Mumtaz let slip that there was an undeniable connection between Rajesh Khanna and Anju Mahendru back in the days when they were co-stars.
As the venerable actress Mumtaz approaches her 77th birthday on July 31, she opens up about her relationship with the departed actor, Rajesh Khanna. Despite the stirring rumors due to their onscreen love stories, Mumtaz recently reiterated in an interview that they were never romantically involved. She underscores that their vibrant on-screen dynamics often misled fans about their real-life interactions.
Back in the 70s, Mumtaz and Rajesh Khanna were quite the favorite on-screen duo, marking their territory in film classics like Do Raaste and Aap Ki Kasam. The audience just couldn’t get enough of their sparkling chemistry. A fun fact is that Mumtaz lovingly addressed Rajesh Khanna as ‘Kaka’, and in return, he endearingly called her ‘Moti’.
Mumtaz addressed the common rumour of her being in a genuine relationship with her co-star in a talk with Times Now. This revelation illuminates the audience’s fascination with their compelling on-screen alliance and emphasises the often indistinguishable gap between on-screen and off-screen romances in show business.
She added, “We were so synchronised with our moods and schedules that people used to think we were in a relationship. There was no affair between us. Kaka was with Anju Mahendru throughout the years when we were working together. Anju was and continues to be a dear friend of mine (sic).”
Looking back on their time together on the big screen, the seasoned actor took a moment to appreciate the winning streak they enjoyed – from “Do Raaste” to “Roti”. The duo’s strong bond and excellent rapport didn’t merely look good on camera; it struck a chord with viewers, giving them hit after hit without a single flop.
Mumtaz recounted the incredible chemistry she and Kaka shared in their songs, pointing out their almost innate sense of connection. She fondly remembered a particular instance in “Karvaten Badalte Rahe” where Kaka, on the spur of the moment, reached out and touched her nose – a testament to their profound connection. Their enchanting rapport meant they could understand and coordinate with each other with ease, without a single word needing to be spoken.
Mumtaz, last graced the screen in the 1990 movie Aandhiyan, took a step back from her acting career after getting married due to her family’s traditional views about the Hindi film world. She left a final impression on her audience with her portrayal of Shakuntala in that film. Her family’s negative impression of the film industry greatly swayed Mumtaz’s choice to retire from acting.