This picture of Sonam Kapoor Ahuja as Madhubala is one you can’t miss

February 14, 2019 doesn’t just mark Valentine’s Day, it is also the 86th birth anniversary of the late actor Madhubala, who is still known and remembered for her unparalleled beauty, and her unforgettable role as Anarkali in Mughal-e-Azam. To celebrate the occasion, Google paid a sweet tribute to the actor by redesigning the Google doodle to a sketch of her from a scene from the epic historical drama, which shows Madhubala, born Mumtaz Jehan Begum Dehlavi, flashing her signature smile and dancing.

Few know that it took filmmaker K Asif 10 years to shoot Mughal-e-Azam, which ultimately redefined the grandeur of Indian cinema. Madhubala played the role of a court dancer, Anarkali, and the story talks about the great love her character shared with Mughal Prince Salim. Director Feroz Abbas Khan recreated the film as a play in 2016 which was also accredited as India’s first Broadway musical experience. Mughal-e-Azam, the play, took nine months to come to life and Khan confessed that it was his dream come true and perhaps his most appreciated project. What made the play even more exciting to watch were the Manish Malhotra costumes that were designed just for the performances.

Madhubala was often compared to the late Hollywood actor Marilyn Monroe, and was even titled the ‘Marilyn Monroe of Bollywood’. She made her screen debut at the dotting age of nine in Basant. Before her untimely demise, the actor starred in close to 70 films, and one of the biggest highlights of her career was when she received a nomination for Filmfare’s Best Actress Award for her performance in Mughal-e-Azam.

Over the years, Madhubala hasn’t just inspired actors with roles, she has also inspired one of Vogue India’s most beautiful shots. Back in October 2017, Sonam Kapoor Ahuja took over the pages of Vogue India’s anniversary issue in a shoot that had her transforming into a series of powerful women including Mata Hari, German actor Marlene Dietrech and artist Freida Kahlo. But one snapshot that can’t be forgotten is the one where Kapoor Ahuja recreated Madhubala’s hypnotic gaze as Anarkali in Mughal-e-Azam. Dressed in a pink Ritu Kumar ensemble, there’s no missing Sonam Kapoor Ahuja’s romantic vibe in this picture. What better way to pay tribute to one of the Indian film industry’s most beautiful and talented performers?

Sonam Kapoor Ahuja as Anarkali, played by Madhubala. Photograph by: Signe Vilstrup

 

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