Mubarak

Mubarak (born Mubarak Merchant; 30 January 1909 – 26 July 1986) was an Indian film director and actor, who played character roles in Hindi cinema from early 1930s to mid 1970s.

Personal life Mubarak was born in an affluent family of Bombay on 30 January 1909 and was fondly called "Moby" by his friends. Mubarak was the son of a construction engineer but was orphaned at a young age. He later grew up in a Parsi household. After attending St. Xavier High School and later St. Xavier College, he made his film debut with Pati Patni in 1929.

A popular and respectable figure of the film industry, not much is known about his personal life. He retired from his career in the mid-1970s and died on 26 July 1986. He was 77.

Career Mubarak started his career at the age of twenty with Chandulal Shah's Pati Patni. Throughout the 1930s and 1940s, Mubarak continued to appear in a string of films which included Vasal ki Raat (1930), Noor Jahan (1931), Sati Mahananda (1933) and Maharani (1934). The talkies brought newer opportunities for Mubarak when he learned the correct diction and fundamental tricks of voice control under the guidance of English actor and playwright Grant Anderson. A slew of box office successes followed for Mubarak, who, by the late forties, has been a part of films like Kangan, Naya Sansar, Kismet, Tansen (in which he portrayed Emperor Akbar), Zaban, Manorma, Tadbir and Shabnam.

His stately visage and regal bearing made him an apt choice to play Gangadhar Rao in Sohrab Modi's costume drama Jhansi Ki Rani. Later that year, he reprised his role of Akbar in the 1953 film Anarkali followed by Nagin which had him portraying a Nagi chieftain. Raj Kapoor starrer Phir Subha Hogi, Main Nashe Mein Hoon, Dev Anand's Maya, Jab Pyar Kisi Se Hota Hai, Yash Chopra's Waqt, B. R. Chopra's Humraaz are some of his memorable films. His last film appearance was in Shyam Benegal's film Nishant (1975) after which he left the film industry and retired.

Selected filmography Mubarak appeared in more than a hundred films, some of which are listed below

Pati Patni Gori Bala Vasal Ki Raat Bar Ke Pobar Blood Feuds Namak Haram Kaun Dilawar Nur Jahan Veer Kunal Sati Mahananada Josh-E-Inteqam Pardesi Saiyaan Banarsi Thug Aakhri Galti Aurat Ka Dil Noor-E-Islam Nari Raj Prem Laksha Talismi Hira Sheila Kal Ki Baat Saathi Sitara Bala Joban Maharani Jeevan Natak Humari Betiyan Kangan Kon Kis Ka Bahurani (Also director) Naya Sansar Kanchan Shobha Usha Haran Fariyaad Aage Kadam Bhaktaraj Ujala Mata Ek Raat Kismet Tansen Zabaan Manorama Pannadai Tadbir Riwaaj Renuka Maang Rim Jhim Shabnam Sheesh Mahal Samadhi Nadaan Madhosh Stage Anarkali Jhansi Ki Rani Shama Parwana Nagin Prabhu Ki Maya Abe Hayat Heer Anjaan Champakali Begunah Farishta Phir Subha Hogi Night Club Hum Hindustani Main Nashe Mein Hoon Shola Aur Shabnam Jab Pyar Kisi Se Hota Hai Maya Yeh Dil Kisko Doon Waqt Chhoti Chhoti Baten Aaye Din Bahar Ke Hamraaz Ek Nanhi Munni Ladki Thi Barkha Bahar Nishant