# Mumtaz (Indian actress)

Mumtaz Askari Madhvani (née Askari; born 31 July 1947), known mononymously as Mumtaz is an Indian actress who worked in Hindi films. Regarded as one of the finest and most beautiful actress of Hindi cinema, Mumtaz is the recipient of two Filmfare Awards. 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 typecasted 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 Do Raaste (1969). She went on to establish herself as one of the leading actress with films such as - Bandhan (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), Prem Kahani (1975) and Nagin (1976).
After this, she went on a sabbatical of 13 years, 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 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. 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 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.
She received two 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 Bandhan, 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 married businessman Mayur Madhvani in 1974. They have two daughters of whom Natasha is married to Feroz Khan's son Fardeen Khan in 2006. In May 2022, Mumtaz was admitted to Mumbai's Breach Candy Hospital for a stomach infection. Mumtaz had been diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 54. She reportedly underwent six chemotherapies and 35 radiation sessions before becoming cancer-free.
Shammi Kapoor was in love with her and almost proposed marriage, but Mumtaz was not ready to leave her film career (the Kapoors didn't then want married women of their family to work in the film industry).

## Legacy

Mumtaz is regarded as one of the greatest and most beautiful actors of Indian cinema. 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. In 2022, she was placed in Outlook India's "75 Best Bollywood Actresses" list. One of the highest paid actress from late 1960s to early 1970s, Mumtaz appeared in Box Office India's "Top Actresses" list seven times from 1968 to 1974 and topped thrice (1969-1971). Mumtaz was known as a sex symbol during the 1960s and 1970s. She was placed in Times of India's "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 |
| 1958 | Sone Ki Chidiya | Child artist | |
| 1958 | Talaq | Child artist | |
| 1961 | Stree | | |
| 1962 | Vallah Kya Baat Hai | Mala | |
| 1962 | Main Shadi Karne Chala | Lily | |
| 1963 | Sehra | Juhi | |
| 1963 | Rustom Sohrab | Shehroo | |
| 1963 | Mujhe Jeene Do | Farida | |
| 1963 | Gehra Daag | Asha | |
| 1963 | Faulad | Rajkumari Padma | |
| 1964 | Veer Bhimsen | | |
| 1964 | Samson | Princess Shera | |
| 1964 | Qawwali Ki Raat | | |
| 1964 | Hercules | | |
| 1964 | Baaghi | | |
| 1964 | Aandhi Aur Toofan | | |
| 1965 | Tarzan Comes to Delhi | Rekha | |
| 1965 | Tarzan and King Kong | | |
| 1965 | Son of Hatimtai | | |
| 1965 | Sikandar-e-Azam | Cynthia | |
| 1965 | Rustom-E-Hind | | |
| 1965 | Raaka | | |
| 1965 | Mere Sanam | Kamini (Kamo) | |
| 1965 | Khandan | Neelima | |
| 1965 | Kaajal | Jharna | |
| 1965 | Jadui Angoothi | | |
| 1965 | Hum Diwane | | |
| 1965 | Do Dil | Albeli | |
| 1965 | Boxer | | |
| 1965 | Bahu Beti | Savitri | |
| 1966 | Pyas | Sudha | |
| 1966 | Yeh Raat Phir Na Aayegi | Reeta | |
| 1966 | Sawan Ki Ghata | Saloni | |
| 1966 | Saaz Aur Awaaz | | |
| 1966 | Rustom Kaun | | |
| 1966 | Pyar Kiye Jaa | Meena Priyadarshini | |
| 1966 | Pati Patni | Kala | |
| 1966 | Ladka Ladki | Asha | |
| 1966 | Jawan Mard | | |
| 1966 | Daku Mangal Singh | Princess Aruna | |
| 1966 | Daadi Maa | Seema | |
| 1966 | Suraj | Kalavati | |
| 1967 | Woh Koi Aur Hoga | Seema | |
| 1967 | Ram Aur Shyam | Shanta | |
| 1967 | Patthar Ke Sanam | Meena | |
| 1967 | Hamraaz | Shabnam | |
| 1967 | Do Dushman | | |
| 1967 | CID 909 | Reshma | |
| 1967 | Chandan Ka Palna | Sadhana | |
| 1967 | Boond Jo Ban Gayee Moti | Shefali | |
| 1967 | Baghdad Ki Raatein | | |
| 1967 | Aag | Paro | |
| 1968 | Mere Hamdam Mere Dost | Meena | |
| 1968 | Jahan Mile Dharti Akash | | |
| 1968 | Golden Eyes Secret Agent 077 | | |
| 1968 | Gauri | Geeta | |
| 1968 | Brahmachari | Roopa Sharma | |
| 1968 | Apna Ghar Apni Kahani | | |
| 1969 | Shart | Sapna Singh | |
| 1969 | Mera Yaar Mera Dushman | | |
| 1969 | Mera Dost | | |
| 1969 | Jigri Dost | Shobha Das | |
| 1969 | Do Raaste | Reena | |
| 1969 | Bandhan | Gauri Malikram | |
| 1969 | Apna Khoon Apna Dushman | | |
| 1969 | Aadmi Aur Insaan | Rita | |
| 1970 | Sachaa Jhutha | Meena/Rita | |
| 1970 | Pardesi | Myna | |
| 1970 | Khilona | Chand | |
| 1970 | Humjoli | Meena | Guest appearance |
| 1970 | Himmat | Malti | |
| 1970 | Ek Nanhi Munni Ladki Thi | | |
| 1970 | Bhai Bhai | Bijli | |
| 1970 | Maa Aur Mamta | Mary | |
| 1971 | Mela | Laajo | |
| 1971 | Ladki Pasand Hai | | |
| 1971 | Kathputli | Nisha | |
| 1971 | Ek Nari Ek Brahmachari | Meena | |
| 1971 | Chaahat | Sheela | |
| 1971 | Upaasna | Shalu (also Kiran) | |
| 1971 | Tere Mere Sapne | Nisha Patel/Nisha Kumar | |
| 1971 | Hare Rama Hare Krishna | Shanti | |
| 1971 | Dushman | Phoolmati | |
| 1972 | Tangewala | Paro/Chandika | |
| 1972 | Shararat | Radha/Meeta | |
| 1972 | Pyaar Diwana | Mamta | |
| 1972 | Gomti Ke Kinare | Roshni | |
| 1972 | Dharkan | Rekha Prasad | |
| 1972 | Apradh | Meena/Rita | |
| 1972 | Apna Desh | Chanda/Madame Popololita | |
| 1972 | Roop Tera Mastana | Princess Usha/Kiran | Double role |
| 1973 | Raja Rani | Herself | Guest appearance |
| 1973 | Pyaar Ka Rishta | Madhu | |
| 1973 | Bandhe Haath | Mala | |
| 1973 | Loafer | Anju | |
| 1973 | Jheel Ke Us Paar | Neelu | |
| 1974 | Chor Machaye Shor | Rekha | |
| 1974 | Aap Ki Kasam | Sunita | |
| 1974 | Roti | Bijli | |
| 1974 | Aaina | Shalini | |
| 1975 | Prem Kahani | Kamini | |
| 1975 | Lafange | Sapna | |
| 1975 | Aag Aur Toofan | | |
| 1976 | Nagin | Rajkumari | |
| 1990 | Aandhiyan | Shakuntala | |
| 2010 | 1 a Minute | Herself | Docudrama film |

## Accolades

| Year | Award | Category | Film | Result |
| 1968 | Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards | Best Supporting Actress (Hindi) | Brahmachari | Won |
| 1967 | Filmfare Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Ram Aur Shyam | Nominated |
| 1971 | Filmfare Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Aadmi Aur Insaan | Nominated |
| 1971 | Filmfare Awards | Best Actress | Khilona | Won |

### Honours

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