She was the highest-paid actress in Bollywood, Rajesh Khanna's ‘right hand', left it all at 28: ‘His family said I couldn't work…'

Time of India

3 days ago

Leaving a Flourishing Career Behind
Accepting the Reality of an Actress's Career Span
Adapting to a New Life and Traditions
Facing Turmoil Within Her Marriage
Coping with Betrayal and a Momentary Escape
A Brief Return to the Screen and Final Goodbye
She was at the top of her career, with box-office hits such as 'Aap Ki Kasam,' 'Khilona,' 'Do Raaste,' 'Roti,' etc. to her kitty, charging as high as Rs 7.5 lakh per film. Yet Mumtaz didn't think twice, when she bid adieu to Bollywood and decided to focus on home and hearth after she tied the knot with Ugandan businessman Mayur Madhvani. In an old interview with ETimes, the actress explained why she took such a drastic decision to step away from a thriving career.She said there was a pragmatic reason why she made the decision to marry at the peak of her career. She firmly believed that there's a right time for every woman to settle down, and when her moment arrived, she embraced it. Looking back at her contemporaries who remained single, she acknowledged that her path was different. Having found a partner who truly cared for her, she made the decision to leave the film industry behind. At that point, she had grown weary of the demands and chaos of the film world and felt ready for a quieter chapter in life.'I found a good man who loved me, so I chucked it all. I was fed up with films,' she told ETimes.Mumtaz's frequent on-screen collaborator, Rajesh Khanna, with whom she delivered multiple blockbusters, mourned the loss of his number one leading lady.In a chat with Pinkvilla, she said that when news of her retirement broke out, Rajesh Khanna lamented, 'I lost my right hand!' She added, 'Kaka was too proud a man to say it to my face.'Incidentally, each of their films struck gold at the box-office. 'None of my films with Kaka flopped (from Do Raaste to Prem Kahani between 1969-1975). We didn't give a single dud. Shayad hamare sitare milte the (Maybe our stars aligned). We were lucky for each other,' she said.At the peak of her career, Mumtaz was the highest-paid actress in the industry. Yet, when her future in-laws expressed their disapproval of her continuing to act, she gave it all up. The Madhvani family made it clear that acting would not be part of her future, and she complied with their wishes. At the young age of 28, while commanding a fee of Rs. 7.5 lakh per film—a sum few others could claim—she walked away from the glamour of cinema. It was a monumental decision, but one she took willingly in favor of building a family life.'At the time of my marriage, the Madhvani family said that I couldn't continue working. So I quit my job and got married at a time when I was the highest-paid actress…' she said.Mumtaz's family, particularly her parents, supported her choice and helped her see the realities of the profession. They reminded her that actresses often have a limited shelf life in the industry, and as age sets in, roles become scarce or stereotypical—often limited to playing a mother or aunt. Unlike families who press their daughters to keep working for financial reasons, hers allowed her to leave when she chose to, despite her enormous earnings. She valued their understanding and unselfishness deeply.Becoming part of a conservative Gujarati household came with its own set of changes. Mumtaz had to learn to adjust to new customs and take on domestic responsibilities. She taught herself to prepare traditional dishes like dal-dhokli, khandvi, and undhiyu, and gradually became an accomplished home cook. However, her journey into motherhood wasn't smooth. Before welcoming her daughter Natasha, she endured multiple miscarriages. One pregnancy was so difficult that she spent half a year confined to bed. These struggles made her role as a mother all the more meaningful.Despite the sacrifices, Mumtaz's married life wasn't free from challenges. At one point, her husband's involvement with another woman shook the foundation of their relationship. Though deeply hurt, she chose to remain committed. She believed a single lapse shouldn't destroy a lifelong bond. She defended her husband, acknowledging that while he was handsome and made a mistake, it didn't define their relationship. Instead of abandoning him, she decided to stand by him.'I was not going to give up a marriage because of a stray incident. My husband is not a flirt; he's a good-looking man. He made a mistake. Rather than dumping him, I chose to be by his side,' she stated.In the interview with Pinkvilla, she said, 'It's quite common for men to have affairs discreetly; at least he only had one…'In another candid moment, Mumtaz reflected on how her husband had openly admitted to being fond of someone in the United States, though he assured her that he would never abandon their marriage. She appreciated his honesty. Still, the betrayal left her emotionally wounded. In response to her loneliness, she returned to India for a while and, during that vulnerable period, found temporary companionship in another man. It wasn't a lasting connection, just a brief emotional detour that soon ended.Years after stepping away, Mumtaz attempted a return to acting with the 1990 film Aandhiyan. However, the film didn't perform well commercially. The disappointing reception led her to retire from films permanently, closing the chapter on a celebrated yet voluntarily abbreviated acting career.