Mumtaz, one of Hindi cinema’s most iconic and versatile actresses, has seen a life full of dazzling stardom and personal storms. From her humble beginnings in a Mumbai slum to becoming the highest-paid actress of her era, her story is as dramatic and compelling as the films she once ruled.Making her debut at just 11 in Sone Ki Chidiya, Mumtaz went on to star in cult classics like Bandhan, Sachaa Jhutha, Khilona, and Hare Rama Hare Krishna, becoming a favorite across top male leads of the 70s. But beyond the limelight, her personal life was far from perfect.Mumtaz on heartbreak and her brief affairDespite marrying industrialist Mayur Madhvani in 1974 and raising two daughters with him, Mumtaz’s marriage saw turbulent times. In a previous interview with Pinkvilla, she revealed that her husband confessed to an affair during a trip to the United States. His honesty shattered her, but she chose to forgive him.Still, the betrayal left its scars.“Honestly, after the episode, I began feeling lonely. Main thodi rubabwali thi. I felt hurt. So, I flew down to India,” Mumtaz admitted. “When you’re amidst thorns and someone comes along with a rose, you do get carried away. But it was nothing serious. Just a temporary phase, which ended soon.”The actress clarified that her own extra-marital relationship was short-lived and not serious, a way to process the pain and emotional abandonment she had experienced.Silent struggles: Miscarriages and medical complicationsWhile Mumtaz is often remembered for her radiant smile and unforgettable performances, her journey into motherhood was marked by grief and endurance. She revealed suffering through three to four miscarriages before successfully carrying her pregnancy to term.
Doctors had advised complete bed rest, and Mumtaz recalled spending her days lying flat, only moving to use the washroom. “I had to take hormone injections in the morning and tablets in the evening,” she revealed, underlining the mental and physical toll of the experience.The love that could’ve been: Shammi Kapoor and MumtazBefore marrying Mayur Madhvani, Mumtaz had fallen for her Brahmachari co-star, Shammi Kapoor. Their chemistry was undeniable, and Shammi even proposed. But she turned him down.“I was just 17 and didn’t want to give up my career,” she had once stated in an earlier interview. At the peak of her success, Mumtaz wasn’t ready to let marriage cut her career short — something that was often expected of actresses at the time.
