Mumtaz Askari Madhvani (born 31 July 1947) is an Indian actress. Primarily known for her work in
Hindi films
Hindi cinema, popularly known as Bollywood and formerly as Bombay cinema, refers to the film industry based in Mumbai, engaged in production of motion pictures in Hindi language. The popular term Bollywood, is a portmanteau of "Bombay" (fo ...
, she is the recipient of a
Filmfare Award
The Filmfare Awards are annual awards that honour artistic and technical excellence in the Hindi-language film industry of India.Al The Filmfare ceremony is one of the most famous film events in India. The awards were first introduced by th ...
and the
Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award
The Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award, initially named Raj Kapoor Award for Lifetime Achievement after Raj Kapoor is given by the ''Filmfare'' magazine as part of its annual Filmfare Awards for Hindi films.
List of honourees
† - Indicates t ...
for her contributions to Hindi cinema.
Born into poverty in an urban slum in
Mumbai
Mumbai (, ; also known as Bombay — the official name until 1995) is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra and the ''de facto'' financial centre of India. According to the United Nations, as of 2018, Mumbai is the second- ...
, Mumtaz made her acting debut at age 11 with ''
Sone Ki Chidiya
The sone () is a unit of loudness, the subjective perception of sound pressure. The study of perceived loudness is included in the topic of psychoacoustics and employs methods of psychophysics. Doubling the perceived loudness doubles the sone ...
'' (1958). Following smaller roles as a teenager in films like; ''
Stree'' (1961), ''
Sehra'' (1963), and ''
Gehra Daag
''Gehra Daag'' () is a 1963 Indian Hindi-language romantic crime drama film directed by O. P. Ralhan. A moderate box-office success, the film became the ninth highest earning film of 1963, earning an approximate gross of Rs.1,40,00,000 and a n ...
'' (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
''Daku Mangal Singh'' is a Bollywood action movie directed by Chand and starring Dara Singh, Mumtaz and Prithviraj Kapoor. The film was released in 1966 under the banner of Pinky Films.
Plot
Mangal Singh terrorises the Dholakpur village, but ...
'' (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
''Ram Aur Shyam'' (English: ''Ram And Shyam'') is a 1967 Indian Hindi-language comedy-drama film directed by Tapi Chanakya. The film is a remake of Chanakya's 1964 Telugu film ''Ramudu Bheemudu''. It stars Dilip Kumar in a double role as twin b ...
'' (1967), ''
Mere Hamdam Mere Dost
''Mere Hamdam Mere Dost'' is a 1968 film starring Dharmendra, Sharmila Tagore, Rehman, Mumtaz and Om Prakash. The music is by Laxmikant Pyarelal and the lyrics by Majrooh Sultanpuri. The film is directed by Amar Kumar and produced by Kewal Kum ...
'' (1968) and ''
Brahmachari'' (1968), Mumtaz had her career breakthrough with
Raj Khosla
Raj Khosla (31 May 1925 – 9 June 1991) was one of the top director, producer and screenwriter in Hindi film industry from the 1950s to the 1980s. He was known for bringing in "neo-noir" and style in Indian cinema, and also as a "women's direc ...
's family drama ''
Do Raaste
''Do Raaste'' (translation: ''Two Paths'') is a 1969 Indian Hindi film directed by Raj Khosla. It stars Rajesh Khanna as the dutiful son and Mumtaz as his love interest. Balraj Sahni and Kamini Kaushal play the eldest son and his wife. Prem Ch ...
'' (1969). She went on to establish herself as one of the leading actresses of Hindi cinema with films; ''
Bandhan'' (1969), ''
Aadmi Aur Insaan
Aadmi Aur Insaan is a 1969 Hindi film produced by B. R. Chopra and directed by Yash Chopra. The film stars Dharmendra, Saira Banu, Feroz Khan, Mumtaz, Johnny Walker, Madan Puri, Ajit, Anwar, Iftekhar, Achla Sachdev, Kamini Kaushal and Nazi ...
'' (1969), ''
Sachaa Jhutha
''Sachaa Jhutha'' (English: "Honest and Liar") is a 1970 Indian Hindi action comedy film directed by Manmohan Desai and produced by Vinod Doshi. The film written by Desai's wife Jeevanprabha, was edited by Kamlakar Kamkhanis. The film starring ...
'' (1970), ''
Khilona'' (1970), ''
Tere Mere Sapne'' (1971), ''
Hare Rama Hare Krishna'' (1971), ''
Apna Desh
''Apna Desh'' () is a 1972 Indian Hindi-language action drama film, produced by A.V. Subramaniam and T.M.Kittu and directed by Jambu. The film stars Rajesh Khanna, Mumtaz, Om Prakash, Jagdeep, Mukkamala, Madan Puri and the credited Roja Ramani, ...
'' (1972), ''
Loafer
Slip-ons are typically low, lace-less shoes. The style which is most commonly seen, known as a loafer or slippers in American culture, has a moccasin construction. One of the first designs was introduced in London by Wildsmith Shoes, called the W ...
'' (1973), ''
Jheel Ke Us Paar
''Jheel Ke Us Paar'' (English: ''On the other side of the lake'') is a 1973 Hindi film produced and directed by Bhappi Sonie. Based on a novel by Gulshan Nanda the film stars Dharmendra, Mumtaz, Prem Chopra, Pran, Yogeeta Bali, Ranjeet and Sha ...
'' (1973), ''
Chor Machaye Shor
''Chor Machaye Shor'' () is a 1974 Indian Hindi-language film directed by Ashok Roy and produced by N. N. Sippy. The film stars Shashi Kapoor, Mumtaz, Danny Denzongpa, Madan Puri, Asrani and Asit Sen. The music is by Ravindra Jain. Asrani e ...
'' (1974), ''
Aap Ki Kasam
''Aap Ki Kasam'' (English: ''I swear by you'') is a 1974 Indian Hindi romance film produced by J. Om Prakash, which also marks his directorial debut. The film stars Rajesh Khanna, Mumtaz, Sanjeev Kumar, Rehman, Asrani and A. K. Hangal. The musi ...
'' (1974), ''
Roti
Roti (also known as chapati) is a round flatbread native to the Indian subcontinent. It is popular in India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Maldives, Myanmar, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Guyana, Suriname, Jamaica, Trini ...
'' (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
Aandhiyan (English: Storms) is a 1990 Hindi film directed by David Dhawan. It stars Shatrughan Sinha, Prosenjit Chatterjee, Madhushree and Mumtaz in her comeback role after 13 years. The film marked Bengali actor Prosenjit Chatterjee's Hindi fi ...
'' (1990), following which she retired from acting.
![Mumtaz (actress)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ae/Mumtaz_%28actress%29.jpg)
During her acting career, Mumtaz carved a niche and became known for her versatility and escaping
typecasting
In film, television, and theatre, typecasting is the process by which a particular actor becomes strongly identified with a specific character, one or more particular roles, or characters having the same traits or coming from the same social or ...
, 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
London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...
with her husband, Ugandan businessman
Mayur Madhvani with whom she has two daughters. She has been an advocate for
Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is cancer that develops from breast tissue. Signs of breast cancer may include a lump in the breast, a change in breast shape, dimpling of the skin, milk rejection, fluid coming from the nipple, a newly inverted nipple, or a r ...
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
Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkmeni ...
. They got divorced just one year after she was born. Her younger sister is actor
Mallika
Mallika is a Hindu/Sanskrit Indian feminine given name, which means "jasmine".''Baby Names''"Given Name Mallika" Retrieved on 27 January 2016. Notable people with the name include:
*Mallika (actress), Indian actress
* Mallika Chabba (born 1985), ...
who was married to wrestler and Indian actor
Randhawa
Randhawa is a Jat clan in the Punjab Region of India and Pakistan. The Randhawa name has special significance in the history of the Sikh faith, the first appointed Granthi (Principal religious official and custodian of the holy book- Guru Gran ...
- 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
''Gehra Daag'' () is a 1963 Indian Hindi-language romantic crime drama film directed by O. P. Ralhan. A moderate box-office success, the film became the ninth highest earning film of 1963, earning an approximate gross of Rs.1,40,00,000 and a n ...
''. She got small roles in successful films such as ''
Mujhe Jeene Do
''Mujhe Jeene Do'' () is a 1963 Hindi film, directed by Moni Bhattacharjee and written by Aghajani Kashmeri. This dacoit drama stars Sunil Dutt, Waheeda Rehman, Nirupa Roy, Rajendranath and Mumtaz.
Shot in the Chambal Valley ravines of ...
''. 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
''Daku Mangal Singh'' is a Bollywood action movie directed by Chand and starring Dara Singh, Mumtaz and Prithviraj Kapoor. The film was released in 1966 under the banner of Pinky Films.
Plot
Mangal Singh terrorises the Dholakpur village, but ...
'', 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.
It took
Raj Khosla
Raj Khosla (31 May 1925 – 9 June 1991) was one of the top director, producer and screenwriter in Hindi film industry from the 1950s to the 1980s. He was known for bringing in "neo-noir" and style in Indian cinema, and also as a "women's direc ...
's blockbuster ''
Do Raaste
''Do Raaste'' (translation: ''Two Paths'') is a 1969 Indian Hindi film directed by Raj Khosla. It stars Rajesh Khanna as the dutiful son and Mumtaz as his love interest. Balraj Sahni and Kamini Kaushal play the eldest son and his wife. Prem Ch ...
'' (1969), starring
Rajesh Khanna
Rajesh Khanna () (; born Jatin Khanna; 29 December 1942 – 18 July 2012) was an Indian actor, film producer and politician who worked in Hindi films. He is called as the "First Superstar of Hindi cinema", he consecutively starred in a record ...
, 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 top grossers of the year 1969, earning around 65 millions and 28 millions respectively. This was quickly followed by a heroine-oriented role in ''
Khilona'' in 1970. She won the
Filmfare Best Actress Award for ''
Khilona'' and was "very happy that the audience accepted her in an emotional role". Her pairing with
Rajesh Khanna
Rajesh Khanna () (; born Jatin Khanna; 29 December 1942 – 18 July 2012) was an Indian actor, film producer and politician who worked in Hindi films. He is called as the "First Superstar of Hindi cinema", he consecutively starred in a record ...
was the most successful, with a total of 10 films. Mumtaz frequently acted with
Feroz Khan and gave hits such as ''
Mela'' (1971), ''
Apradh
''Apradh'' () is a 1972 action thriller romance Hindi film produced and directed by Feroz Khan. It was Feroz Khan's debut as a producer and a director. The film stars Feroz Khan, Mumtaz, Prem Chopra, Iftekhar, Helen, Faryal and Madan Puri. ...
'' (1972) and ''
Nagin'' (1976). She acted opposite
Dharmendra
Dharam Singh Deol (born 8 December 1935), also known mononymously as Dharmendra, is an Indian actor, producer and politician who is known for his work in Hindi films. Known as the first " He-Man" of Bollywood, Dharmendra has worked in over 301 ...
in films such as ''
Loafer
Slip-ons are typically low, lace-less shoes. The style which is most commonly seen, known as a loafer or slippers in American culture, has a moccasin construction. One of the first designs was introduced in London by Wildsmith Shoes, called the W ...
'' and ''
Jheel Ke Us Paar
''Jheel Ke Us Paar'' (English: ''On the other side of the lake'') is a 1973 Hindi film produced and directed by Bhappi Sonie. Based on a novel by Gulshan Nanda the film stars Dharmendra, Mumtaz, Prem Chopra, Pran, Yogeeta Bali, Ranjeet and Sha ...
'' (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
''Chor Machaye Shor'' () is a 1974 Indian Hindi-language film directed by Ashok Roy and produced by N. N. Sippy. The film stars Shashi Kapoor, Mumtaz, Danny Denzongpa, Madan Puri, Asrani and Asit Sen. The music is by Ravindra Jain. Asrani e ...
'' (1973).
Mumtaz quit films after ''
Aaina'' (1977) to concentrate on her family. She made a comeback 13 years later with ''
Aandhiyan
Aandhiyan (English: Storms) is a 1990 Hindi film directed by David Dhawan. It stars Shatrughan Sinha, Prosenjit Chatterjee, Madhushree and Mumtaz in her comeback role after 13 years. The film marked Bengali actor Prosenjit Chatterjee's Hindi fi ...
'' but retired for good when the movie flopped.
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
Fardeen Khan (; born 8 March 1974) is an Indian actor. He is the recipient of a Filmfare Award (1999) and is the son of the actor, director, and film producer Feroz Khan.
Early life and education
Fardeen Khan was born on 8 March 1974 in Mumbai ...
in 2006. In the beginning of May 2022, Mumtaz was admitted to Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital after suffering a stomach infection and was discharged after a week. The veteran actress stated that she suffers from both Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Colitis and the sudden attack of
diarrhea
Diarrhea, also spelled diarrhoea, is the condition of having at least three loose, liquid, or watery bowel movements each day. It often lasts for a few days and can result in dehydration due to fluid loss. Signs of dehydration often begin wi ...
worsened things for her. Mumtaz was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 54. She reportedly underwent six chemotherapies and 35 radiation sessions before becoming cancer-free.
Relationships
Shammi Kapoor
Shammi Kapoor (born Shamsher Raj Kapoor; (pronounced ʌmːi kʌpuːɾ 21 October 1931 – 14 August 2011) was an Indian actor who worked in Hindi cinema. He is the recipient of two Filmfare Awards, winning in the categories of Best Actor for ...
loved her and wanted to marry her too but Mumtaz was not ready to leave her film career at her early age as Kapoor didn't want his wife to work in the film industry after getting married.
Filmography
Awards
Mumtaz won the
Filmfare Award for Best Actress
The Filmfare Award for Best Actress is given by ''Filmfare'' as part of its annual Filmfare Awards for Bollywood, Hindi films, to recognise the female actor who has delivered an outstanding performance in a leading role. The award was first gi ...
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
The Filmfare Awards are annual awards that honour artistic and technical excellence in the Hindi-language film industry of India.Al The Filmfare ceremony is one of the most famous film events in India. The awards were first introduced by th ...
.
During her career, she was awarded with one
Filmfare Award
The Filmfare Awards are annual awards that honour artistic and technical excellence in the Hindi-language film industry of India.Al The Filmfare ceremony is one of the most famous film events in India. The awards were first introduced by th ...
for Best Actress, out of three nominations, and one
BFJA Award Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards commonly referred as BFJA Awards, is given by The Bengal Film Journalists' Association. The BFJA is the oldest association of film critics in India, founded in 1937 to serve the developing film journalism ...
for Best Supporting Actress.
Winner
*
BFJA Award Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards commonly referred as BFJA Awards, is given by The Bengal Film Journalists' Association. The BFJA is the oldest association of film critics in India, founded in 1937 to serve the developing film journalism ...
for Best Supporting Actress – ''
Brahmachari'' (1968)
*
Filmfare Award for Best Actress
The Filmfare Award for Best Actress is given by ''Filmfare'' as part of its annual Filmfare Awards for Bollywood, Hindi films, to recognise the female actor who has delivered an outstanding performance in a leading role. The award was first gi ...
– ''
Khilona'' (1970)
*
Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award
The Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award, initially named Raj Kapoor Award for Lifetime Achievement after Raj Kapoor is given by the ''Filmfare'' magazine as part of its annual Filmfare Awards for Hindi films.
List of honourees
† - Indicates t ...
(1996)
[
* IIFA Outstanding Contribution by an Indian in Cinema, Honorary Award (2008)]
Nominated
*Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress
The Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress is given by ''Filmfare'' as part of its annual Filmfare Awards for Hindi films, to recognise a female actor who has delivered an outstanding performance in a supporting role. Although the Filmfare ...
– ''Ram Aur Shyam
''Ram Aur Shyam'' (English: ''Ram And Shyam'') is a 1967 Indian Hindi-language comedy-drama film directed by Tapi Chanakya. The film is a remake of Chanakya's 1964 Telugu film ''Ramudu Bheemudu''. It stars Dilip Kumar in a double role as twin b ...
'' (1967)
*Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress
The Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress is given by ''Filmfare'' as part of its annual Filmfare Awards for Hindi films, to recognise a female actor who has delivered an outstanding performance in a supporting role. Although the Filmfare ...
– ''Aadmi Aur Insaan
Aadmi Aur Insaan is a 1969 Hindi film produced by B. R. Chopra and directed by Yash Chopra. The film stars Dharmendra, Saira Banu, Feroz Khan, Mumtaz, Johnny Walker, Madan Puri, Ajit, Anwar, Iftekhar, Achla Sachdev, Kamini Kaushal and Nazi ...
'' (1969)
References
External links
*
Profile of Mumtaz's career
Mumtaz
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mumtaz
Living people
1947 births
20th-century Indian actresses
Actresses in Hindi cinema
Indian film actresses
People from Jamshedpur
Actresses from Jharkhand
British actresses of Indian descent
Filmfare Awards winners
Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award winners