During a heartfelt conversation with Filmfare, Madhubala’s sister, Madhur Bhushan, opened up about the legendary actress’ life, her tragic illness, and the emotional decisions that shaped her journey. For decades, Madhubala has been remembered as one of the most beautiful and enigmatic stars of Indian cinema, but behind the scenes, she was fighting a silent battle that only her closest ones knew. In a rare candid reflection, Madhur offers deeply personal insights into the actress' declining health, her love for Dilip Kumar, and her eventual marriage to Kishore Kumar.
Madhubala spat out blood
The first signs of Madhubala’s illness appeared in 1954 during the shooting of SS Vasan’s Bahut Din Huwe. Madhur recalled, “She spat out blood while brushing her teeth. Dilip saab flew in with Dr Rustom Jal Vakil from Mumbai. He diagnosed she had a hole in the heart (ventricular septal defect). Aapa appeared so healthy and beautiful. She found it hard to believe and so did others. She didn’t take it seriously. She kept on working and signed more films.”
Despite the grave diagnosis, Madhubala chose to hide her illness. Her luminous screen presence gave no hint of the heart condition that was slowly eating away at her life. “She didn’t want to stop. She was at the peak of her career, and she wanted to keep working.”
Her dedication didn’t waver even during K Asif’s Mughal-E-Azam (1960), a film known for its grandeur and grueling shoot. “They were not on talking terms then,” Madhur said about the cold war between Dilip Kumar and Madhubala, who had once been madly in love. “The excruciating shooting schedules precipitated several bouts of fainting on the sets.”
After the heartbreak with Dilip Kumar, Madhubala found companionship in Kishore Kumar, with whom she had starred in popular films like Chalti Ka Naam Gadi and Half Ticket. “Perhaps, she got attracted to his beautiful voice, his ability to make her laugh,” Madhur reasoned. However, her father was not in favor of the relationship at that time due to her deteriorating health.
Madhubala's father told her not to get married
“As she wasn’t keeping well, Abba said don’t get married now, see what the doctor has to say. But they got married in 1960,” said Madhur. “Kishore Bhaiyya flew her to London about 10 days later. The doctors said, ‘her heart is finished’. And that she wouldn’t live beyond two years.”
Madhur remembered their father’s concern vividly. “He had asked Madhubala to wait for a clean bill of health from doctors in London before making any big decisions.” But the actress was determined. “Madhubala married Kishore Kumar out of stubbornness and anger towards Dilipsaab. They got married in 1960 when she was 27 years old.”
Though the marriage was perhaps rushed and emotionally charged, Kishore Kumar stood by her. Yet, Madhubala’s condition steadily worsened. She lived mostly confined to her bed in the final years of her life, fading away far from the public eye that once adored her.
Madhur Bhushan’s recollections paint a portrait of a woman who embodied courage and vulnerability in equal measure. “She was so full of life. Even when she knew the truth, she fought with a smile,” Madhur said.
In her short life, Madhubala left behind a legacy that continues to sparkle, but her real story—of love, heartbreak, illness, and resilience—remains etched in the memories of those who knew her best.
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