In the grand, glittering world of Indian cinema, few stars have ever shone as brightly, yet as briefly, as Madhubala. The ethereal beauty, known as the ‘Venus of Indian cinema,’ could make anyone’s heart stop at the mere glimpse of her smile, a fact that stands true even today, decades after the actress’s demise. However, behind the glamorous lights of the silver screen, the actress lived a life where she silently crumbled from within, day by day.
Behind her glittering exterior, her heart was breaking, quite literally. In a deeply emotional interview with Filmfare, Madhubala’s sister, Madhur Bhushan, revealed how a fatal disease slowly ate her up from the inside, and when it was revealed, it was too late.
First signs of the illness
The first signs of Madhubala’s illness came in 1954 when the actress was in the middle of shooting for Bahut Din Huwe. One day, the actress, who was only in her early twenties, began vomiting blood while brushing her teeth. Alarmed at her condition, Dilip Kumar immediately arranged for renowned cardiologist, Dr Rustom Jal Vakil to fly in from Mumbai.
Upon testing, Dr Rustom made a shocking diagnosis: Madhubala had a ventricular septal defect, or in layman’s words, a hole in the heart. Recalling how healthy and beautiful her sister looked, Madhur shared:
“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”
Madhubala’s diagnosis came at a time when she was at the peak of her career and had an exciting lineup of projects waiting. The Jwala actress did not want to stop. She chose to continue working, hiding her grave illness from the world.
Madhubala continued working through pain
Despite her worsening health, Madhubala immersed herself in her work. During this period, she completed several acclaimed films, including her iconic role as ‘Anarkali’ in Mughal-e-Azam. Madhur recalled how she would often faint on set, yet remained determined not to stop. She was at the peak of her career and couldn’t bear the idea of slowing down. But this mental resilience came at a cost. Her health and heartbreak from Dilip Kumar’s fallout started weighing heavily on her.
A marriage against legal advice
In 1960, a sick Madhubala married the legendary singer, Kishore Kumar against her father’s warnings and the doctors’ advice. Just ten days into the marriage, Kishore flew her to London for treatment. However, it was too late; the doctors explained that Madhubala’s heart was beyond repair, and she had hardly around two years to live. Madhur said:
“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. 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.”
Madhubala’s final days were spent in isolation
Not long after the marriage, Kishore Kumar, though initially supportive, started distancing himself from Madhubala. According to Madhur, it was likely because he didn’t want to get too emotionally attached, knowing her condition was terminal. Unable to care for her full-time due to his professional commitments, Kishore left her at her family home. Madhubala’s days were spent alone, with oxygen cylinders, fainting spells, and relentless bouts of coughing blood.
Madhubala’s health took a turn for the worse in February 1969. When her father called Kishore Kumar, the singer hesitated due to a prior commitment, but the actress was sinking. Madhur recalled:
“The day her health began deteriorating… she was bleeding profusely. Abba called Kishore Bhaiyya. He was flying for a show. Abba said, ‘Cancel the flight, Kishore! She won’t last.’ He came. She was sinking, unconscious, eyes closed.”
Kishore didn’t make it on time. Madhubala, aka Mrs Kishore Kumar Ganguly, died a miserable death on February 23, 1969, at 9.30 am, aged just 36. Dilip Kumar, the man she had once loved so deeply and could never forget, attended her funeral.
Despite having such a glorious career in Bollywood and winning millions of hearts with her ethereal aura and alluring smile, Madhubala could not lead a happy life. As her sister, Madhur, described, she didn’t die from just a heart defect, she died of heartbreak, too!
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