In the annals of Indian cinema few names are written in golden ink and one of them is Madhubala. The late actress left an undeniable mark on the audience which is still remembered by fans with love and awe. However as much as her career was glorified her personal life faced massive ups and downs. In the late 1950s Madhubala was going through a major health crisis known as a ventricular septal defect—a hole in the heart. With each passing day her health deteriorated and her doctors advised her to seek treatment overseas. When Madhubala Wanted to Go to the US to Save Her Life The United States had the best cardiac facilities at the time offering the actress the mere chance of survival. She desperately wanted to be saved and hence applied for a US visa. With this news coming out it quickly garnered headlines. The press followed every detail closely speculating whether she would leave the country for good or return after her treatment. Fans were devastated by the thought of losing her even if only for a while. The Waits and Delays in Madhubalas Visa Approval While Madhubalas visa was justified medically and the rest of the process was smooth reports suggest that her visa faced delays in getting clearances as officials were hesitant to approve travel for someone of her stature fearing public outrage if anything happened to her. After a lot of waiting Madhubala received her visa and went to London and later to the US in 1960. However it was very late by then. After examining Madhubalas condition doctors declared her illness inoperable. Nine years later Madhubala passed away on February 23 1969 at the age of 36.