Recollecting Nostalgia and Stardom: Mumtaz Reflects on Rajesh Khanna’s Downfall
Veteran Bollywood actress Mumtaz has opened up about her late co-star Rajesh Khanna and the tumultuous decline of his career. The two actors shared an electric on-screen chemistry in the late 60s and early 70s, creating a lasting legacy with movies like ‘Do Raaste’, ‘Bandhan’, ‘Dushmun,’ and ‘Roti’. During their heyday, the duo’s films were instant hits, attracting legions of fans and immense box office success. Rajesh Khanna, often heralded as the first superstar of Hindi cinema, saw his rise and subsequent fall play out as a very public spectacle.
Speaking in an interview with Rediff, Mumtaz revisited those times, offering candid reflections on Khanna’s journey. “Without your love, we are nothing. It wasn’t entirely Rajesh Khanna’s fault,” she recounted. She remembered when Khanna was at the pinnacle of his career, often described as a phenomenon. “My bungalow was very close to his, and I have seen big-name producers and directors behaving like his chamchas,” she added, pointing at the sycophantic behavior surrounding him.
Rajesh Khanna’s personal life was as much in the spotlight as his professional one. His girlfriend at the time, Anju Mahendru, often played host throughout the night, serving guests food and drinks till the wee hours of the morning. “I have seen the same night-long sessions in Shammi Kapoor’s home. He used to spend a fortune on entertaining guests,” Mumtaz noted, drawing parallels between the lifestyles of Khanna and Kapoor.
Mumtaz expressed her disapproval over the obsequious behavior of producers and directors, criticizing their tendency to dance to the tunes of successful actors. “This is the reason why I appreciate filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali,” she pointed out, commending Bhansali’s professional approach. “He does his work, treats his actors with respect, and goes home.
. You are paying the actors; why do you need to do their chamchagiri?”
Apart from Khanna, Mumtaz also reflected on the downfall of another celebrated actor, Shammi Kapoor, whom she had briefly dated. She remarked that Kapoor, despite his initial vigor, eventually became laid back, losing interest in pursuing extensive work. “However, whenever he took up any work, he would do it with seriousness and dedication,” she acknowledged.
In another interview with Zoom, Mumtaz had discussed a personal aspect of her life, revealing the reasons behind turning down a marriage proposal from Shammi Kapoor when she was just 17. Kapoor had proposed marriage under the condition that she would give up her acting career post-marriage, in keeping with the norms of the Kapoor family. “I told him I couldn’t marry him because I wanted to work and fulfill my dreams. I didn’t want to be a homemaker, taking care of his children and managing the household,” Mumtaz confessed. This refusal led to a significant fallout, with Kapoor accusing her of pretending to love him just to land big films opposite him. “This left me completely heartbroken,” she added.
Mumtaz and Rajesh Khanna’s films captured the essence of Indian cinema during their era, embodying the charm, romance, and drama that defined Bollywood. However, the pressures and expectations of stardom took their toll. Khanna’s decline was marked by a mix of personal choices and external influences, a theme Mumtaz elaborates on with a sense of nostalgia and poignant realism.
Rajesh Khanna’s reign as the superstar of Bollywood may have waned, but his contributions to Indian cinema remain indelible. His collaboration with Mumtaz, one of Bollywood’s most beloved pairs, continues to be fondly remembered by cinephiles. As Mumtaz reminisces about those golden days and the subsequent downturns, her reflections offer a glimpse into the complexities of stardom and the fleeting nature of fame in the cinematic world.
