India's highest-paid comedian, charged more than Rajesh Khanna, Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, used to scare heroes with his..., name was...
Names like Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Prabhas, are highest-paid actors today, charging over Rs 150 crore per film precisely. These superstars headline mass entertainers, the genre that majorly dominates the box office. So, it would be difficult to imagine a time when the title of India's highest-paid actor was once held by a comedian. Well, today we will be discussing this talented artist whose impeccable films and hilarious performances etched his name in the Indian Industry forever. In 1960s, he wasn't just India's leading comedian, but also a bankable star in his own right.
He was none other than Mehmood, son of Mumtaz Ali, who was a dancer and actor in Bombay Talkies. Mehmood's family faced severe financial challenges due to which his father fell into alcoholism and lost his career. Due to unfortunate circumstances, he became the sole earner of his family.
To make ends meet, Mehmood did several odd jobs to survive. He worked as a driver, sold eggs on street, also became a horse-riding instructor and tennis coach. During this difficult phase, he managed to enter the film industry and stared working as a junior artiste.
In 1950s, he made his name as comic character actor by appearing in supporting roles like CID and Pyasa. Following that, he led many successful films like Padosan, Bhoot Bungla, Johar Mehmood in Hong Kong, Bombay to Goa, and became the highest-paid actor in the country.
Reportedly, Mehmood used to charge Rs 7.5 lakh for just two-week cameos in films at the time. Even superstars like Rajesh Khanna, Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Shammi Kapoor were not able to cross this mark until mid-70s. The ace comedian's presence intimated heroes to an extent that they would reject starring with him in the same film.
In 1996, he released Dushman Duniya Ka , his final directorial. His final on-screen appearance was in Ghar Bazar , a box office flop. The actor passed away in 2004, leaving millions of his fans shattered and heartbroken.
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