31-07-2025
The Bollywood Icon Who Mentored Rajesh Khanna But Lost Stardom To Zeenat Aman
Mumtaz, the quintessential beauty of the 1960s and '70s, mesmerised audiences to the extent that people would whistle in cinemas at the mere sight of her. Her on-screen chemistry with any leading man was always a recipe for success, though she shared an especially close bond with Rajesh Khanna. However, she chose to step away from acting following her marriage.
Having worked alongside cinematic legends such as Dharmendra, Rajesh Khanna, Shammi Kapoor, Dara Singh, and Sanjeev Kumar, Mumtaz celebrates her birthday on July 31. Her elegance and charm remain as captivating as ever.
Interestingly, Mumtaz often helped superstar Rajesh Khanna with his dancing. In an interview with Pakistani actor Ahsan Khan, she revealed that Rajesh Khanna struggled with the choreography of a popular song, and she took it upon herself to teach him the steps. She frequently assisted him with dance routines and even regarded herself as his mentor in that regard.
Whenever discussions arise about the most beautiful actresses of Hindi cinema from the 1960s and '70s, Mumtaz's name is invariably mentioned at the top. Her life story reads like a film script — a humble beginning, countless struggles, and eventually a life of glamour.
Initially pigeonholed as a 'stunt film heroine for hire', Mumtaz was born on July 31, 1947 in Mumbai, Maharashtra. Her birth name was Mumtaz Begum Jahan Dehlvi. She entered the film industry as a child artist at the age of 11 and carved her path through sheer determination and hard work.
A pivotal moment in her career came with the 1963 film Faulad, in which she starred opposite the renowned wrestler-actor Dara Singh. This action film marked a turning point, leading to several more collaborations with Dara Singh in films such as Veer Bhimsen (1964), Sikander-e-Azam (1965), Raaka (1965), Tarzan Comes to Delhi (1965), Rustam-e-Hind (1965), Boxer (1965), Daku Mangal Singh (1966) and Jung Aur Aman (1968).
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Mumtaz also appeared in a small role in the 1971 film Hare Rama Hare Krishna, which had Zeenat Aman in the lead. Zeenat Aman's captivating performance won over audiences and propelled her to stardom almost overnight, gradually leading to her replacing Mumtaz in subsequent films. With Zeenat Aman's rise, Mumtaz's dominance in the film industry began to wane.
