How Mumtaz, once shunned by Shashi Kapoor, Jeetendra, Dharmendra, and ignored by actresses, became Bollywood’s ‘highest paid actress’

Do Raaste marked her rise to stardom and inaugurated a fruitful period of Rajesh Khanna-Mumtaz hits. Together, they delivered eight films (Do Raaste, Bandhan, Sachcha Jhootha, Dushman, Apna Desh, Aap Ki Kasam, Roti), seven of which were absolute favourites of moviegoers. Mumtaz told film journalist Subhash K Jha, “It was God’s blessing that not one film of mine with Kaka (Rajesh Khanna) flopped.” She was among the few friends of the late actor whom he would often call by jokingly saying, ‘Aye Moti, idhar aa…’ as she had a “voluptuous” body. She also told The Times of India that whenever there was an announcement of her film with another hero, ‘he would sulk in a corner’. “He could work with anyone — he did so many films with Sharmila (Tagore) ji — but he wanted me to work only with him,” she said.

But Mumtaz’s entry into the film industry was not smooth. Still, she never feared hard work. Helen, her contemporary, once described her as, “a go-getter”.

Born on July 31 1947, to Iranian parents, Mumtaz’s first brush with the world of movie-making business happened when she was just 10. She used to carry her sister Malika’s vanity box to the film studios. Mumtaz once recalled going on the set of Dil Deke Dekho (1959) with her and falling in love with Shammi Kapoor, the lead actor of the film. In an interview with Suwbha Chopra, Mumtaz narrated, “I was looking at him and his song was being shot. I saw him and told my sister, ‘Mallka, I will marry him’. She told me he was already married. I said, ‘So what, I want a man like him. He is so handsome.'”

Soon after her fifth standard education, Mumtaz dropped out of school and started working in films. At 11, she starred as a child actor in four films — Sone Ki Chidiya, Stree, Talaq and Mujhe Jeene Do. She got her first lead role at 15 as she got paired opposite Dara Singh in the 1963 film Faulad. The actor holds great regard for the late wrestler-turned-actor as he agreed to work with her when all the A-listers, including Shashi Kapoor, Jeetendra, Dharmendra and Rajendra Kumar, refused.

“Rajendra Kumar used to say, ‘she can’t be a heroine,'” Mumtaz revealed. Shashi Kapoor refused to star in Manmohan Desai’s Sachaa Jhutha because the director-producer had cast Mumtaz as the female lead.

Mumtaz turns 76 on July 31. (Photo: Express Archive)

Mumtaz and Dara Singh starred together in 16 films and even became the highest-paid actors in B-grade films. Mumtaz told The Times of India, “While he earned Rs 4 lakhs per film, I got Rs 2.5 lakhs, which was a huge amount back then. After working with Dara ji, my luck changed for the better.”

Despite being stereotyped as a “stunt woman”, Mumtaz didn’t stop trying. She popped up in songs and small appearances. She starred in a small role in Pyar Kiye Jaa, a 1966 romantic comedy, starring Mehmood in the lead role. Though she only had a few scenes, Mumtaz delivered the best comic lines as a simple village girl, Meena. She stood out with her vivacious energy and bubbly personality. As you watch the film today, her role of a naive starlet waiting to see her name on the billboard seems prophetic.

It was Mehmood who became instrumental in getting Mumtaz one of her career-best opportunities. He took some of her scenes to thespian Dilip Kumar and convinced him to cast her in the 1967 film, Ram Aur Shyam.

Film star Dharmendra, Mumtaz and Dilip Kumar at the muhurat of film SONA CHANDI. Express archive photo

“Dilip Kumar Saab played a big hand in my stardom. If he hadn’t worked with me in Ram aur Shyam, I wouldn’t have been able to become a heroine. I was nothing in comparison to Dilip Saab and when he said yes to working with me, the industry woke up. I shall remain indebted to him. The offers started pouring in,” Mumtaz told Subhash K Jha.

The smoothness of dialogue delivery, rounded portrayal of characters, seductive looks, and ability to command the screen strengthened Mumtaz’s hold over the audience and the filmmakers in the late 1960s and 70s. She looked every bit glamorous in Yash Chopra’s Aadmi Aur Insaan, also starring Dharmendra, Feroz Khan and Saira Banu. Mumtaz got the opportunity to be more than just a pretty face in the 1970 film Khilona. She showcased her ample calibre as she played Chand, a dancer in a brothel who helps a man who lises his sanity after his lover’s death. The film won her her first and only Filmfare Best Actress Award.

A year later, in 1971, Mumtaz starred in Tere Mere Sapne, opposite Dev Anand, and the film remains one of her favourites as here, too, she got a meaty role of a wife who is disillusioned by her husband’s success. Some of her ‘wife’ roles that are still remembered are from the films Aap Ki Kasam and Prem Kahani, both with Rajesh Khanna.

Mumtaz achieved success with ‘hard work and discipline’, as she admitted, and became the ‘highest-paid actress of her times’. She revealed to Subhash K Jha, “I was being paid Rs. 8 lakhs even as a struggler. I was the highest-paid actress of my time.”

Mumtaz and Rajesh Khanna delivered eight films (Do Raaste, Bandhan, Sachcha Jhootha, Dushman, Apna Desh, Aap Ki Kasam, Roti), seven of which were absolute favourites of moviegoers. Express archive photo

In one of her interviews, she accepted that though her mother took care of her finances, she was adamant about deciding her fees on her own. “I will final[sic] the price and I will listen to the story, how do you want the money, that is between you and the producer,” she used to tell her mother. She refused to star in Ramesh Sippy’s Seeta Aur Geeta as she was denied what she wanted for the film. She admitted asking Rs 6 lakh for shooting the 1976 film Nagin just for six days.

She shared the screen with all the leading men, even those who once refused to work with her. She also claimed that most of her male co-stars ‘flirted’ with her and were ‘infatuated’ with her. But the one who fell deeply in love with her was Shammi Kapoor, who even proposed to her for marriage. But she was only 18 and wanted to build a career, so she refused.

“Kapoors didn’t like it if the bahus in their family were in the film line. Shammiji told me that if I wanted him to be happy with me, I would have to give up my career. Now at that young age, I was very ambitious and wanted to reach somewhere. I wanted to settle my family as well. Just to sit at home didn’t go down with me,” she was quoted in a 2020 ETimes interview.

Even her mother warned her against marrying Kapoor as he was too popular among women. Also, her mother stopped her because, “He was a Hindu and I was a Muslim.” Mumtaz eventually ended up marrying Ugandan millionaire Mayur Madhwani in 1974 and moved to London, bidding goodbye to her career in the movies.

As much love and attention as she got from her male co-stars, she never became friends with any of her female co-stars. She once told The Times of India that besides Waheeda Rehman, no other heroine ever spoke to her. “They just pulled up a chair and sat afar – not even a hello. I have no idea why they did that. But I used to happily sit with my group dancers and share lunch,” Mumtaz said.

The yesteryear diva also had her share of tragedies in life, but she also recovered from them with her ‘never give up’ attitude. Mumtaz was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 54. She reportedly underwent six chemotherapies and 35 radiation sessions before becoming cancer-free. She previously told TOI, “I don’t give up easily. Even death will have to fight me.”

She dealt with her husband’s infidelity but gave him another chance since he confided in her. He allegedly told her (as quoted by Pinkvilla), “‘Mumtaz, you’re my wife. I love you and will always love you. I will never leave you.'”

Following the incident, Mumtaz had a brief relationship outside of her marriage as she told the publication, “After the episode, I began feeling lonely. Main thodi rubabwali (headstrong) thi. I felt hurt. So, I flew down to India. When you’re amidst thorns and someone comes along with a rose, you do get carried away. But it was nothing serious. Just a temporary phase, which ended soon.”

Now, Mumtaz lives happily with her husband in London, but frequently visits India. She is not averse to the idea of returning to the movies, given that she is offered a ‘suitable role’.

Failing which, Mumtaz, who turns 76 today, and has lived life like a ‘queen’ over the years, would prefer to die “shaan se.”

Legends Retold is a special column that looks back at the life and work of some of the most celebrated artistes of the Indian cinema.