Mumtaz Reveals Real Reason Why She Didn't Marry Shammi Kapoor: Papa Ji Didn't Want Me.... | EXCL

Mumtaz On Why She Didn't Marry Shammi Kapoor: Mumtaz - the name doesn't need an introduction. She has been one of the most talked about and successful actresses in 1960s. Mumtaz was a part of several successful films like Ram Aur Shyam, Sachaa Jhutha, Khilona, Hare Rama Hare Krishna, Apna Desh, Loafer, Jheel Ke Us Paar, Chor Machaye Shor, Aap Ki Kasam, Roti and Prem Kahani, etc. And while she was a treat to watch on the big screen, her love affair with Shammi Kapoor was also the talk of the town.

Mumtaz On First Meeting With Shammi Kapoor

Recently, during an exclusive conversation with Filmibeat's Aditya Rana popularly known as A se Aadi, Mumtaz opened up about her first meeting with Shammi Kapoor and remembered him as a good looking man. The veteran actress stated, "I liked Shammi ji jab mai first time set pe gayi thi Dil Deke Dekho meri behen ke saath. I was very young, 8-9 saal ki. I went was for his look. School me but fan jaisi pagal nahi thi. But I really think, I even think now, he was a very good looking man. So us zamane me I said I want to marry him. Bhagwan ne bola thik hai. Shaadi nahi hui kareebi to hui. I really really was attracted to him. Even now I think, he was very very very very good looking"

Why Mumtaz Didn't Marry Shammi Kapoor?

However, despite their passionate and whirlwind romance, Mumtaz didn't marry Shammi. Talking about the same, she spoke that it was because she was ambitious and chose her career over everything. Mumtaz revealed that while the Kapoors had a rule wherein the daughter in laws weren't allowed to work, it didn't go down well with her.

"Papa ji (Shammi Kapoor's father Prithviraj Kapoor) didn't want me to work and I was ambitious, I wanted to work. Wo log allow nhi karte the bahu ko us time kaam karna. But I was very ambitious. Even today I am very ambitious and have maintained myself. Us waqt bhi main kuch banna chahti thi. I wanted to be something. And I don't blame him. Unka wo rule tha, us waqt Geeta ji ne bhi kaam chod dia tha, sabne kaam chod diya tha. Unka rule tha, wo purane zamane ke the and I respect him for that. I think he was right, he didn't want to take a chance," she added.

Mumtaz also emphasised, "I was in love with him but I was more in love with my career and myself. I sacrificed my love for my career aur maine galat nahi kiya".

Eventually, Shammi Kapoor married Geeta Bali and parted ways a decade later. Later he tied the knot with Neila Devi in 1969. However, Shammi Kapoor and Mumtaz continue to be one of the most popular jodis in Bollywood. On the other hand, Mumtaz got married to businessman Mayur Madhvani in an arranged marriage and has two daughters