Mumtaz recalls being kicked out of Mera Naam Joker by Raj Kapoor as she was dating Shammi Kapoor: ‘Can’t have you wearing small clothes’

Veteran actor Mumtaz revealed she was supposed to play a role in Raj Kapoor's Mera Naam Joker. She was, however, excluded from the film due to her relationship with Shammi Kapoor.

By: Entertainment Desk

Chennai | January 8, 2024 10:35 AM IST

3 min read

Mumtaz and Shammi Kapoor had a brief romance.

Raj Kapoor’s era defining film, Mera Naam Joker, could have featured Mumtaz in the role of the trapeze artist. The actor, however, missed out on the opportunity due to her romantic involvement with Raj Kapoor’s brother, Shammi Kapoor. Mumtaz recently disclosed the reason behind Raj Kapoor’s decision in an interview with the Pakistani newspaper Dawn.

According to Mumtaz, Raj Kapoor, lead actor and director of Mera Naam Joker, had her audition for the role, but later decided against casting her. She said, “Raj ji had me audition for Mera Naam Joker but he later cut me saying that, ‘You will come to our house and we don’t want you to wear such small clothes in the film.’ So he decided not to cast me in the film.” Mumtaz was supposed to play the character of the trapeze artist named Marina in the film. The character was later enacted by a Russian actor, Kseniya Ryabinkina.

Mumtaz and Shammi Kapoor shared a brief romance during those years, which eventually ended when Mumtaz declined to marry him. In a previous interview with Pinkvilla, Mumtaz expressed her deep feelings for Shammi Kapoor, stating that she “loved him tremendously,” and he reciprocated those feelings. However, the actress felt it was too early for her to get married at the age of 17, wanting to achieve something in her career while he wanted her to give up films. She said, “I was only around 17. He was 18 years older than me. It was too early for me to get married. Mujhe kucch banna tha. (I wanted to achieve something).”

Also read | Mumtaz says she loved Shammi Kapoor ‘tremendously’ but their marriage ‘wouldn’t have worked’: ‘The Kapoor family was strict about their bahus’

Mumtaz revealed that their break-up was pleasant as they parted ways “with understanding.” She also emphasised that if she would have gotten married to Shammi Kapoor at the time, “it wouldn’t have worked” because she would have always “held a regret in my heart.” She added, “I wanted to act. I wanted to achieve something. The Kapoor family was strict about their bahus not working in films,” she said.

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