Veteran actress Mumtaz continues to command love and admiration from fans of Hindi cinema. Known for her striking performances and box office success, she was once the highest-paid actress in the industry. Yet, her career came to an abrupt halt in the mid-1970s when she stepped away from films to prioritise her family.
In a recent conversation with Vickey Lalwani, Mumtaz revealed that her decision to quit acting wasn’t voluntary. After marrying Ugandan businessman Mayur Madhvani in 1974, she moved to London and cut ties with the film world—largely because her in-laws were against her continuing in the profession. “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. Who else charged Rs 7.5 lakh per film? Yet, when they said I couldn’t work anymore, I left the job,” she said.
Mumtaz about leaving the industry
The ‘Ram Aur Shyam’ actress expressed a tinge of regret over her early exit from cinema. But she acknowledged that her family, especially her conservative Iranian mother, had her best interests at heart. She recalled her parents’ words about how inconsistent the industry is. They told her that once she reached her late 40s, she would be typecast into certain roles. They wanted her to be part of a good family after marriage.