Mumtaz on leaving Bollywood at her peak: I was the highest paid actress who charged Rs 7.5 lakh per film but my mother in-law didn't...

Mumtaz on leaving Bollywood at her peak: I was the highest paid actress who charged Rs 7.5 lakh per film but my mother in-law didn't...

Veteran actress Mumtaz has opened up about the real reason behind her abrupt exit from Hindi cinema during the peak of her career. In a candid conversation with journalist Vickey Lalwani, Mumtaz revealed that it was not her choice to leave films but a decision influenced by her in-laws and family circumstances.

Known for her powerful screen presence and massive box office appeal, Mumtaz was one of the highest-paid actresses of her time. She charged a whopping Rs 7.5 lakh per film during the 1970s, a rare feat for any actress back then. “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?” she shared, adding, “Yet, when they said I couldn’t work anymore, I left the job.”

After marrying Ugandan businessman Mayur Madhvani in 1974, Mumtaz moved to London. She admitted that the Madhvani family, particularly her in-laws, were not supportive of her continuing her acting career. “At the time of my marriage, the Madhvani family said that I couldn’t continue working,” she said, explaining how cultural expectations played a significant role in the decision. Her mother, being a conservative Iranian, also believed that settling into a stable family life was more important than the uncertainties of the film industry.

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Despite her early exit, Mumtaz holds no bitterness. In fact, she appreciates her family’s concern and support. “My family members were not selfish people who kept pushing me to keep working to bring in more money. My mother was a very orthodox person, hailing from Iran. I actually respect my family for letting go of a girl who was making crores at that time,” she explained.

While she acknowledged feeling a tinge of regret for stepping away, Mumtaz also believes that leaving while she was at the top helped cement her legacy. “I still believe my legacy lives on precisely because I bowed out while still at the top,” she remarked.

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Mumtaz also shared that she had to turn down some major film offers due to low remuneration that didn’t match her stature.

One such project was the iconic ‘Seeta Aur Geeta’ (1972), written by Salim-Javed and directed by Ramesh Sippy. “Ramesh Sippy ji offered me very little money. So, I said I wouldn’t work at that price,” she said. Even today, she maintains the same principle. “Even today, when they call me to work in TV, I don’t accept jobs that offer just Rs 2–3 lakh,” she stated.

She emphasized that she isn’t being arrogant but knows her worth. “I have a fixed price. I am not being rude. But if they want me and believe that I am worth it, then they should pay properly,” she added firmly.

The actress made a brief comeback in 1990 with the film ‘Aandhiyan’ and later appeared in the docudrama ‘1 a Minute’ in 2010. However, she largely stayed away from the limelight and dedicated herself to her family.