Mumtaz South Actress Biography
Mumtaz (Hindi: मुमताज़ Arabic: ممتاز) (born 31 July 1947), is an actress of Hindi Cinema, who appeared in a number of Hindi movies. Mumtaz started as a child actor, and she worked as an extra junior artiste in 6 films in 1961–1963.[1][2] From 1963 to 1968, she acted in low-budget movies, then known as B-grade movies, opposite Dara Singh. In A-grade movies, she caught attention with the 1965 film Mere Sanam in which she played the role of a vamp, and after this, she appeared in a number of A-grade movies in supporting roles, including Patthar Ke Sanam, Ram Aur Shyam, and Brahmchari. But it was the 1969 hit movie Do Raaste which made her an overnight star actress.[citation needed] It was one of her first A-grade movies as the heroine and her first movie with actor Rajesh Khanna. The 1970s proved to be an era which established Mumtaz as one of the most successful actresses of Hindi Cinema. She won the Filmfare Best Actress Award for Khilona in 1970. She was voted the second most popular beauty in the poll conducted as part of the celebrations of 100 years of Indian cinema, in association with the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA), in 2012.[3]Mumtaz and Sharmila Tagore were the highest paid actresses in Hindi Cinema in the period 1970–1976. Mumtaz appeared in a number of commercially and critically successful movies such as Bandhan (1969), Sachaa Jhutha (1970), Khilona (1970), Tere Mere Sapne (1971), Dushman (1971), Apna Desh (1972), Apradh, Chor Machaye Shor (1973), Jheel Ke Us Paar, Aap Ki Kasam, Roti (1974) and Prem Kahani (1975). She and critics regards her best work was in Aaina, which, although not commercially successful, was critically acclaimed.[citation needed] At the peak of her career, she married business tycoon Mayur Madhvani in 1974 but continued working in films until 1976 to meet her commitments.
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.
Early life
Mumtaz was born in Bombay (now Mumbai) to Abdul Saleem Askari, who was a dry fruits vendor, and Shadi Habib Agha, on 31 July 1947.[2] Mumtaz’s parents who were of Iranian origin, separated soon after her first birthday, and her father remarried. She lost her mother at the age of 16 and took up acting as a career. She has an elder sister, Malika, and 2 step-brothers, Shazhath and Sharook. She is the cousin of actor Roopesh Kumar.
Career[edit]
Mumtaz appeared as a child actress in Sone Ki Chidiya (1958).[1] 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 sister of the hero in O. P. Ralhan's Gehra Daag.[4] 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[by whom?]. In the films that the pair Dara Singh-Mumtaz did together, Dara's remuneration was 450,000 per film and Mumtaz's salary was 250,000 per film.[5]
She first gained attention nationally in a supporting role as a vamp in the 'A' grade colour hit film Mere Sanam (1965). The song "Yeh Hai Reshmi Zulphon Ka Andhera" was picturised on her[clarification needed]. The success of the film led to another song, "Aye dushman jaan", in the 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 for supporting roles but not for major leading lady roles. She played supporting roles to the character of Sharmila Tagore in several films in the late 1960s, such as Saawan Ki Ghata, Yeh Raat Phir Na Aayegi, and Mere Humdum Mere Dost. Mumtaz then got roles as a supporting actress in successful 'A' grade films including Kaajal, Khandaan, Sawan Ki Ghata, Anpadh, Hamraaz, Pyar Kiye Jaa, Pati Patni, Mere Sanam, Suraj, Pathhar Ke Sanam.
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.[6] The film made her popular, and she acknowledged that even though she had a small role, it was still one of her favourite films.[4] In 1969, her film Do Raaste and Bandhan with Rajesh Khanna became top grossers of the year earning around 65 million and 28 million respectively.[7] She played Rajendra Kumar's 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. She acted opposite Dharmendra as the lead heroine in films like "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."[4] Mumtaz acted with Dharmendra, Feroz Khan, Sanjeev Kumar and Biswajeet, and she acted with Rajesh Khanna in 10 films.[8] Jeetendra and Mumtaz acted in a number of films together, including unsuccessful fims such as "Boond Jo Ban Gai Moti" (1967), Himmat, Kathputli, and Roop Tera Mastana, as well as successful one such as Jigri Dost (1969), Humjoli (where Mumtaz had a cameo role) and Ek Naari Ek Brahmchari (1971).[citation needed] Mumtaz also acted opposite Feroz Khan in Aag (1967), Aadmi Aur Insaan, Upaasna, Mela, Apradh, Nagin; and with Sanjay Khan in Upasana, Dhadkan, Mela.[citation needed]
Mumtaz married millionaire Mayur Madhvani, and at that time was shooting for three films: Aap ki Kasam, Roti and Prem Kahani with Rajesh Khanna. After marrying in 1974, she stayed back in India as she decided to complete these three films and complete her other pending projects of that time Lafange, Nagin. She finally left the film industry in 1976. She returned for an appearance, 12 years later in the 1989 film Aandhiyan, which flopped in India but became successful in Pakistan.[citation needed] After that she turned down all other film offers in Hindi cinema.[citation needed]
In 1996, she received the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award. In June 2008, she was honoured for her "Achievements in Indian Cinema" by the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA), in Bangkok.
Personal life[edit]
Mumtaz in 2010
Mumtaz married Mayur Madhvani on 29 May 1974. They have two daughters, Natasha and Tanya. Natasha, the elder daughter, married the actor Fardeen Khan, son of Feroz Khan, in December 2005. Her sister Mallika is married to Randhawa, film actor and younger brother of Dara Singh.
Mumtaz has acknowledged that she has successfully battled cancer. In 2010 she featured in UniGlobe Entertainment's cancer docudrama 1 a Minute with a number of international stars.
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