Veteran actress Mumtaz was labeled as B-grade actor until she worked with Dilip Kumar; recalls bonding with Rajesh Khanna

Veteran actress Mumtaz Askari Madhvani was one of the popular names of Bollywood in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Patthar Ke Sanam, Roti, Do Raaste, Brahmchari, Loafer, and Sachaa Jhutha are among her popular movies. However, in her initial days, before achieving stardom, she was labeled as a B-grade actor until she worked with the legendary actor Dilip Kumar.

During an interview with Dawn News, she talked about her initial days of struggle in Bollywood. The actress said, she started acting at the age of 11 but she was labeled as a B-grade actor as she was doing small roles.

The actress was quoted as saying, "I was given the label of a B-grade actor because I did a lot of small roles. I also did comedy with Mehmood Bhaijaan. I just closed my eyes and worked."

Further, she added, "I thought the rest is in God's hands. My start in the film industry was wrong. I won't blame the heroes for not working with me because everyone wants to climb the ladder of success."

The actress recalled how things changed after Dilip Kumar agreed to work with her on Ram Aur Shyam. 

Recalling the incident, the actress said, "Mehmood bhaijaan showed one of my reels of my acting in Pyaar Kiye Jaa to Dilip Kumar Sahab and asked him if he would work with me in Ram Aur Shyam. Dilip Sahab agreed and I was cast in Ram Aur Shyam. The rest is history."

And things changed for her after that.

Further, the veteran actress praised the legendary actor and called him a down-to-earth person.

Mumtaz also recalled about Rajesh Khanna during the interview.

She said, "I owe a lot to Rajesh Khanna, who could have refused to work with me in Bandhan as I was still not popular. He had no issues with me and it paved the way to a great friendship.  We were quite close and Kaka (Rajesh Khanna) termed my marriage equivalent to the cutting off his right hand."

The duo starred in several movies which went on to become blockbusters.

Even the veteran actress revealed that she never denied working with any actor as she had faced the same situation until she worked with Dilip Kumar.

The actress was quoted as saying, "I used to think of my time when nobody wanted to work with me. So, when god made me something, then it's not right for me to do the same thing that I faced."