Mehmood (Actor), Age, Death, Wife, Children, Family, Biography & More

Some Lesser Known Facts About Mehmood

• Was Mehmood a smoker? Yes, he was. (Filmfare)

• Mehmood did not drink, as stated in Filmfare [6].

• Mehmood, a Bollywood legend, had an illustrious career as an actor, singer, director, and producer. He made significant contributions to Indian cinema, particularly in the comedy genre, with his involvement in approximately 300 films.

• In the 1940s and 50s, his father, Mumtaz Ali, gained popularity as both an actor and dancer. Similarly, his elder sister, Minoo Mumtaz, established herself as a well-known actor and dancer in the 1950s and 60s.

• He hailed from South India, and his grandfather held the esteemed title of Nawab of Arcot.
• In the early days of his struggle, he took on various odd and lowly positions, including selling poultry products and working as a chauffeur for P.L. Santoshi.

• It has been reported that he provided table tennis lessons to the renowned Bollywood actress Meena Kumari.

• Starting his career as a child artist in the Hindi film Kismet (1943) alongside Ashok Kumar, Mehmood later gained prominence with his first major role in Parvarish (1958) starring opposite Raj Kapoor as his younger brother. Additionally, he appeared in Guru Dutt’s CID (1956) and Pyaasa (1957) in supporting roles.

• From 1970 to 1990, his exceptional comic timing and talent for mimicry set him apart from his peers, earning him the well-deserved title of the “king of comedy.” During this period, he also emerged as one of Bollywood’s top-selling actors.

• Mehmood’s immense popularity with the audience led to the creation of special characters in films specifically for him. A notable example is the movie Aarti (1962), starring Pradeep Kumar and Meena Kumari, where a unique role was crafted for Mehmood.

• Mehmood and Amitabh Bachchan had a strong bond, with Mehmood being like a father figure to Mr. Bachchan. It was Anwar, Mehmood’s brother, who introduced Amitabh Bachchan to Mehmood while working together in Amitabh Bachchan’s debut film, Saat Hindustani (1969). Later, Mehmood cast Amitabh Bachchan as the lead actor in his film Bombay to Goa (1972). Although the film did not do well at the box office, it opened doors for Amitabh Bachchan in Prakash Mehra’s Zanjeer (1973), which ultimately established him as a Bollywood superstar. In fact, it is rumored that during the early days of his acting career, Amitabh Bachchan resided in Mehmood’s house for a duration of two years.

• had a deep love for horses. During a radio interview, he was questioned about his equine companions. In response, he confidently declared that Amitabh, his beloved horse, possessed incredible speed. Mehmood firmly believed that once Amitabh gathered momentum, he would effortlessly outpace all other horses in the race.

• Amitabh Bachchan discussed Mehmood in one of his blog entries, expressing that Mehmood had complete trust in him, without any apparent explanation. Mehmood fondly called him ‘Danger Diabolic’. Although Amitabh never questioned the origins or reasoning behind this nickname, Mehmood had given it to him nonetheless.

• In addition, he provided opportunities to renowned Bollywood musician R.D. Burman in Chhote Nawab (1961) and Rajesh Roshan in his movie Kunwara Baap (1974).

• Despite experiencing significant success, Mehmood also had to confront various tragedies, including his father’s struggles with alcoholism and his son Macky Ali’s disability.

• Due to his excessive intake of nicotine and sedatives, Mehmood experienced a drug overdose.

• Despite being known as one of the most prolific comic artists in Indian cinema, Mehmood’s films predominantly shed light on various social issues.

• Madhu Kumari, the ex-wife of Mehmood and sister of Meena Kumari, sadly passed away on January 23, 1993.

• Mehmood led a luxurious lifestyle, possessing a collection of 24 extravagant cars, acquiring a farm solely for his horses, and frequently indulging in shopping at high-end international stores. Rumor has it that Mehmood even employed a dedicated mechanic to paint his cars in coordination with his suits for exclusive events and galas. In addition to his opulent possessions, Mehmood was often seen alongside his beloved horse.

• Mehmood and Tracy Ali, his second wife, decided to adopt a daughter they discovered at a farm in Bangalore. They named her Kizzy Ali (Rehmat). Kizzy Ali currently resides in Pennsylvania, United States, where she works as a nurse.

• Mehmood and his son Lucky Ali had a complex relationship, filled with both joyful and challenging moments. In his youth, Lucky Ali struggled with addiction to marijuana, prompting Mehmood to create a movie titled “Dushman Duniya Ka” (1996), starring Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan.