Actor Jr. Mehmood has been diagnosed with cancer of the stomach, and is critically ill. Jr. Mehmood, who started out as a child actor, was very popular and had a huge fan following. Perhaps, he was the only child star whose name was saleable and carried weight with distributors in the late 1960s and 1970s. It was not rare for him to be added as an attraction in films of even top stars of the time, like Rajesh Khanna. He shone in Rajesh Khanna starrers like Aan Milo Sajna and Do Raaste. He was also a star attraction in Jeetendra and Asha Park starrer Caravan. Among the other films he shone in were Kati Patang, Mera Naam Joker, Parvarish and Brahmachari. Special roles were written for him to make films more entertaining. He also acted in films after he grew up but it was never the same as when he was a child artiste. In all, the 67-year-old Jr. Mehmood had worked in more than 200 films in different languages.
In a note, veteran Raza Murad wrote: “Very sad to know about Jr. Mehmood’s failing health. I have had a very long association with him and considered him a friend. I had the occasion to act with him in many films and have also done shows with him in London, Dubai and Bangkok.” Razabhai described Jr. Mehmood as a very simple man at heart and prompt to fulfil his commitments.