Wednesday, February 11, 2026
ADVT 
Bollywood

The New York Times Compares Madhubala To Marilyn Monroe In 'Overlooked' Obituaries Special

IANS, 09 Mar, 2018 02:01 PM

    An American newspaper has paid homage to Bollywood's tragedy queen Madhubala.

     

    The classic actress of the bygone era was featured in its new segment, Overlooked, where the daily featured "15 remarkable women that (it) overlooked in (their) obituaries".

     

    The section admired the remarkable contribution of these celebrated women in their respective fields.

     

    They introduced Madhubala, who preferred to be address by her first name, as the one who "transfixed Bollywood".

     

    The New York Times profiled Madhubala with a sass and did not hold back.

     
     
     
     
     

    It wrote, " Madhubala (born as Mumtaz Begum) often portrayed modern young women testing the limits of traditions. She has been compared to Marilyn Monroe: the smoldering looks, the short career, the tragic end", the newspaper said while recalling her first major role, at the age of 16, as the leading lady in 1949 film 'Mahal' opposite Ashok Kumar.

     

    About her untimely death at the mere age of 36, the daily wrote, "She died 20 years later as an icon of beauty and tragedy - her dazzling career, unhappy love life and fatal illness more dramatic than any movie she starred in".

     
     

     

    The actress was featured in some of the best timeless classics such as 'Amar', 'Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi', 'Mughal-e-Azam', 'Barsaat Ki Raat'. The obituary chronicled her romance with veteran actor Dilip Kumar, and her failed marriage with iconic singer 'Kishore Kumar'.

     

    The segment talked about her deteriorating health in her later years, her portrayal of strong women on screen, and choices of eternal classics.

     
     

     

    The feature also talked about writer-poet Sylvia Plath; Henrietta Lacks, whose cancer cells were taken from her body without permission and led to a medical revolution; Margaret Abbott, the first American woman to win an Olympic championship; transgender pioneer Marsha P Johnson; Ada Lovelace, a gifted mathematician credited as the first computer programmer; photographer Diane Arbus and feminist poet Qiu Jin, among others.

    MORE Bollywood ARTICLES

    Hina Khan Says Bigg Boss Is 'Not Scripted Just Well Edited'. All Set To Sign A Film

    Hina Khan Says Bigg Boss Is 'Not Scripted Just Well Edited'. All Set To Sign A Film
    Honestly, it was a challenge for me. I never thought I will reach or achieve this goal so fast because breaking that stereotyped image of the 'bahu' that I played for eight years, where I wore all Indian clothes, was more difficult. 

    Hina Khan Says Bigg Boss Is 'Not Scripted Just Well Edited'. All Set To Sign A Film

    Felt Like A Stepson, Stifled In BJP: Shatrughan Sinha

    Veteran actor-politician Shatrughan Sinha, who is a part of the "non-political" platform Rashtra Manch -- aimed at raising issues concerning the Narendra Modi government 

    Felt Like A Stepson, Stifled In BJP: Shatrughan Sinha

    Sidharth Malhotra Considers Shah Rukh Khan His Mentor

    Sidharth Malhotra Considers Shah Rukh Khan His Mentor
    Actor Sidharth Malhotra says he is thankful to superstar Shah Rukh Khan for mentoring him and showing him the path to be a better actor while working together on "My Name Is Khan".

    Sidharth Malhotra Considers Shah Rukh Khan His Mentor

    Hrithik-Tiger's Actioner To Release On October 2, 2019

    Filmmaker Siddharth Anand's yet untitled project, which will bring actors Hrithik Roshan and Tiger Shroff together onscreen for the first time, will go on the floors in August, and will release on October 2, 2019.

    Hrithik-Tiger's Actioner To Release On October 2, 2019

    A.R. Rahman's Score To Be Played At Oscar Concert

    A.R. Rahman's Score To Be Played At Oscar Concert
    Oscar-winning composer A.R. Rahman's hit score from "Slumdog Millionaire" has been included in the line-up planned for the Oscar Concert.

    A.R. Rahman's Score To Be Played At Oscar Concert

    Credits In Bollywood Have Not Been Epic: Priyanka Bose

    Actress Priyanka Bose, whose film "Lion" was widely lauded, says credits in Bollywood have not been epic for her yet.

    Credits In Bollywood Have Not Been Epic: Priyanka Bose