Happy Birthday Mumtaz: ’70s hits would have been incomplete without this glamorous star

Mumtaz was the star that Rajesh Khanna needed (alongwith Sharmila Tagore) to come up with the ever popular songs from the Bollywood films from 1970s. On her birthday, a look at her best songs.

In her heydays, actor Mumtaz was among the most sought-after female actors of the time. If you have loved the songs of Rajesh Khanna, it is important to know that the reason they were so magical was because many others worked to make them so wonderful. If Rajesh’s mannerisms seem so apt in these songs, the songs themselves were made amazing thanks to the contributions of Kishore Kumar (singer), Anand Bakshi (poet) and RD Burman (music composer). And an important aspect, however, was the female actors on whom the songs were picturised. With Mumtaz, some songs had a certain innocence while others were full on, in terms of glamour.

Mumtaz was a top-billed star of late 1960s and early 1970s.

Born Mumtaz Askari (later Madhvani), she started out as a chid artiste in the late 1950s. She subsequently graduated to doing adult roles by 1960s with Gehra Daag (1963). During this period she featured in as many as 16 films with Dara Singh in what were called action films and later got dubbed as a stunt heroine. She had to wait for nearly a decade after her film debut to get the recognition as a star, which was with Do Raaste, where she starred with Rajesh.

In the years to come, she formed not only a formidable pairing with Rajesh but also with Dev Anand. With Rajesh, she starred in as many as 10 films. Many songs from their films were major hits and still rule the roost in the retro sections of FM stations.

Mumbaz starred in a number of hit films with Dev Anand too, songs of which were superhits as well.

After ruling the box office from 1969 till mid ’70s, Mumtaz called it quits from showbiz after marrying UK-based industrialist, Mayur Madhvani. She has two daughters with him, Natasha (married to Fardeen Khan) and Tanya.

On her birthday, here’s a look at some of most-loved songs.

Do Raaste (1969)
Chhup Gaye Sare Nazare and Bindiya Chamkegi

Aap Ki Kasam (1974)
Jai Jai Shiv Shankar
Suno Kaho Kaha Suna
Karwaten Badalte Rahe
Zindagi Ke Safar Mein

Roti (1974)
Gorey Rang Pe Na Itna Gumaan Kar
Yeh Public Hai, Public Hai

Sachaa Jhuttha (1970)
Yunhi Tum Mujhse Baat Karti Ho

Prem Kahani (1975)
Chal Dariya Mein Doob Jaayen
Prem Kahani Mein Eik Ladka Hota Hai

Loafer (1973)
Aaj Mausam Bada Beimaan Hai

Khilona (1970)
Khilona Jaan Kar Tum Toh

Hare Rama Hare Krishna (1971)
Kanchi Re Kanchi Re

Tere Mere Sapne (1971)
Ae Maine Kasam Li

Chor Machaye Shor (1974)
Le Jayenge Le Jayenge

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