Veteran Bollywood comedian Mehmood Ali passed away on Friday morning at Pennsylvania in US, according to his family sources in Mumbai. He was 72.

1.Mehmood acted in over 150 films in 30 years and directed some films too. His father Mumtaz Ali was a dancer/actor and Mehmood (born in 1932 in Mumbai ) began his career running errands, doing odd jobs and driving cars for others before he became an actor.

2. Mehmood also promoted actors like Amitabh Bachchan and Aruna Irani by giving them lead roles in his production Bombay to Goa. The late great music director R D Burman acted alongside Mehmood in Bhoot Bangl(1965), which became an instant hit with the junta.

3. Even though he went largely unnoticed in his early films like Do Bigha Zameen and Pyaasa, his popularity rose to new heights with Sasural, Humrahi, Johar Mehmood in Goa, Pyar Kiye Jaa and Padosan.

4. By the late sixties, Mehmood was considered a bankable star and many leading men of the time refused to act with him fearing he’d steal their thunder.

5. It is rumored that Mehmood offered a role to Rajiv Gandhi in the film ‘ Bombay to Goa’!

6. His last appearance was a cameo in Raj Kumar Santoshi's Andaz apna apna.(1994) The last film directed by him was Dushman Duniya ki.

7. I.S Johar and Mehmood made magic happen in Johar Mehmood in Goa (1965) but their subsequent film Johar Mehmood In Hong was a flop.

8. Mehmood leaves behind daughters and six sons including the popular singer Lucky Ali. He also has four brothers and four sisters.

9. Sasural(1961)launched him as a comic hero. He was paired with Shubha Khote and they went on to become a successful comedy team, acting together in Grihasti, Bharosa, Ziddi and Love In Tokyo.

10. Mehmood, it appears did have Madrasi roots (like the famous Master-ji from Padosan), his paternal grandfather was the Nawab of Arcot.

11. After hearing of the Comedy King's death, Sunil Dutt, who acted with Mehmood in Padosan, said: "I have lost a very good friend. He was a great human being.” Said Jeetendra “. “I acted with him in Humjoli and he was an absolute riot. He had three roles in the film — the grandfather, son and grandson and I don't think anyone else has been able to play anything similar after that. We used to call him bhaijaan. It’s a big personal loss to me. Shammi Kapoor who has acted in many films with Mehmood said “Shammi Kapoor: "Mehmood was a class apart. His style had less of slapstick. He was very innovative and had a great sense of timing, that gave him an edge over the others. It was fun and an honor to work with him.”

How can one forget the first time one laid eyes on the Masterji from Padosan?
This fan’s personal favorite is when Mehmood confronts Bhola (Sunil Dutt ) and Bindu ( Saira Bano) in a park and warns him, ‘Aagey mat aao Bhola!’ I also cheered when it looked as if he would win the girl!!!

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