dc16
- dEsPeraTe cRaNky -
Short lives, big impressions - celebs who passed away before their time
Everyone loves celebrities. Everyone wants to be a celebrity. But alas not every celebrity's life is a celebrated one. These are celebrities who died much before their time had come.
Lived up to 36
One of the most beautiful actresses ever, Marilyn Monroe (born as Norma Jean Mortenson) was a rage in the 1950s. She was stunning and embodied innocence. She had a very unsettled childhood. She had a string of unsuccessful marriages and affairs including a rumoured one with charismatic US Prez John F Kennedy. Her first marriage was with childhood sweetheart Jimmy Dougherty in 1944. When Jimmy was away on assignment with the Merchant Marines, she was accidentally discovered by photographer David Conover and thence began her initiation into the glamour world. And this spelt the end of her marriage. She had to her credit such movies as Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, The Seven Year Itch, Some Love It Hot, and How To Marry a Millionaire. The glitz and glamour was tragically cut short when she was discovered dead in 5 August 1962. While a lot of questions remain unanswered about her death, the world still mourns the stunning diva.
Lived up to 24
He was only 24 when he died in a high-speed car crash. In a very short span, James Dean, acted in three flicks - Rebel Without a Cause, East of Eden, and Giant. The last two fetched him posthomous Academy Award nominations for Best Actor. A youth icon of his times, such is the charisma of Dean that even today, almost half a century after his death his legacy still endures.
Lived up to 36
The ultimate beauty, Madhubala was to Bollywood what Marilyn Monroe was to Hollywood. Born as Mumtaz Begum Jehan Dehlavi in 1933 to a poor Pathan couple, Madhubala was one of 11 children. By virtue of sheer destiny, when her family relocatede from Delhi to Mumbai, Madhubala began her tryst with films. She was only 14. A so-far inert heart problem all but ended her successful run in 1950. Braving this problem and a very difficult father, she went on with her career for another 10 years. An much-publicised affair with thespian Dilip Kumar did not culminate in marriage leaving her broken-hearted. Marriage to actor Kishore Kumar happened in 1960. She was only 36 when the same heart problem she battled for so long managed to get the better of her.
Lived up to 39
Director-actor-producer par excellence, Guru Dutt (aka Vasant Kumar Shivashankar Padukone) was the man behind such classics like Pyaasa,Kaagaz Ke Phool, Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam and Chaudhvin ka Chand, and Mr. and Mrs 55. Often compared to the great Orson Welles, Guru Dutt had a tough upbringing marred by financial problems as well as his parents' strained relationship. Sadly Dutt's own marriage with singer Geeta Dutt ran into problems and this along with his link-up with actress Waheeda Rehman caused him tremendous mental strain. His death in 1964 was believed to be a result of a medley of sleeping pills and excessive drinking.
Lived up to 41
Like her husband, Geeta Dutt let her marital problems get the better of her. The successful singer took her husband's affair with Waheeda Rehman badly and began drinking. His death in 1964 only made the going worse for her. A nervous breakdown and financial difficulties further aggravated her problems and she finally succumbed to liver cirrhosis in 1972.
Lived up to 39
The iconic actress with such films as Pakeeezah, Baiju Bawra, Do Bigha Zamin, Bandish, Bandhan, Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam, Kohinoor to her credit led a life that was as tragic as the roles she portrayed in her films. A failed affair with the much-married director Kamal Amrohi led her to take to drinking which in turn led to her death due to liver damage in 1972.
Lived up to
The martial artist and actor extraordinaire whose films Enter The Dragon, Return of the Dragon and Fist of Fury became trend setters and made him a household name was all of 32 when he died in 1973. His death led to a lot of speculation ranging from cerebral oedema, to wrong administration of drugs to a Vibrating Palm Technique and more. The world lost a great maestro very tragically. Like him, Lee's son Brandon Lee's life too was as tragic as his father's. He died due to a freak accident on the sets of the film The Crow which went on to become a hit
Lived up to 47
A contemporary of matinee idols like Amitabh Bachchan, Vinod Khanna, Dharmendra, Rekha, Hema Malini, Sanjeev Kumar (aka Harihar Jariwala) held his own with his prowess in enacting a variety of roles and was in his day a favourite with filmi buffs. When he died he was only 47 and a bachelor. The grapevine in tinsel town spoke of his affection for Dream Girl Hema Malini and her not reciprocating his affection. An affair with actress Sulakshna Pandit didn't work out. The actor's death is believed to be a result of excessive drinking.
Lived up to 31
One of the leading actresses of her time, when parallel cinema was neck and neck with commercial films, Smita Patil along with the likes of Shabana Azmi, Naseeruddin Shah, Om Puri, formed a formidable team. Patil who started her career as a TV newsreader had to take much flak when she got involved with a much-married Raj Babbar. Her marriage to the actor cost her lot of popularity and her untimely death at 31 owing to medical complications following the birth of her son sent shock waves in the film fraternity.
Lived up to 46
Easily the most charismatic and handsome Prime Minister India has had, Rajiv Gandhi took over as the PM after the shock assassination of his mother Indira Gandhi. A pilot by profession, Rajiv took to politics much against the wishes of his wife Sonia. Known for his clean image, his political career took a twist with the Bofors controversy. His death in the suicide bomber attack in 1991 sent shivers throughout the nation similar to the frenzy that followed his mother's assasination and was a third in the string of tragedies in the family that started with the untimely death of his younger brother Sanjay in a plane crash in 1980.
Everyone loves celebrities. Everyone wants to be a celebrity. But alas not every celebrity's life is a celebrated one. These are celebrities who died much before their time had come.
Lived up to 36
One of the most beautiful actresses ever, Marilyn Monroe (born as Norma Jean Mortenson) was a rage in the 1950s. She was stunning and embodied innocence. She had a very unsettled childhood. She had a string of unsuccessful marriages and affairs including a rumoured one with charismatic US Prez John F Kennedy. Her first marriage was with childhood sweetheart Jimmy Dougherty in 1944. When Jimmy was away on assignment with the Merchant Marines, she was accidentally discovered by photographer David Conover and thence began her initiation into the glamour world. And this spelt the end of her marriage. She had to her credit such movies as Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, The Seven Year Itch, Some Love It Hot, and How To Marry a Millionaire. The glitz and glamour was tragically cut short when she was discovered dead in 5 August 1962. While a lot of questions remain unanswered about her death, the world still mourns the stunning diva.
Lived up to 24
He was only 24 when he died in a high-speed car crash. In a very short span, James Dean, acted in three flicks - Rebel Without a Cause, East of Eden, and Giant. The last two fetched him posthomous Academy Award nominations for Best Actor. A youth icon of his times, such is the charisma of Dean that even today, almost half a century after his death his legacy still endures.
Lived up to 36
The ultimate beauty, Madhubala was to Bollywood what Marilyn Monroe was to Hollywood. Born as Mumtaz Begum Jehan Dehlavi in 1933 to a poor Pathan couple, Madhubala was one of 11 children. By virtue of sheer destiny, when her family relocatede from Delhi to Mumbai, Madhubala began her tryst with films. She was only 14. A so-far inert heart problem all but ended her successful run in 1950. Braving this problem and a very difficult father, she went on with her career for another 10 years. An much-publicised affair with thespian Dilip Kumar did not culminate in marriage leaving her broken-hearted. Marriage to actor Kishore Kumar happened in 1960. She was only 36 when the same heart problem she battled for so long managed to get the better of her.
Lived up to 39
Director-actor-producer par excellence, Guru Dutt (aka Vasant Kumar Shivashankar Padukone) was the man behind such classics like Pyaasa,Kaagaz Ke Phool, Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam and Chaudhvin ka Chand, and Mr. and Mrs 55. Often compared to the great Orson Welles, Guru Dutt had a tough upbringing marred by financial problems as well as his parents' strained relationship. Sadly Dutt's own marriage with singer Geeta Dutt ran into problems and this along with his link-up with actress Waheeda Rehman caused him tremendous mental strain. His death in 1964 was believed to be a result of a medley of sleeping pills and excessive drinking.
Lived up to 41
Like her husband, Geeta Dutt let her marital problems get the better of her. The successful singer took her husband's affair with Waheeda Rehman badly and began drinking. His death in 1964 only made the going worse for her. A nervous breakdown and financial difficulties further aggravated her problems and she finally succumbed to liver cirrhosis in 1972.
Lived up to 39
The iconic actress with such films as Pakeeezah, Baiju Bawra, Do Bigha Zamin, Bandish, Bandhan, Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam, Kohinoor to her credit led a life that was as tragic as the roles she portrayed in her films. A failed affair with the much-married director Kamal Amrohi led her to take to drinking which in turn led to her death due to liver damage in 1972.
Lived up to
The martial artist and actor extraordinaire whose films Enter The Dragon, Return of the Dragon and Fist of Fury became trend setters and made him a household name was all of 32 when he died in 1973. His death led to a lot of speculation ranging from cerebral oedema, to wrong administration of drugs to a Vibrating Palm Technique and more. The world lost a great maestro very tragically. Like him, Lee's son Brandon Lee's life too was as tragic as his father's. He died due to a freak accident on the sets of the film The Crow which went on to become a hit
Lived up to 47
A contemporary of matinee idols like Amitabh Bachchan, Vinod Khanna, Dharmendra, Rekha, Hema Malini, Sanjeev Kumar (aka Harihar Jariwala) held his own with his prowess in enacting a variety of roles and was in his day a favourite with filmi buffs. When he died he was only 47 and a bachelor. The grapevine in tinsel town spoke of his affection for Dream Girl Hema Malini and her not reciprocating his affection. An affair with actress Sulakshna Pandit didn't work out. The actor's death is believed to be a result of excessive drinking.
Lived up to 31
One of the leading actresses of her time, when parallel cinema was neck and neck with commercial films, Smita Patil along with the likes of Shabana Azmi, Naseeruddin Shah, Om Puri, formed a formidable team. Patil who started her career as a TV newsreader had to take much flak when she got involved with a much-married Raj Babbar. Her marriage to the actor cost her lot of popularity and her untimely death at 31 owing to medical complications following the birth of her son sent shock waves in the film fraternity.
Lived up to 46
Easily the most charismatic and handsome Prime Minister India has had, Rajiv Gandhi took over as the PM after the shock assassination of his mother Indira Gandhi. A pilot by profession, Rajiv took to politics much against the wishes of his wife Sonia. Known for his clean image, his political career took a twist with the Bofors controversy. His death in the suicide bomber attack in 1991 sent shivers throughout the nation similar to the frenzy that followed his mother's assasination and was a third in the string of tragedies in the family that started with the untimely death of his younger brother Sanjay in a plane crash in 1980.
Last edited by a moderator:
![[Hardeep]](https://www.unp.me/data/avatars/m/25/25527.jpg?1570213921){kind=avatar}
