Mumtaz (Hindi: मुमताज़, Urdu: ممتاز) (born 31 July 1947, Bombay), fondly called Mumu, is a Bollywood actress, best remembered for her roles in Tere Mere Sapne (1971) and Khilona (1970). Her performance in Khilona got her the Filmfare Best Actress Award, while the film itself won the Filmfare Best Movie Award. She is cited as one of the top Bollywood sex symbols of her time.^[1]

Biography[link]

Early life[link]

Mumtaz was born to Abdul Saleem Askari and Shadi Habib Agha in Bombay, India, on 31 July 1947. She entered Hindi cinema at age 12.^[2]

Career[link]

She started as an extra in films in the early 1960s. She accepted small roles in big films like Mujhe Jeene Do and big roles in small budgeted stunt films like Boxer, Samson, Tarzan, and King Kong. In the 1960s, she starred in as many as 16 action films with freestyle wrestler Dara Singh and was labelled as a stunt film heroine.

She first gained attention in a supporting role as a vamp in the A grade color hit film Mere Sanam (1965). The memorable sexy song "Yeh Hai Reshmi Zulphon Ka Andhera" was picturized on her. The success of the film led to another sizzling song "Aye dushman jaan" in another big-budget film Patthar Ke Sanam. Finally, she gained major attention when she played one of Dilip Kumar's leading ladies in Ram Aur Shyam (1967). The film became one of the top hits of the year, and she received her first Filmfare nomination as Best Supporting Actress. Suddenly, Mumtaz was flooded with offers but not for major leading lady roles. She supported Sharmila Tagore in several films in the late 1960s, such as for Saawan Ki Ghata, Yeh Raat Phir Na Aayegi, and Mere Humdum Mere Dost. She had a memorable song and dance number "Aaj Kal Tere Mere" with her co-star Shammi Kapoor in the hit film Brahmachari (1968).

It took Raj Khosla's blockbuster Do Raaste (1969) starring Rajesh Khanna to finally make Mumtaz a full-fledged star. Oddly, it was an inconsequential girlfriend role, but director Khosla, so good at picturizing songs, filmed four hit songs on Mumtaz.^[3] The film made her hugely popular, and she acknowledged that, even though she had a small role, it was still one of her favorite films.^[2] When earlier, she had played a small role as Rajendra Kumar's sister in Gehra Daag, now she was elevated to playing his leading lady in Tangewala. Shashi Kapoor who had earlier refused to work with her in Saccha Jootha because she was a "stunt film heroine" now wanted her to be his heroine in Chor Machaye Shor.

Mumtaz acted in over a hundred films in a career that spanned just 12 years. She won the Filmfare Best Actress Award for one of her favorite films Khilona in 1970, and she was "very happy that the audience accepted her in an emotional role."^[2] Mumtaz starred in many movies with Feroz Khan and had other popular pairings with Jeetendra and Rajesh Khanna. She has also acted with Dharmendra, Sanjeev Kumar and other top heroes of her era. She was proud of her work in her other favorite films Tere Mere Sapne for director Vijay Anand, as well as Roop Tera Mastana, Aap Ki Kasam, and Aaina.

She quit acting after her appearance in Aaina (1977) which was a flop, even though it had co-starred Rajesh Khanna and was directed by famous director Kailasam Balachander. After that, she left films for marriage to a millionaire and only returned for one final appearance 12 years later in the 1989 film Aandhiyan, which flopped and she turned down other film offers. In 1996 she received the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award.

In June 2008, she was honored for her "Achievement in Indian Cinema" by the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) in Bangkok.

Mumtaz has featured recently in UniGlobe Entertainment's cancer docudrama 1 a Minute with a number of international stars.

Personal life[link]

Mumtaz married Mayur Madhvani on 29 May 1974; they have two daughters. Mumtaz has acknowledged she successfully battled cancer.^[4]

Quotes[link]

• When asked which performances she is most proud of, Mumtaz said: "I was okay, nothing great at all. I liked Khilona that fetched me the Filmfare Best Actress Award. I also liked myself in Roop Tera Mastana, Aaina and Tere Mere Sapne. I should have won the Best Actress Award for Tere Mere Sapne. I really deserved it. Instead it went to Asha Parekh for Kati Patang in which she wore white and stood in front of piano doing precious little. Khair, jaane do (let it go). God has given me so much."^[4]

• “My kids were in boarding school. I was a bit bored of just jet setting from one country to another. So I came to India to do Aandhiyaan for a lark. I think it was one of David Dhawan's best films, even better than Aankhen. But I was heartbroken when it flopped.” (Filmfare, 7 December 2011)

• On directing Mumtaz for Tere Mere Sapne, Vijay Anand said: "Mumtaz was sensitive, quick to understand and translate every nuance I hinted at, onto the screen, but she was always Dara Singh's Heroine for public. Even Devsaab could not get over that image."^[5]

• On her passion for acting, Mumtaz said “I used to feel a sort of emptiness before I started acting but not any longer... If I were not an actress, I’d have gone crazy.” – December 1966 (Filmfare, December 7, 2011)

• “Women are meant to be loved and not understood.” – November, 1970 (Filmfare, December 7, 2011)

• ”I am bored to talk of my films. I cannot even bear to see most of them.” – November, 1966 (Filmfare, December 7, 2011)

Filmography[link]

1960s[link]

• Stree
• Wallah Kya Baat Hai
• Sehra ... Juhi
• Rustom Sohrab ... Shehroo
• Mujhe Jeene Do
• Gehra Daag
• Faulad ... Rajkumari Padma
• Ek Raaz
• Veer Bhimsen
• Samson ... Princess Shera
• Rustom-E-Rome
• Qawwali Ki Raat
• Hercules
• Baghi
• Aandhi Aur Toofan
• Tarzan Comes to Delhi ... Rekha
• Tarzan and King Kong
• Son of Hatimtai
• Sikandar-e-Azam ... Cynthia
• Rustom-E-Hind
• Raaka
• Mere Sanam ... Kamini (Kamo)
• Khandan... Neelima
• Khakaan
• Kaajal ... Jharna
• Jadui Angoothi
• Hum Diwane
• Do Dil ... Albeli
• Boxer
• Bedaag
• Bahu Beti ... Savitri
• Yeh Raat Phir Na Aayegi
• Sawan Ki Ghata ... Saloni
• Saaz Aur Awaaz
• Rustom Kaun
• Pyar Kiye Jaa... Meena Priyadarshini
• Pati Patni ... Kala
• Ladka Ladki ... Asha
• Jawan Mard
• Daku Mangal Singh
• Daadi Maa
• Suraj ... Kalavati
• Woh Koi Aur Hoga
• Ram Aur Shyam ... Shanta
• Patthar Ke Sanam ... Meena
• Hamraaz ... Shabnam
• Do Dushman
• CID 909
• Chandan Ka Palna
• Boond Jo Ban Gayi Moti... Shefali
• Baghdad Ki Raatein
• Aag ... Paro
• Mere Hamdam Mere Dost ... Meena
• Jung Aur Aman
• Jahan Mile Dharti Akash
• Golden Eyes Secret Agent 077
• Gauri ... Geeta
• Brahmachari ... Roopa Sharma
• Apna Ghar Apni Kahani
• Shart ... Sapna
• Mera Yaar Mera Dushman
• Mera Dost
• Jigri Dost ... Shobha
• Do Raaste ... Reena
• Bandhan ... Gauri Malikram
• Apna Khoon Apna Dushman
• Aadmi Aur Insaan ... Rita

1970s[link]

• Sachaa Jhutha ... Meena/Rita
• Pardesi ... Myna
• Khilona ... Chand
• Humjoli ... Meena (Guest Appearance)
• Himmat ... Malti
• Ek Nanhi Munni Ladki Thi
• Bhai Bhai ... Bijli
• Maa Aur Mamta ... Mary
• Mela ... Laajo
• Ladki Pasand Hai
• Kathputli ... Nisha
• Jawan Mohabbat
• Ek Nari Ek Brahmachari ... Meena
• Dushmun ... Phoolmati
• Chaahat
• Upaasna ... Shalu (also Kiran)
• Tere Mere Sapne ... Nisha Patel/Nisha Kumar
• Hare Rama Hare Krishna ... Shanti
• Tangewala ... Paro/Chandika
• Shararat ... Radha/Meeta
• Pyaar Diwana ... Mamta
• Gomti Ke Kinare ... Roshni
• Dharkan
• Apradh ... Meena/Rita
• Apna Desh ... Chanda
• Roop Tera Mastana ... Princess Usha/Kiran (Double Role)
• Pyaar Ka Rishta
• Bandhe Haath... Mala
• Lofar... Anju
• Jheel Ke Us Paar ... Neelu
• Chor Machaye Shor ... Rekha
• Aap Ki Kasam... Sunita
• Roti ... Bijli
• Prem Kahani ... Kamini
• Lafange ... Sapna
• Aag Aur Toofan
• Nagin ... Rajkumari
• Aaina ... Shalini

Later films[link]

• Aandhiyan (1989) ... Shakuntala
• 1 a Minute (2010) ... herself

Awards[link]

Winner

• BFJA Award for Best Supporting Actress - Brahmachari (1968)^[6]
• Filmfare Best Actress Award - Khilona (1970)
• Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award (1996)
• IIFA Outstanding Contribution by an Indian in Cinema, Honorary Award (2008)

Nominated

• Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award - Ram Aur Shyam (1967)
• Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award - Aadmi Aur Insaan (1970)^[7]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Mumtaz's Site by Arun Golas
• Biography of Mumtaz by Arun Golas
• Mumtaz at the Internet Movie Database
• Profile of Mumtaz's career by Dinesh Raheja
• Mumtaz Biography