Mehmood Biography

Mehmood was an Indian actor, director and producer. He was known and appreciated for playing comic roles in Hindi films. He worked in over 300 Hindi films in a career spanning three decades.

Life And Career

Mehmood was one of eight children born to actor and dancer Mumtaz Ali in Bombay. Mehmood had an elder sister and the remaining six siblings were younger to him. Mehmood started acting as a reluctant child actor in Bombay Talkies films like Kismet. Some of his early jobs before he started acting were driving, doing odd jobs, selling poultry, etc.
He worked as director P. L. Santoshi's driver. Later, Santoshi's son Rajkumar Santoshi cast Mehmood in his venture Andaz Apna Apna. He was hired to teach table tennis to Meena Kumari in those days. He later married her sister Madhu.
It was after marriage and becoming a father that he decided to act to earn a better living. He got a small break as a murder victim in C.I.D. He started off by doing small unnoticed roles in films like Do Bigha Zameen and Pyaasa. He later went on went to act in lead roles but he was appreciated for his comedy.

He died in his sleep on July 23, 2004 in Pennsylvania, U.S. where he had gone for the treatment of his heart disease after suffering from poor health for several years. His fans were able to pay homage to him at Mehboob studio in Mumbai, India.

Mehmood's son Lucky Ali, is a popular singer who has also acted in films.