People say that my family knew she was ill but we did not treat her; that we hid this fact from producers to get work. But there was no technology back then to check whether she had a hole in a heart, so how would any of us know? We came to know only in 1957. After three years, she went to London for treatment. But it was too late. Madhubala died after nine years.

Everybody blamed my father. But he was protective about his daughters since his sons had died at the ages of five and six. He was an uneducated man but he was like Madhubala's manager. He took care of her work but never interfered on what films she should take up.

He never allowed Madhubala to attend movie premieres because he felt overexposure would kill her career. He always wanted fans to crave for her.

In the picture: Bharat Bhushan and Madhubala in a still from Barsaat Ki Raat.

Also Read: Khatija Akbar on Madhubala

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