Raj Kapoor's strict 'bahu rule' didn't let Mumtaz marry Shammi Kapoor: 'He never wanted...'
Veteran actress Mumtaz was known for her striking performances and box office success. She was once the highest-paid actress in the industry. She called off her wedding with superstar Shammi Kapoor for a specific reason, and eventually married businessman Mayur Madhvani. The actress had to quit acting at the peak of her career because her in-laws didn't want her to work in films. Surprisingly, this was also the reason Mumtaz didn't marry Shammi because Raj Kapoor had a strict rule that his daughters-in-law must not work in the film industry.
In a recent interview with Vickey Lalwani, Mumtaz admitted in late 60s, she and Shammi Kapoor wanted to marry after working together in Brahmachari. 'Shammi Kapoor was a very good-looking man, and I liked him. There is nothing to hide, nothing to deny. There was a 17-18 year difference between us, but I didn't care. I wanted to marry him. Whoever he married is a very nice person, a very good human being, a good housewife. But Papa ji (Raj Kapoor) was very strict in those days. There was a rule till he was alive, that ghar ki bahu kaam nahi karegi (daughter-in-law won't work). It was as straightforward as that,' she said.
The actress, whose recent films include Sarkari Baccha, Talvar, and Loafer, added that Prithviraj Kapoor's rule was strictly enforced by the Kapoor family. Mumtaz also missed out on being cast in Mera Naam Joker because she was set to become Shammi Kapoor's wife, and it was believed she couldn't wear short clothes.
When Mumtaz told Raj Kapoor that she and Shammi had cancelled their plans, he didn't budge. 'The rule was enforced by Prithviraj ji – he never wanted the daughters-in-law to work. He was an old-fashioned man,' she recalled. 'Raj ji said, If you get married in the middle of the movie and you're wearing such short clothes, it would be disastrous. He was right. The Kapoor family is highly respected to this day. They wouldn't want the women of the house wearing revealing clothes and jumping around on screen. There was a rule, and they were right,' she added.
When Yash Chopra asked 1000 times to marry Mumtaz, but she…
Yash Chopra was crazy in love with Mumtaz. When he was assisting his brother, BR Chopra, he would show up at her house and would propose her. In a same interview, Mumtaz said, 'Not once, he must've asked me 1000 times. But I was not in love with him, so how could I have married him? I'm exaggerating about 1000 times, but he told me several occasions, 'Aye moti, I love you yaar, marry me'. But, you see, to have such a close relationship with anybody, you have to fall in love with the person. You have to be close to the person, and for that, you have to have chemistry. If you don't have the chemistry, how can you live together as a married couple? I never had that chemistry with him.'
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For her dance and acting, Minu Mumtaz was counted among the best actresses in the 1950s and 1960s. Though she has given hit films one after the other, even today, people remember her films like Kaagaz Ke Phool, Chaudhvin Ka Chand, and Sahib Biwi Aur Ghulam. Let us tell you, Mumtaz told in an interview how she will always remember Dilip Kumar and Mehmood till her death. She said, My dream of doing a film with Dilip Kumar i.e., Yusuf Sahab, would never have been fulfilled if Mehmood had never recommended me. Mumtaz said that at that time, a film of Yusuf Sahab was about to be released, in which he was playing the role of a twin. Let us tell you, the film we are talking about is the film 'Ram Aur Shyam' released in the year 1967. In which Mumtaz played the character of a girl named Shanta. Mumtaz said, I will always be grateful to Mehmood. At that time, I was working with Mehmood, and I came to know that Yusuf sahab's film was about to release, in which he is going to play the role of a twin. At that time, Mehmood had told Yusuf sahab that I am working with this girl (Mumtaz), and she is a very sweet girl. If you work with her, then her life will change. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jyoti Arshika (@jyoti_arshika) Mumtaz praised Dilip Kumar and further said, Yusuf sahab was such a sweet and good person that no one can match him. He told Mehmood to bring that girl. I will talk to him during lunch break and show him Mumtaz's work. Let us tell you, at that time, Mehmood had taken my work reel to show to Yusuf sahab. After which, he praised my work a lot and said that the girl is very good. I will do a film with her. Mumtaz said that working with Dilip Kumar was a big achievement in my career. After I worked with him, after that I started getting offers of films one after the other, and no film rejected me. My name was included in the list of top actresses at that time. Along with this, Mumtaz said that I will also be very grateful to Mehmood.
