Veteran actress Mumtaz has worked with Rajesh Khanna in multiple films during the peaks of their careers. The duo shared screen in films like 'Do Raaste', 'Bandhan', 'Dushmun', 'Roti', among others. They were a hit pair and were showered with love from the audience every time they shared screen.
Rajesh Khanna, as we all know, is considered to be the first superstar of Hindi cinema. His fall from stardom was also quite the public affair. Recently, in an interview with Rediff, Mumtaz spoke about her late co-star's downfall.
ADVERTISEMENT "Without your love, we are nothing. It wasn’t entirely Rajesh Khanna’s fault," Mumtaz said adding, "I remember when he was known as the phenomenon. My bungalow was very close to his.
I have seen big-name producers and directors behaving like his chamchas. His girlfriend Anju Mahendru would play host all night. She would serve food and drinks till 3 am.
I have seen the same night-long sessions in Shammi Kapoor’s home. He used to spend a fortune on entertaining guests." She said that she never approved of producers and directors dancing to the tunes of actors.
This is the reason she appreciated filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali. "She said, "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? She also recalled the downfall of the late actor Shammi Kapoor who she had dated for a brief period.
She said that after a point, Kapoor became laid back and did not want to .