Today, we will talk about the actor who charged more than superstars.
If we go back to the 1950s to the 1970s, Dev Anand, Rajkumar, Raj Kapoor, Manoj Kumar, and Rajendra Kumar were among Bollywood's highest-paid actors. Surprisingly, one second-lead actor charged even more than these top stars.
1. Mehmood
)
Bollywood fans often discuss the fees stars charge. Today, we'll talk about a 1950s-60s comedy actor who gave tough competition to superstars and helped Amitabh Bachchan in his career. In 1974, he made a blockbuster film, acting and directing it.
2. Charged more than superstars
)
Mehmood played many memorable characters that are still fondly remembered today. He made millions laugh with his comedy and was considered one of the biggest heroes of his time. But did you know he charged higher fees than the leading heroes of that era?
Known for his comedic timing, Mehmood appeared in over 300 films, creating a stir at the box office. His acting rivaled the biggest heroes, and his presence on posters made films hits. Besides being a successful actor, he was also a successful director.
3. Helped Amitabh Bachchan
)
Amitabh Bachchan once wrote an article about this actor's fees, crediting him for helping him achieve his position in the film industry. That actor was none other than the comedy king Mehmood.
4. Film based on his life
)
In 1974, Mehmood directed and acted in a blockbuster film based on his own life that moved audiences to tears and shook the box office. In the film, Mehmood portrayed a poor rickshaw puller whose son was afflicted with polio. He worked tirelessly day and night to afford treatment for his 15-year-old son.
5. Broke down when his son died
)
The child who played Mehmood's son in the film was his own son. In real life, one of Mehmood's sons was afflicted with polio. Despite Mehmood's best efforts, his son couldn't recover. He depicted this pain through his 1974 film Kunwara Baap.
6. When he started doing odd jobs
)
Reports state that after Kismet, Mehmood stopped acting due to his family's financial crisis. To make ends meet, he took on several odd jobs, including becoming a driver for PL Santoshi, the father of director Rajkumar Santoshi. He also sold eggs and drove a taxi to improve his finances.
Mehmood's last known film as an actor was Rajkumar Santoshi's Andaz Apna Apna (1994). In July 2004, Mehmood died in his sleep in Pennsylvania, US, where he had gone for treatment. He was 71 at the time.
