‘He Said He Won’t Live Long’

Last Updated:May 23, 2025, 19:36 IST

Veteran actress Mumtaz opened up about her love story with Shammi Kapoor and the heartbreak of witnessing his decline.

Once labelled a B-grade heroine, Mumtaz rose like a phoenix in the glitzy world of Hindi cinema. Her big break opposite Dilip Kumar in Ram Aur Shyam (1967) flipped the script of her career entirely, transforming her from an overlooked name to one of the most sought-after stars in the industry. Ironically, the same heroes who once refused to work with her suddenly found her captivating — both on and off screen. This meteoric rise also brought with it a fair share of rumours, particularly surrounding her relationships with co-stars. The most talked-about among them was her romance with the ever-charming Shammi Kapoor.

In a recent candid conversation on Radio Nasha, Mumtaz bared her heart, revisiting old memories, relationships, and the raw emotions behind her glamorous façade. In the teaser clip, she recalled how actor Jeetendra once dismissed the idea of working with her. “Jeetu, I’m sorry, but this is what you said — ‘Jeetu said, ap Mumtaz ko kyu le rahe ho?’” she shared with a hint of mischief and melancholy. “Nobody wanted to work with me,” she added, pulling back the curtain on the industry’s early rejection of her.

Speaking about her equation with her Tere Mere Sapne (1971) co-star Dev Anand, she said affectionately, “Dev Anand used to call me Mumzi… all my heroes used to love me.” Mumtaz, never one to shy away from her truth, acknowledged the buzz around her name. “Often there used to be reports of my romantic link-ups with co-stars because they all loved me.”

But it was her enduring bond with Shammi Kapoor that continues to tug at heartstrings. “Shammi Kapoor was so good-looking that no girl could resist crushing over him,” she said. When asked how their love story began, Mumtaz quipped with a smile, “Aapne bhi toh pyaar kiya hoga, aapko kaise hua?” To which she added, “He also proposed to me.”

Their romance was tender yet complicated. Shammi wanted Mumtaz to give up her career at just 17, something she wasn’t ready for. “I don’t think anyone can give me the same amount of love that he showered on me. I never forgot him,” she had told Rediff.com. “Even today, when his name is mentioned, tears well up in my eyes. It was not a love affair; it was much more. We loved each other deeply.”

Recalling their final meeting, she shared, voice cracking with emotion, “He was still drinking… I asked him, ‘Why are you drinking when you are not well?’ He said he wouldn’t live for long. And I told him, ‘Then drink, enjoy yourself.’ What else could I say? I couldn’t stop him. I sat with him a while and came back. I couldn’t see him dying.”

Ending her reflection with a poignant shayari that encapsulates the ache of parting, Mumtaz said: “Hum bhi toh dekhe zamane ki yaari, bichhade sabhi baari baari…”

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