Naya Daur, Purani Baten

Film goers at Mumbai's Maratha Mandir on Aug. 5, 1960, came out quite confused. It wasn't clear why various characters in the newly released movie kept calling out for pillows at the end of profound conversations in medieval Urdu. Only later did they realize that it was not "Takiya!" but "Takhliya!" that the king and the prince in Mughal-e-Azam were in the habit of bellowing to order the servants to leave the scene.

The misgivings reached the ears of Karimuddin Asif, the film's director, who had spent 16 years planning and executing the grandest movie of his career. His associates feared the audience might not be able to relate to the movie. It had been a jinxed project from the start and the last thing they wanted was for the audience to have to ask which language it was in.

Asif was undeterred. On so many occasions, the movie had looked like a lost cause and he had come under pressure to drop it. Many had advised him that his effort to make what was at the time the most expensive movie ever made in India was foolhardy. Now the movie was released at last and there was no place for doubt. Asif told his assistants to chill and went back to his celebration of the film's release.

He was right. The audience fell hook, line and sinker for Madhubala's mesmeric screen presence, Prithviraj Kapoor's royal sketch of Akbar, Naushad's soulful music, Shakeel Badayuni's unforgettable lyrics and the grand imagery that Asif had produced with the sets and costumes. For three years people kept coming back to the theatres to watch it just once more. Mughal-e-Azam went down in history as one of the greatest Hindi movies ever and it took a decade and a half for Sholay to come and break its box-office record.

"Asif was a perfectionist. He wanted to get everything just right. The level of detailing was incredible," says Deepa Gahlot, film critic and author. A few examples: The Krishna idol in one scene was made of real gold, the jewelry that Rani Jodhabhai wore designed in the authentic Rajasthani style of that era and soldiers from the Indian army used in war scenes.

But the movie's mystique came from the way it reflected real life. To be precise, the unfulfilled love between Dilip Kumar, who played Salim, and Madhubala, who played Anarkali.

An 18-year-old Madhubala had taken a fancy to Dilip Kumar on the set of Tarana. But it was on the set of Mughal-e-Azam that their love really caught fire. The two decided to get married in short order.

Again, just like the movie, it was an outraged father who separated the young lovers. Ataullah Khan, Madhubala's father, didn't approve of their union. When B.R. Chopra planned Naya Daur (1957) with the two in the starring roles and proposed an outdoor shooting session in Bhopal, Khan asked his daughter not to go. He feared such proximity between her and Dilip Kumar away from his eyes could lead to a marriage.

The father's plan to separate the two succeeded but it also ruined Madhubala. Chopra sued her for not showing up for the shooting and to her shock, Dilip Kumar testified against her in court. She lost the case. Their love ended bitterly.

The rest of the shooting of Mughal-e-Azam was done in a tense atmosphere. But both Dilip Kumar and Madhubala were professionals who put aside their differences to help Asif complete the shooting.

When Madhubala died in 1969, aged 36, due to heart disease, Dilip Kumar was not in Mumbai. When he heard the news he cried like a baby, not wanting to hide his love for the Anarkali in his life even though he was already married (to Saira Banu).

Parda Nahi Jab Koyi Khuda Se,
Bandon Se Parda Karna Kya?

This article appears in the Apr. 30 issue of Forbes India, a Forbes Media licensee.

Photographs of Dilip Kumar when he visited Bhopal at the time of screening of Ganga Jamuna in early sixties.  This party was organized at Straw Products Lawn by Mizbah Sahib, the then manager of Bharat talkies.
Pic 1 : Javed Chisti Sahab attacking the table and Mr. Iqbal standing behind. He was in class 8th at that time.
Pic 2 : With Mizbah sahib.
Pic 5 : Mr. Iqbal and Haneef Bhai (Kale Khan & Mohammed Haneef) bidi wale.
Pic 6 : Extreme left front row Dr Mehboob Ahmed and Javed Chisti Sahab next to him. Some  other beautiful ladies of Bhopal who must be Dadi and Nani now.

Received with thanks from Mr. Javed Chishti