Mumtaz (actress)

Mumtaz (actress)

Mumtaz (born 31 July 1947, Bombay) is an actress of Hindi Cinema, who appeared in a number of Hindi movies. Started to act at the age of twelve, she made her debut in 1961 with film Stree and then she acted in many low-budget movies, then known as B-grade movies opposite Dara Singh in 16 action movies of which 10 were successful, like Boxer, Herculus, Samson, etc. In A-grade movies, she caught attention with 1965 hit 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 role, like Patthar Ke Sanam, Ram Aur Shyam, Brahmchari. But it was 1969 hit movie Do Raaste which made her an overnight star actress. It was one of her first A-grade movies as the heroine and her first movie with actor Rajesh Khanna, with whom she made a successful pairing. The 1970s proved to be an era which established Mumtaz as one of the most successful actress of Hindi Cinema and also she was widely recoganised as the most beautiful and the best actress of Hindi Cinema. She appeared in a number of commercially and critically successful movies like Sachaa Jhutha (1970), Khilona (1970), Tere Mere Sapne (1971), Apna Desh (1972), Chor Machaye Shor (1973), Roti (1974), Prem Kahani (1975). At the peak of her career, she married a business tycoon, Mayur Madhvani, and took a break from movies.

In her short career, she was awarded with one Filmfare Award for Best Actress, out of three nominations, and one BFJA Award for Best Supporting Actress.