Dilip Kumar’s slapped left Madhubala stunned and speechless on set.
Dilip Kumar and Madhubala reportedly broke up during the shoot.
Before Dilip Kumar married Saira Banu, he was in love with Madhubala. Madhubala and Dilip Kumar started dating while filming Tarana and even planned on marrying each other. However, the actress’s father did not approve of their relationship. They broke up while filming Mughal-e-Azam. However, they continued to shoot the film despite their breakup, and one incident shook the actress.
During a scene in the film, Dilip Kumar’s Salim had to slap Madhubala’s Anarkali. However, instead of pretending to slap the actress in the scene, the actor actually hit her with all his strength. Their co-star, Ajit, recalled in ‘I Want To Live: The Story Of Madhubala’ that Dilip Kumar had “let go” and used his “full force” to hit the actress.
What was even bizarre was director K Asif’s reaction to Dilip’s actions. As Madhubala stood stunned on set, the director reportedly told her, “I am very happy today for it is apparent he still loves you. Who but a man in love could have done something like this? It only proves he loved you and continues to love you, whatever you may think.”
Although Dilip Kumar and Madhubala stopped speaking to one another after their breakup, the actress once reached out to him before her death. In his memoir, The Substance And The Shadow: An Autobiography, Dilip Kumar recalled how Madhubala wanted to meet the actor after he got married.
Dilip Kumar recalled meeting Madhubala at her house and said she looked weak. “When I went to Madhu’s home, I was pained to see that she was frail and looked very weak. The pallor on her face not only belied her ill health, but her magnificent, impish smile seemed such an effort. She was happy to see me and said: ‘Hamare shehzade ko unki shehzadi mil gayi hai, main bahut khush hoon!’ (Our prince has got his princess, I am very happy),” he wrote.
Madhubala wanted Dilip Kumar’s advice on some personal matters. This was also the last time that the two former lovers met. The legendary actress passed away in 1969 due to a heart attack at the age of 36.
