Madhubala's private life received much attention. She was known for keeping a low public profile, was not seen at parties and film premiers and rarely gave interviews. She had a long relationship with actor Dilip Kumar, but chose to marry her frequent co-star Kishore Kumar in 1960. Madhubala's life and career was cut short when she died in 1969 from a prolonged illness at the age of 36. Her beauty and comparison with Hollywood actress Marilyn Monroe eventually earned her the titles "The Venus of Indian Cinema" and "Marilyn Monroe of Bollywood".