Mehmood Ali (1932 - July 23, 2004) popularly known simply as 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.

Mehmood was one of nine children born to actor and dancer Mumtaj Ali in Bombay. 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. 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 CID. He started off by doing small unnoticed roles in films like "Do Bigha Zameen" and "Pyaasa ". He later went on to act in lead roles but he was appreciated for his comedy.

He died in his sleep on July 23, 2004 in Pennsylvania, USA where he had gone for treatment of lungs disease after suffering poor health for several years.

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

Selected Filmography

• "Sasuraal" (In law's place) (1961) with Shobha Khote
• "Gumnaam" (1965) with Helen
• "Pyar Kiye Ja"(Keep loving) (1966) with Mumtaaz
• "Love in Tokyo" (1966) with Shobha Khote
• "Patthar ke Sanam" (1967)
• "Padosan " (Neighborette) (1968) with Sunil Dutt, Saira Banu and Kishore Kumar
• "Aankhen" (Eyes) (1968)
• "Do Poo" (1968)

• "Bhoot Bangla" (Deserted house)
• "Bombay to Goa"
• "Sadhu aur Shaitan" (Mendicant and devil) (1968)
• "Humjoli" (1970)
• "Main Sundar Hoon" (I am beautiful) (1971) with Leena Chandawarkar
• "Kunwaara Baap" (Single father) (1974)
• "Sangharsh"
• "Do Phool"
• "Jinny and Johny"
• "Sabse Bada Rupaiya" (Rupee is bigger than all)
• "Johar Mehmood in Goa"
• "Johar Mehood in Hong Kong"

Some of his memorable songs are: "Ek chatur naar" from "Padosan", "Aao Twist Karen" (Let's do the twist) from "Bhoot Bangla", "Yeh do deewane dil ke" from Johar Mehmood in Goa, "Hum kaale hai to kyaa huaa dilwaale hain" (What if I am dark, I have a heart) from "Gumnaam".

External links (References)

• IMDb entry for Mehmood
• "Indian comedian Mehmood dead" - Daily Times article dated July 24, 2004
• "Legendary Comedian Mehmood Dead, Burial at Bangalore" - INDOlink article dated July 24, 2004
• "Indian comedy actor Mehmood dies" - BBC article dated July 23, 2004
• "Man who made nation laugh is no more" - Indian Express article dated July 24, 2004
• "Comedian Mehmood is no more" - The Times of India article dated July 23, 2004