Mehboob Khan

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Young Mehboob Khan ran to Mumbai but father brought him back Mehboob Khan’s story is a typical filmy tale of a poor boy eloping to Mumbai city and becoming rich. Mehboob Khan says, “I was a dreamer since childhood. My father was a policeman and wanted me to pursue the same profession but I was an imaginative and creative boy who loved to roam in village and observe the beauty of nature. I was driven by cinema and aspired to make films.” When Mehboob Khan was about 14 years his desire to come to Mumbai intensified. He would daily come and sit at his village Bilimora, (In Baroda, Gujarat) railway platform. The driver of the train soon recognized the teenager and one day asked where he aspires to go. Mehboob Khan replied Mumbai. Sympathizing with the teenager he took him to Mumbai but the news spread to his father and he brought him back to his village. Mehboob Khan rebels with father and comes back to Mumbai Though Mehboob Khan returned but his heart was in Mumbai hence when he turned 20 he rebelled with his father and came back to Mumbai with Rs 3 in his pocket. Mehboob Khan recalled, “I landed in Mumbai in 1927 and began wandering film studios. Whole day I would wander and at night sleep at railway platforms. Life was tough but my passion overcame all my hardship. Finally filmmaker Ardeshir Irani, who made India’s first Talkie film Alam Ara (1931) took pity on me and hired me as an extra!

Mehboob Khan lose heart to his heroine He married twice. His first wife was Fatima. However he lost heart to his heroine Sardar Akhtar during the making of Aurat and the two married in 1942. Later he separated from Fatima. Mehboob Khan had adopted Sajid Khan (The child star who played young Birju in Mother India and later he played the Title role in Son Of India (he sings the famous song Nanna Muna Rahi Hoon Desh Ka….)

From ‘Extra’ to an ‘Actor’ -Mehboob Khan t akes a leap Being a passionate film buff Mehboob Khan worked laboriously and soon won the faith of filmmaker Ardeshir Irani. Impressed by Mehboob’s hard work he was given a better role both in silent and talkie films. However during the shooting of a film called Mewad-no-Mawali, he had a tough task of riding a horse that comes close to the camera and then rides away. However the royal horse was adamant and did not follow the instructions but a daring and gallant Mehboob did not give in to the antics of the rude horse and gave a perfect shot! Impressed Ardeshir Irani applauded Mehboob Khan’s brave act and increased his salary from Rs 5 to Rs 10 a month! From ‘Actor’ to ‘Director’ -Mehboob Khan takes ‘Big Leap’! After increment in salary Mehboob became more serious in his work and developed a passion for writing. He would watch Hollywood films and gets inspired. One such Hollywood film that inspired him much was Cecil B. DeMille’s The Sign of the Cross. Mehboob worked day and night on the script and when the script was ready he run pillar to post to hunt a film producer. Finally he was able to convince Dr. Ambalal Patel of Sagar Movietone to listen to his script Al Hilal (The Judgement of Allah), who was overwhelmed by the story. Once the story was approved Mehboob Khan requested Ardeshir Irani (Co-founder of Sagar Movietone) to allow him direct the film. Ardeshir Irani gave his nod as he was impressed by Mehboob Khan’s passion for cinema. Al Hilal (1935) was a talkie and had top star of the 30’s Ram Kumar , Indira, Yakub, Sitara Devi and Mehboob Khan (himself) in key roles. The movie was the first of its kind in Indian Cinema as it had huge and lavish sets of royal kingdom, long chase scenes and battle fights that were never seen in Hindi cinema! The movie was huge commercial success making Mehboob Khan a director to reckon and made Mehboob Khan a star director. He too lived up to the expectation and gave string of hit films like Deccan Queen , Manmohan, Jagirdar, Watan, Ek Hi Rasta, Alibaba and Forty Thieves’ etc. The other memorable movies that he made include Aurat, Sister, Najma and Roti. Mehboob Khan establishes his own banner - Mehboob Production! After making a name in film direction, Mehboob Khan’s next step was film production. One must appreciate the vision of Mehboob Khan because unlike other film producers he just did not limit himself to a film company but decided to make a film studio so that the future generation continues to remember him and make films. Even today at Bandra’s hill road, stands the historic Mehboob Studio and filmmakers continue making films. It is well maintained and well equipped. Mehboob Production was renowned for making big budget films Under Mehboob Production Mehboob Khan made big budget films that created history. The highpoint of his films was that they were message oriented yet were completely commercial with hit songs. Among his most memorable films include Anmol Ghadi (1946). In this film Mehboob Khan brought the irresistible pair of Singing Sensational Heroines - Noor Jahan and Suriya. The movie was huge hit and so were its songs. Remember - Jawan Hai Mohabbat Haseen Hai Zamana…; Awaz De Kahan Hai…Kya Mil Gaya Bhagwan…Mere Bachpan Ke Saathi Mujhe Bhool Na jana…. The film was Golden Jubilee hit The other big hit film that Mehboob Khan produced was Andaz (1949). Once again the movie had a huge star cast and was a sort of sensation with Dilip Kumar, Raj Kapoor and Nargis coming together for the first time. The movie had hit songs like Jhoom Jhoom Ke Nacho Aaj… Tu Kahe Agar…. Hum Aaj Kahin Dil Kho Baithe….. Uthaye Ja Unke Sitam…. The film was yet again Golden Jubilee hit. With Aan, Mehboob Khan produced his first Technicolor film. It had an impressive cast of Dilip Kumar , Nimmi , Nadira and Premnath. The music was once again super hit like Maan Mera Ehsan…Dil Mein Chhupake Pyar Ka….Takra Gaya Tumse… Khelo Raang Hamare Sang…. The rare prestigious of being screened as The Savage Princess in the United States in 1952. It was also dubbed French in 1954, it was retiled Mangala, fille des Indes (Mangala, girl of India). In India film was yet again Golden Jubilee hit.