Background and career
Mumtaz Askari Madhvani (née Askari; born 31 July 1947), known mononymously as Mumtaz is an Indian actress who worked in Hindi films. Initially starting out as a child actor and later appearing in B-grade films, she established herself as one of the leading and highest-paid actresses of the late 1960s and early 1970s. Known for portraying feisty, vivacious women on screen in romantic and action dramas, Mumtaz is the recipient of a Filmfare Award and was honoured the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 1997.
Mumtaz made her acting debut at age 11 with Lajwanti (1958), Sone Ki Chidiya (1958), and did smaller roles in films like Stree (1961) and Sehra (1963). Mumtaz was typecast as a "stunt film heroine", with Faulad (1963) and Daku Mangal Singh (1966), which stalled her career. After being praised for her work in Ram Aur Shyam (1967), Mere Hamdam Mere Dost (1968) and Brahmachari (1968), Mumtaz had her career breakthrough with Do Raaste (1969). She went on to establish herself as one of the leading actress with films such as Bandhan (1969), Aadmi Aur Insaan (1969), Sachaa Jhutha (1970), Khilona (1970), which won her the Filmfare Award for Best Actress, Tere Mere Sapne (1971), Hare Rama Hare Krishna (1971), Apna Desh (1972), Loafer (1973), Jheel Ke Us Paar (1973), Chor Machaye Shor (1974), Aap Ki Kasam (1974), Roti (1974) and Prem Kahani (1975).
After this, she went on a sabbatical of 13 years, with the 1990 film Aandhiyan, marked her final film appearance before retirement. Since she retired from acting, Mumtaz has settled in London with her husband, Ugandan businessman Mayur Madhvani with whom she has two daughters. She has been an advocate for breast cancer survivors and has appeared in the 2010 documentary 1 a Minute.
