Meet veteran actor who was known as the comedy king, delivered more than 300 films, even megastars felt nervous sharing screen with him, he was.., his films are..
In the ever-evolving world of cinema, many actors come and go, but there are a few actors who remain etched in the memory of the audience for years to come. One such tale is of a veteran actor who not only captivated the audience, or stole the show with his comic timing, but he also made megastars of Bollywood nervous. The king of Comedy
The actor that we are talking about is none other than Mehmood Ali. Known as the comedy king of Hindi-film was born in Mumbai on 29th September 1932. He made his debut long before Amitabh Bachchan and Dharmendra entered the industry. By 1970, he also became a household name with his strong performances and quick wit. At that time, he was taking big pay cheques and screen time, which were as good as the fees of leading heroes. His career trajectory of 5 long decades, where he appeared in more than 300 films, and quickly became a phenomenon with his quirks and accents.
His on-screen presence was so strong that leading stars like Dharmendra also admitted that fellow actors felt nervous around him. During his appearance on The Kapil Sharma Show, Dharmendra once said, 'This was one comedian the heroes feared.' The veteran star shared that Mehmood's razor-sharp timing could overshadow anyone sharing the frame—yet Dharmendra, who considered him a friend, claimed he never felt threatened, only inspired. Dharmedra and Mehmood Ali Collaboration
Dharmendra and Mehmood Ali worked together in Neela Aakash (1965). Dharmendra played the role of a pilot while Mehmood stole hearts as the chatty co-pilot. Their iconic pair continued in hits such as Kaajal, Aankhen, Izzat, and Naya Zamana. Audiences came for the hero, but they left quoting Mehmood's punch lines. Mehmood Ali Films
Mehmood delivered some hits like: CID, Do Bigha Zamin, Pyaasa, Love In Tokyo, Gumnaam, Bhoot Bungla, Bombay To Goa, Sadhu Aur Shaitaan, Padosan, Kunwara Baap, and Mastana.
However in his contribution to the entertainment industry wasn't just limited to films; he also produced and directed many films, and he also trained many newcomers. He passed away at the age of 71 on 23 July 2004.
Mehmood might not be in the world today, but his legacy remains.
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