Mehmood lifted comedy to a sublime level

‘‘It’s a great loss. It was Mehmood who convinced me to do Padosan. If it was not for him, I wouldn’t have done that memorable film,’’ says Union Sports Minister Sunil Dutt, who acted in Padosan with Mehmood. Incidentally, Dutt’s role was originally meant for music maestro R.D. Burman.

Mehmood was immensely popular among his friends. Dev Anand, who directed him in Lootmar and Des Pardes, called him a ‘‘colourful man and a good human being’’.

Born in 1932 in Mumbai, Mehmood acted in 230 films and directed a few like Kunwara Baap, Sabse Bada Rupaiyya, Janta Havaldar and Dushman Duniya Ka. ‘‘I am very upset. I remember the day Johnny Walker brought him to me. He was a lovable man,’’ recalls scriptwriter Abrar Alvi who wrote several of Mehmood’s films, including Sabse Bada Rupaiyya.

Mehmood commanded the clout of a leading actor and could guarantee a film’s success. ‘‘Directors would bank on him totally,’’ says Hanif Zaveri, who has written Mehmood’s biography, Man of Many Moods, which will soon hit the stands.

The son of actor-dancer Mumtaz Ali, Mehmood began as a driver and an errand boy before Bollywood beckoned. A great improviser, he created a new style. ‘‘He was a great innovator. He brought new nuances to comedy. I have lost a great personal friend,’’ reminisces Shammi Kapoor who acted in several films with Mehmood. ‘‘He would never use slapstick but always make his role interestingly captivating.’’

Director Tanuja Chandra, who directed Mehmood’s son, Lucky Ali in Sur, remembers: ‘‘Mehmoodsaab came for the trial of Sur. He was a likeable person.’’