Published By: Sayan Paul

Marilyn Monroe's Birth Anniversary: East Meets West - A Look At Her Haunting Parallels With Madhubala

Madhubala is often hailed as the Marilyn Monroe of Indian cinema—and perhaps, Monroe could just as well be called the Madhubala of American cinema.

On Marilyn Monroe’s birth anniversary, we look beyond the glitz to explore the woman behind the icon. And as you trace her journey—from unprecedented success to heartbreaking struggles—you might be surprised to find an uncanny reflection of her life in someone miles away: Madhubala, the legendary actress of Indian cinema. Though worlds apart, their lives shared striking similarities—fame, charm, troubled romances, health battles, and the pressures of stardom. It’s almost as if fate wrote them parallel scripts on different continents. 

Here's a look at how the East met the West in two unforgettable stars who lived fast, loved deeply, and left too soon.

Childhood: A Rough Start to a Starry Tale

Marilyn was born Norma Jeane Mortenson in Los Angeles in 1926. Her childhood was anything but glamorous. With a mother battling mental illness and no father figure, she bounced between foster homes, orphanages, and guardianships. By the time she was a teenager, she'd lived in over 10 different homes.

Across the world, in 1933 Delhi, Madhubala was born as Mumtaz Jehan Begum Dehlavi. Her family struggled financially, and after moving to Bombay in search of work, young Mumtaz was pushed into films to support them. Stardom wasn’t a choice for her — it was survival.

The Early Grind: Bit Roles and Big Dreams

Well, Marilyn didn’t become Marilyn overnight. She started as a factory worker and then modeled for magazines before landing small parts in films. Her first contract with 20th Century-Fox got her minor roles — and even that was terminated at one point.

Madhubala, too, began young — just 9 years old — in the 1942 film 'Basant'. She appeared in over two dozen films before anyone noticed her. It was a long climb from forgotten side roles to center stage.

When the Spotlight Finally Found Them

For Marilyn, the magic moment came in the early 1950s with films like 'Gentlemen Prefer Blondes' and 'The Seven Year Itch'. Suddenly, the world couldn’t get enough of her. Madhubala’s breakthrough, on the other hand, came in 1949 with the hauntingly beautiful 'Mahal', where she appeared almost ghost-like on-screen — ethereal, otherworldly. Soon, she was ruling hearts in blockbusters like 'Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi' and 'Mughal-e-Azam'.

Both had that rare magnetism — you just couldn’t look away. But beneath the glow, both women felt deeply misunderstood.

(Credit: The New York Times)

Typecast by the World, Trapped by Their Image

Marilyn was tired of playing the dumb blonde in Hollywood films. She longed for serious roles, and even enrolled in acting classes at the prestigious Actors Studio in New York. But the industry only wanted the icon, not the actor.

(Credit: Marilyn Monroe Fantasy)

Madhubala, too, was boxed into romantic roles, her beauty often overshadowing her talent. But 'Mughal-e-Azam' gave her a chance to shine as a serious performer — and how she delivered!

Still, the world was more obsessed with their faces than their talent.

Love: Passionate, Public, Painful

Marilyn’s relationships were fodder for tabloids. She married three times — a shy factory worker’s first husband, baseball superstar Joe DiMaggio, and playwright Arthur Miller. However, none of them lasted. Loneliness lingered despite the headlines.

Madhubala’s love story with Dilip Kumar was intense and tragic. Despite years of affection, family opposition tore them apart. She later married singer Kishore Kumar, but by then, her health was failing, and the marriage was reportedly strained.

(Credit: Movies N Memories)

Illness, Isolation, and the Final Curtain

Both stars left the world too early. And both were 36.

Marilyn died in 1962. She was found alone in her LA home — a chilling end for someone constantly surrounded by flashing cameras.

(Credit: Fascinating)

Madhubala died in 1969 from a congenital heart condition. In her last years, she was mostly confined to her home, cut off from the work she loved, her voice fading from the industry that once celebrated her.

But Legends Never Die

And yet, they’re both still with us. Marilyn Monroe is still the gold standard of Hollywood glamor, while Madhubala remains the symbol of timeless Indian beauty. 

They may have lived far apart, but their stories feel like two verses of the same haunting song — beautiful, brief, and unforgettable.

As we remember Marilyn Monroe, it’s worth remembering that sometimes, the brightest stars burn out the fastest. And in another part of the world, a girl named Madhubala lived a story just as bright — and just as tragic.