Mumtaz

Mumtaz Askari Madhvani (née Askari; born 31 July 1947), known mononymously as Mumtaz is an Indian actress who worked in Hindi films. Initially starting out as a child actor and later appearing in B-grade films, she established herself as one of the leading and highest-paid actresses of the late 1960s and early 1970s. Known for portraying feisty, vivacious women on screen in romantic and action dramas, Mumtaz is the recipient of a Filmfare Award and was honoured the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 1997.

Mumtaz made her acting debut at age 11 with Lajwanti (1958), Sone Ki Chidiya (1958), and did smaller roles in films like Stree (1961) and Sehra (1963). Mumtaz was typecast as a "stunt film heroine", with Faulad (1963) and Daku Mangal Singh (1966), which stalled her career. After being praised for her work in Ram Aur Shyam (1967), Mere Hamdam Mere Dost (1968) and Brahmachari (1968), Mumtaz had her career breakthrough with Do Raaste (1969). She went on to establish herself as one of the leading actress with films such as (1969), Aadmi Aur Insaan (1969), Sachaa Jhutha (1970), Khilona (1970), which won her the Filmfare Award for Best Actress, 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) and Prem Kahani (1975).

After this, she went on a sabbatical of 13 years, with the 1990 film Aandhiyan, marked her final film appearance before retirement. Since she retired from acting, Mumtaz 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 2010 documentary 1 a Minute.

Early life Mumtaz Askari was born to Abdol Samad Askari (a dry fruits vendor) and Shadi Habib Agha who hailed from Mashhad, Iran. Her father hailed from a family of imams. Her parents got divorced just one year after she was born. Her elder sister is actor Mallika who was married to wrestler and Indian actor Randhawa – younger brother of wrestler and actor Dara Singh.

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 hero's sister 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.

She received her only nominations for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performances in Ram Aur Shyam (1967) and Aadmi Aur Insaan (1969). It took Raj Khosla's blockbuster family drama Do Raaste (1969), starring Rajesh Khanna, to finally make Mumtaz a full-fledged star. Mumtaz had a decorative heroine's role and director Khosla had filmed four songs with her. The film made her popular, and she acknowledged that even though she had a small role, it was one of her most favourite films. Do Raaste and , both with Rajesh Khanna, became the top grossers of the year 1969, earning around Rs. 65 million and Rs. 28 million respectively. This was followed by a heroine-oriented role in Khilona in 1970, for which she won her first and only Filmfare Award for Best Actress and was "very happy that the audience accepted her in an emotional role". Her pairing with Rajesh Khanna was the most successful, with a total of 10 films. Mumtaz frequently acted with Feroz Khan and gave hits such as Mela (1971), Apradh (1972) and Nagin (1976). She acted opposite Dharmendra in films such as Loafer and Jheel Ke Us Paar (1973). Shashi Kapoor, who had earlier refused Sachaa Jhutha opposite her because she was a "stunt-film heroine" acted with her in Chor Machaye Shor (1973). Mumtaz quit films after the drama Aaina (1977) to concentrate on her family. She made a comeback 13 years later with Aandhiyan (1990) but retired for good when the movie flopped.

Personal life Mumtaz was initially engaged to actor Shammi Kapoor but she broke it off as the Kapoors wanted her to give up her career after marriage. She married Ugandan businessman Mayur Madhvani, of Gujarati descent, in 1974. They have two daughters, of whom Natasha married Feroz Khan's son Fardeen Khan in 2006.

Though born into a Muslim family, Mumtaz has stated that she holds faith in Hindu deities, specifically Shiva and Ganesha. She has also expressed her disapproval of polygamy in Islam, citing her happiness with her monogamous marriage to Madhvani, who is a Hindu.

In May 2022, Mumtaz was admitted to Mumbai's Breach Candy Hospital for a stomach infection. She was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 54. She reportedly underwent six chemotherapies and 35 radiation sessions before becoming cancer-free.

Artisty and legacy Mumtaz is regarded as one of the most iconic and greatest actresses of Hindi cinema. During her acting career, Mumtaz carved a niche and became known for her vivaciousness and spontaneity escaping the tag of a stunt film heroine, which initially had stalled her career in the first place. In 2022, she was placed in Outlook Indias "75 Best Bollywood Actresses" list. One of the highest paid actress from the late 1960s to mid 1970s, Mumtaz appeared in Box Office Indias "Top Actresses" list six times from 1969 to 1974 and topped twice, (1970-1971). Mumtaz was known as a sex symbol during the 1960s and 1970s. She was placed in Times of Indias "50 Beautiful Faces" list. Mumtaz is considered among the hottest Bollywood actresses of all time. Dewy glow and draped sari style were some of the style statements of Mumtaz that are still relevant in the fashion world.

Filmography Year Title Role Notes 1952 Sanskar Child artist 1955 Yasmin Child artist 1958 Sone Ki Chidiya Child artist Talaq Child artist Lajwanti Child artist 1960 Zameen Ke Tare 1961 Stree 1962 Vallah Kya Baat Hai Mala/Kelewali Main Shadi Karne Chala Lily Pathan 1963 Sehra Juhi Rustom Sohrab Shehroo Mujhe Jeene Do Farida Gehra Daag Asha Faulad Rajkumari Padma 1964 Veer Bhimsen Samson Princess Shera Qawwali Ki Raat Hercules Baaghi Aandhi Aur Toofan Mala 1965 Tarzan Comes to Delhi Rekha Tarzan and King Kong Sharmila Son of Hatimtai Sikandar-e-Azam Cynthia Rustom-E-Hind Raaka Kajri Mere Sanam Kamini (Kamo) Khandan Neelima Shyamlal Kaajal Jharna Jadui Angoothi Hum Diwane Do Dil Albeli Boxer Rita Bahu Beti Savitri 1966 Pyas Sudha Yeh Raat Phir Na Aayegi Reeta Sawan Ki Ghata Saloni Saaz Aur Awaaz Rustom Kaun Juwala Pyar Kiye Jaa Meena Priyadarshini Pati Patni Kala Ladka Ladki Asha Jawan Mard Daku Mangal Singh Princess Aruna Daadi Maa Seema Suraj Kalavati 1967 Woh Koi Aur Hoga Seema Ram Aur Shyam Shanta Patthar Ke Sanam Meena Hamraaz Shabnam Do Dushman CID 909 Reshma Chandan Ka Palna Sadhana Boond Jo Ban Gayee Moti Shefali Baghdad Ki Raatein Aag Paro 1968 Mere Hamdam Mere Dost Meena Jahan Mile Dharti Akash Unreleased film Golden Eyes Secret Agent 077 Seema Gauri Geeta Vidhana Naach Nachawe Bhojpuri film Brahmachari Roopa Sharma Apna Ghar Apni Kahani 1969 Shart Sapna Singh Mera Yaar Mera Dushman Mera Dost Jigri Dost Shobha Das Do Raaste Reena Gauri Malikram Apna Khoon Apna Dushman Aadmi Aur Insaan Rita 1970 Sachaa Jhutha Meena/Rita Pardesi Meena Khilona Chand Won: Filmfare Award for Best Actress Humjoli Meena Guest appearance Himmat Malti Ek Nanhi Munni Ladki Thi Bhai Bhai Bijli Maa Aur Mamta Mary 1971 Mela Laajo Ladki Pasand Hai Rajni/Rekha/Heerabai Kathputli Nisha Ek Nari Ek Brahmachari Meena Chaahat Sheela Upaasna Shalu Pradhan/Kiran Tere Mere Sapne Nisha Patel/Nisha Kumar Hare Rama Hare Krishna Shanti Dushman Phoolmati 1972 Tangewala Paro/Chandika Shararat Radha/Meeta Pyaar Diwana Mamta Gomti Ke Kinare Roshni Das Dharkan Rekha Prasad Apradh Meena/Rita Apna Desh Chanda/Madame Popololita Roop Tera Mastana Princess Usha/Kiran Double role 1973 Raja Rani Herself Guest appearance Pyaar Ka Rishta Madhu Bandhe Haath Mala Loafer Anju Jheel Ke Us Paar Neelu 1974 Chor Machaye Shor Rekha Aap Ki Kasam Sunita Bhatnagar Roti Bijli Aaina Shalini Shastri 1975 Prem Kahani Kamini Sinha Lafange Sapna Dhanraj Aag Aur Toofan 1976 Nagin Rajkumari 1990 Aandhiyan Shakuntala 2010 1 a Minute Herself Docudrama film

Accolades

Honours Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 1997 at the 42nd Filmfare Awards. IIFA Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008 at the 9th IIFA Awards.