This Muslim actor followed Hindu customs for a friend, she returned the favour by fasting during Ramzan: ‘We followed each others’ religious customs’

Veteran actor Mehmood is still remembered for his comic timing in films like Padosan, Pyaar Kiye Jaa and Bombay to Goa. He was also one of the only people in Bollywood who believed in the talent of Amitabh Bachchan in his early days, and helped him in getting his early projects. But, Mehmood was also a man of faith, and while he got increasingly religious towards the end of his life, he would observe Ramzan in his younger days as well. But did you know that he would also observe the month of Shravan and eat one meal a day? His co-star from the 1950s and 1960s, Shubha Khote, spoke about their friendship in a recent interview, and recalled how they would keep each other company during the religious fasting.

In a chat with Red FM Podcasts, Shubha shared that the two of them had great comedic timing on screen. “We worked together for six years. We did so many films together,” she shared, and recalled how their bond was so special that they even observed religious fasting together, even though they followed different religions. “When we worked together, I used to fast in the month of Shravan and when it started getting difficult, I started doing Mondays and Saturdays,” she shared.

“Likewise, during Ramzan, he used to do Fridays,” she shared, adding that they would observe the fasting periods together. “He used to follow my customs, like he would also fast on Mondays and Saturdays, and I would also fast with him on Fridays. We worked together so much that we started following each others’ customs,” she shared.

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Mehmood’s younger brother Anwar Ali also made his debut with Amitabh Bachchan in Saat Hindustani and the two became great friends, so much so that Amitabh moved in with him at his house. For a few years, Amitabh lived in the same house, and later, he credited Mehmood as “his godfather.” Mehmood cast Amitabh in Bombay to Goa at a time when none of his films were working but it was his work here that impressed Salim-Javed, and he was eventually cast in Zanjeer.

“He always helped in establishing myself as an actor. Mehmood Bhai was one of the helpers in the graph early in my career. He was the first producer who gave me the lead role – in ‘Bombay to Goa’. After several consecutive flops, I made a plan to go back home, then Mehmood Sahab’s brother Anwar stopped me,” Amitabh wrote in his blog once.