Rare photos of Madhubala

Often touted as "The Venus of Indian Cinema", Madhubala would have celebrated her 86th birthday today. In her life spanning 36 years, Madhubala was no less than a living legend. Her divine beauty made her a recognised face all across the globe and her sumptuous repertoire was no less. She proved her mettle in films like Mughal-e-Azam, Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi, Mahal, Mr & Mrs 55 and others. (Source: Photo by Express Archive)

A lot of people would agree that the doomed courtesan Anarkali in Mughal-e-Azam was one of Madhubala's greatest and most definitive characters. Even though Mughal-e-Azam had been made thrice before, it is the 1960 version starring Madhubala, Dilip Kumar, Prithviraj Kapoor, Durga Khote and Ajit that became a cult film. (Source: Photo by Express Archive)

Dilip Kumar and Madhubala's relationship intrigues cinema fans even today. The casting of Kumar and Madhubala in Asif's Mughal-e-Azam had made even more headlines because of the emotional involvement of its lead actors. But in his autobiography Dilip Kumar: The Substance And The Shadow, Kumar reveals how things had soured through the production so badly that the two were not even on speaking terms during the iconic feather scene in the film. (Source: Photo by Express Archive)

Madhubala in Howarh Bridge directed by Shakti Samanta. It features the hit Hindi song "Mera Naam Chin Chin Chu" which was re-created in Salaam Bombay. (Source: Photo by Express Archive)

Madhubala and Shammi Kapoor at the muhurat shot of Rail Ka Dibba. Rail Ka Dibba was Shammi Kapoor's second Hindi film and in various interviews, Kapoor has accepted that this was the time that he fell for Madhubala's beauty. (Source: Photo by Express Archive)

Director Lekhraj Bhakri with Shammi Kapoor and Madhubala on the sets of Naqab. Naqab also features Rafi Saab's popular number "Salaam, Aapki Meethi Nazar Ko Salaam." (Source: Photo by Express Archive)

Shammi Kapoor and Madhubala on the set of their third film together, Naresh Saigal's Boy Friend.

Dev Anand, Madhubala, Mahendra and Keshto on the sets of Shakti Samanta's Jaali Note. (Source: Photo by Express Archive)

Madhubala and Bharat Bhushan in Kal Humara Hai. (Source: Photo by Express Archive)

Madhubala and Ranjan on the sets of Baghi Sipahi. (Source: Photo by Express Archive)

Gajanan Jagirdar, Madhubala and SD Narang in Yahudi Ki Ladki. (Source: Photo by Express Archive)

Madhubala in NK Ziree's Nazneem. Nazneen was the first film of Amjad Khan. (Source: Photo by Express Archive)

Moni Chatterjee and Madhubala in Suhana Geet. (Source: Photo by Express Archive)

Pradeep Kumar and Madhubala in historical drama Shirin Farhad. (Source: Photo by Express Archive)

Pradeep Kumar, Madhubala and director Pramod Chakravarty on the sets of Passport. (Source: Photo by Express Archive)

Minoo Katrak, Raj Kapoor, Prithviraj Kapoor, Madhubala, Shammi Kapoor, Krishna Raj Kapoor and Aspi Irani at the muhurat shot of Main Aur Woh. (Source: Photo by Express Archive)