friend Dilip Kumar’s girlfriend, and I used to act as a messenger for the two,” Kishore Kumar revealed in the interview. His statement challenges the widely held belief that their marriage was a union based on romance.

According to Kishore Kumar, it was Madhubala who initiated their marriage. “It was she who proposed marriage to me and even insisted on it,” he shared. This revelation paints a different picture of their relationship—one that was perhaps more pragmatic than passionate. The feature also mentioned a fascinating anecdote, where Madhubala once joked, “Never ever leave him, else I would take your place,” when Kishore was with his then-wife, Ruma.