Starting with Chuckles

Mehmood was born in Mumbai in 1932. He was the son of character-actor/dancer Mumtaz Ali and used to tag along with his father to the film studios. He began acting as a (reluctant) child actor in some Bombay Talkies’ films like Kismet. After he grew up, he pursued several odd jobs -- including that of a motor car driver.  For a short while, he was a chauffeur for director P.L. Santoshi. (Years later, when P. L. Santoshi’s son director Rajkumar Santoshi made his own comedy Andaz Apna Apna, he wrote in a special part for Mehmood – he played a sleazy film producer of Wah Wah Productions!).In Mehmood’s first real role in films, he played a murder victim in Guru Dutt’s suspense thriller – CID. After that, Guru Dutt gave him a small part in Pyaasa.

While he was struggling in Bombay Talkies, he made friends with another up-and-coming comedian – the versatile Kishore Kumar. Soon, the brilliantly talented Kishore was blazing his way to stardom -- and Mehmood approached him for a role in any of his movies. Kishore Kumar, knowing Mehmood’s excellent sense of comedy, made a remark that became famous in Bollywood legend – “How can I give a chance to someone who will compete with me?” To this, Mehmood is supposed to have good humouredly replied – “One day I will become a big filmmaker and I will cast you in a role in my film!” (Mehmood kept his word and, years later; he cast Kishore Kumar in his home production Padosan – which many consider to be Bollywood’s most enduring comedy film!).

Luckily for Mehmood, he got his first noticeable “break” in Parvarish (1958), in which he landed a role as the brother of the hero, Raj Kapoor. Another Bollywood legend goes that Mehmood admired Raj Kapoor’s immense talent, but the lead actor gave him a real tough time, since he was a newcomer.Years later, when Mehmood was at the peak of his career – and the Kapoor clan was making their own three-generation family saga (Kal, Aaj aur Kal – with Prithvi, Raj and Randhir Kapoor), Mehmood single-handedly spoofed them all in a triple role in the film Humjoli, in which he played grandfather, father and son (down to all the patented Kapoor mannerisms). Humjoli was released in theatres along side with Kal, Aaj aur Kal – and so, Mehmood had a laugh at the expense of the First Family of Bombay Filmdom!