Mehmood Ali

Biography

Mehmood Ali (29 September 1932 – 23 July 2004), popularly known simply as Mehmood, was an Indian actor, singer, director, and producer. He was widely regarded as one of Hindi cinema’s greatest comedians, known for his versatility in comic, emotional, and serious roles.

Over a career spanning more than four decades, he appeared in over 300 Hindi films and became known as Bollywood’s “Original Bhaijaan.” He received 25 award nominations, including 19 for Best Performance in a Comic Role and 6 for Best Supporting Actor.

Early Life

Mehmood was born on 29 September 1932 into a film-oriented family. He was the son of Mumtaz Ali, a popular actor and dancer of the 1940s–50s, and Latifunnisa. He was the second of eight children.

His sister, Minoo Mumtaz, was a noted dancer and actress, while his younger brother Anwar Ali also worked in films.

Career

Early Career

As a child, Mehmood appeared in films like Kismet. Before establishing himself, he took on various jobs, including selling poultry products and working as a driver for director P. L. Santoshi.

He began with small roles in films such as Do Bigha Zameen, C.I.D., and Pyaasa, gradually moving on to more prominent roles. Many of his songs were voiced by Mohammed Rafi.

Rise to Fame

From the late 1950s to the 1970s, Mehmood became one of the biggest stars in Hindi cinema. He delivered numerous hits, superhits, and blockbusters, appearing as a lead, parallel lead, and supporting actor, along with memorable cameo appearances.

He also played a significant role in introducing and supporting several talents in the industry, including R. D. Burman, Rajesh Roshan, Aruna Irani, and Amitabh Bachchan.

Later Career

In the 1980s, his film appearances became less frequent as other comedians like Jagdeep, Asrani, Paintal, Deven Verma, and Kader Khan rose to prominence.

He later appeared in a limited number of films, with one of his last notable roles being in Andaz Apna Apna (1994), directed by Rajkumar Santoshi.

Personal Life

Mehmood married Madhu Kumari in 1953, and the couple had four children, including singer Lucky Ali. They later divorced in 1967. He then married Tracy, with whom he had three more children. Several of his children appeared in his film productions.

Death

Mehmood passed away on 23 July 2004 in Pennsylvania, USA, where he had gone for treatment related to cardiovascular illness.

His body was brought to Mumbai for public homage and later taken to his family estate in Bengaluru, where he was laid to rest.