31/07/2026
Happy 79th Birthday to Mumtaz! A wish for you on your birthday, whatever you ask may you receive, whatever you seek may you find, whatever you wish may it be fulfilled on your birthday and always.
On July 31, 1947 Abdul Sameed Askari and Sardar Begum Habib Agha, both of Iranian origin but settled in Bombay, India, were blessed with a daughter, who they decided to name Mumtaz, who would be sister to Malika, and step-sister to Shazhath and Sharook and cousin of villain Roopesh Kumar.
Mumtaz' only Filmi connections were through her actress sister, Malika, which soon ended when Malika got married and quit Bollywood.
Mumtaz first starred as a child artiste in 1952 in 'Sanskar'.
Thereafter she appeared in 'Yasmin', 'Stree', 'Wallah Kya Baat Hai', 'Main Shaadi Karne Chala', 'Dr. Vidya', 'Sehra', 'Rustom Sohrab' and 'Mujhe Jeene Do'.
Her first role as an adult was in 1963 'Gehra Daag'. Thereafter she starred opposite Dara Singh in 'Faulad'. This heralded to the public at large that Mumtaz had arrived. Her career, in just over a decade, would span close to 115 movies.Opposite Dara Singh - Faulad, Veer Bhimsen, Samson , Hercules, Tarzan Comes to Delhi, Sikandar E Azam, Rustom-E-Hind, Raaka, Boxer, Daku Mangal Singh were successful.She became the top paid B grade film heroine in period 1963-1968 and earned 2.5 lakhs per film she starred with Dara Singh.
Between the years 1963 through to 1977 Mumtaz is remembered for her roles in 'Roti', 'Dushmun', 'Sacha Jhutha' 'Prem Kahani', 'Aap Ki Kasam', 'Bandhan' & 'Do Raaste' opposite Rajesh Khanna; an award winning performance in 'Khilona' opposite Sanjeev Kumar; 'Chor Machaye Shor' with Shashi Kapoor; 'Jheel Ke Us Paar', 'Loafer' & 'Mere Hamdam Mere Dost' with Dharmendra; 'Apradh' opposite Feroz Khan; 'Tangewala' opposite Rajendra Kumar; 'Hare Rama Hare Krishna' & 'Tere Mere Sapne' with Dev Anand; 'Upasna' & 'Mela' with Sanjay Khan; 'Humnjoli' with Jeetendra; 'Brahmachari' opposite Shammi Kapoor; 'Hamraaz' with Raaj Kumar; 'Ram Aur Shyam' with Dilip Kumar.
Whether she played a child artiste, a vamp, a character actress, or the leading lady, Mumtaz gave the role her very best, and thus carved a name for herself in the minds of her fans, viewers, and movie makers.
Mumtaz won the Best Actress award for her character as Chand in 'Khilona' during 1970, and in 1996 went to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Mumtaz quit Bollywood after she married Mayur Madhwani in 1974 but left India only after completing her films opposite Rajesh Khanna in 1976 and thereafter re-located to Britain. There she gave birth to two daughters, Natasha and Tanya.
In 2006 Mumtaz was again in the headlines in India when Natasha got married to Feroz Khan's son, Fardeen Khan.
(1958) (1961), (1969) (1969), (1969), (1970), (1970), (1971), (1971), (1972), (1973), (1973), (1974), (1974), (1974), (1975) (1976)
