Mumtaz (actress)

Mumtaz Askari Madhvani (born 31 July 1947) is an Indian actress. Primarily known for her work in Hindi films, she is the recipient of a Filmfare Award, and the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award, for her contributions to Hindi cinema.^[1]

Born into poverty in an urban slum in Mumbai, Mumtaz made her acting debut at age 11 with (1958). Following smaller roles as a teenager in films like; Stree (1961), Sehra (1963), and Gehra Daag (1963), Mumtaz progressed to leading roles with a series of action films opposite wrestler Dara Singh in films like; Faulad (1963) and Daku Mangal Singh (1966). However, her appearance in these films typecasted her as "Stunt Film Heroine" and her career stalled. Following praised supporting work in films; Ram Aur Shyam (1967), Mere Hamdam Mere Dost (1968) and Brahmachari (1968), Mumtaz had her career breakthrough with Raj Khosla's family drama Do Raaste (1969). She went on to establish herself as one of the leading actresses of Hindi cinema with films; Bandhan (1969), Aadmi Aur Insaan (1969), Sachaa Jhutha (1970), Khilona (1970), Tere Mere Sapne (1971), Hare Rama Hare Krishna (1971), Apna Desh (1972), Loafer (1973), Jheel Ke Us Paar (1973), Chor Machaye Shor (1974), Aap Ki Kasam (1974), Roti (1974), Prem Kahani (1975) and Nagin (1976). Following her appearance in the drama Aaina (1977), Mumtaz took a sabbatical from acting for 13 years, making her comeback with Aandhiyan (1990), following which she retired from acting.

During her acting career, Mumtaz carved a niche and became known for her versatility and escaping typecasting, which initially had stalled her career in the first place. She became a prominent sex symbol during the 1970s and established herself as the highest paid woman in the Indian entertainment industry from the late 1960s to the mid-1970s. Since her retirement from acting, she has settled in London with her husband, Ugandan businessman Mayur Madhvani with whom she has two daughters. She has been an advocate for Breast Cancer survivors and has appeared in the documentary 1 a Minute (2010)

Early life[]

Mumtaz was born to Abdul Salim Askari (a dry fruits vendor) and Shadi Habib Agha who hailed from Mashhad, Iran. They got divorced just one year after she was born.^[2][3][4] Her younger sister is actor Mallika who was married to wrestler and Indian actor Randhawa - younger brother of wrestler and actor Dara Singh.^[5]

Career[]

Mumtaz appeared as a child actress in Sone Ki Chidiya (1958). As a teenager she acted as an extra in Vallah Kya Baat Hai, Stree and Sehra in the early 1960s. As an adult, her first role in A-grade films was that of the role of the sister of the hero in O. P. Ralhan's Gehra Daag. She got small roles in successful films such as Mujhe Jeene Do. Later, she got the role of the main lead heroine in 16 action films, including Faulad, Veer Bhimsen, Tarzan Comes to Delhi, Sikandar-E-Azam, Rustom-E-Hind, Raaka, and Daku Mangal Singh, with freestyle wrestler Dara Singh, and was labelled as a stunt-film heroine. In the films that Dara Singh and Mumtaz did together, Dara's remuneration was INR 450,000 per film, and Mumtaz's salary was INR 250,000 per film.^[6]

It took Raj Khosla's blockbuster Do Raaste (1969), starring Rajesh Khanna, to finally make Mumtaz a full-fledged star. Although Mumtaz had a minor role, director Khosla filmed four songs with her.^[7] The film made her popular, and she acknowledged that even though she had a small role, it was still one of her favourite films. In 1969, her films Do Raaste and Bandhan, with Rajesh Khanna, became top grossers of the year, earning around 65 millions and 28 millions respectively.^[8] She played Rajendra Kumar's leading lady in Tangewala. Shashi Kapoor, who had earlier refused to work with her in Sachaa Jhutha because she was a "stunt-film heroine", now wanted her to be his heroine in Chor Machaye Shor (1973). She acted opposite Dharmendra as the lead heroine in films such as Loafer and Jheel Ke Us Paar (1973).

She won the Filmfare Best Actress Award for one of her favourite films Khilona in 1970, and she was "very happy that the audience accepted her in an emotional role". Mumtaz frequently acted with Feroz Khan in hits such as Mela (1971), Apradh (1972) and Nagin (1976). Her pairing with Rajesh Khanna was the most successful in a total of 10 films.^[9] She quit films after her film Aaina (1977) to concentrate on her family. She made a comeback 13 years later with her final film Aandhiyan in 1990.

Personal life[]

Mumtaz married businessman Mayur Madhvani in 1974. They have two daughters, one of whom, Natasha, married actor Feroz Khan's son Fardeen Khan in 2006.

Relationships[]

Shammi Kapoor loved her and wanted to marry her too but Mumtaz was not ready to leave her filmy career at her early age as Kapoor didn't want his wife to work in the film industry after getting married.^[10][11]

Filmography[]

Awards[]

Mumtaz won the Filmfare Award for Best Actress for Khilona in 1970. Actually, no one was interested in accepting the role of "Chaand" for Khilona, just because she was a prostitute in the storyline. But with that role Mumtaz bagged her only Filmfare Award.^[12]

During her career, she was awarded with one Filmfare Award for Best Actress, out of three nominations, and one BFJA Award for Best Supporting Actress.^[13]

Winner

• BFJA Award for Best Supporting Actress – Brahmachari (1968)^[13]
• Filmfare Best Actress Award – Khilona (1970)^[14]
• Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award (1996)^[14]
• IIFA Outstanding Contribution by an Indian in Cinema, Honorary Award (2008)^[15]

Nominated

• Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award – Ram Aur Shyam (1967)
• Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award – Aadmi Aur Insaan (1969)

References[]

External links[]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mumtaz (actress).

Wikiquote has quotations related to: Mumtaz (actress)

• Mumtaz at IMDb
• Profile of Mumtaz's career
• Mumtaz