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Madhubala, iconic Indian actress, secretly battled heart disease. Despite a ventricular septal defect, she worked on. She married Kishore Kumar in 1960 and died on February 23, 1969.
Madhubala died in February 1969.
Madhubala is often remembered as one of Indian cinema’s most stunning and mysterious icons, but away from the spotlight, she was quietly waging a battle that only those closest to her truly understood. Her sister, Madhur Bhushan, recalled the time when her sister was diagnosed with a heart disease, which led to her death.
“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,” Madhur recalled during an interview with Filmfare.
Even after the diagnosis, Madhubala chose to keep her illness hidden. Her radiant on-screen charm gave no indication of the heart ailment quietly consuming her from within. Madhur said, “She didn’t want to stop. She was at the peak of her career, and she wanted to keep working.”
Madhubala’s dedication never faltered, even during the making of K. Asif’s Mughal-E-Azam (1960)—a film renowned for its grand scale and exhausting production demands. “They weren’t on talking terms then,” recalled Madhur, alluding to the strained silence between former lovers Dilip Kumar and Madhubala. “The relentless shoot often left her so drained, she would faint on set.”
“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,” said Madhur, adding, “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.”
Madhur recalled their father’s concern vividly. “He had asked Madhubala to wait for a clean bill of health from doctors in London before making any big decisions.” But the actress had made up her mind. “Madhubala married Kishore Kumar out of stubbornness and anger towards Dilipsaab. They got married in 1960 when she was 27 years old,” she shared.
Madhubala breathed her last on February 23, 1969.