Anjana Mumtaz

QAMYAB – THE FORGOTTEN GEMS OF BOLLYWOOD

Qamyab is our humble tribute to all those lesser-known actors, one hit wonders and junior artists who we see umpteen times but don’t know about; beyond their faces. These actors have been an integral part of Bollywood but didn’t get their due. This series is our sincere attempt to put a name to these faces, familiarize them to our readers and celebrate their achievements in life – however big or small. We believe that every artist contributes in his/her own way to the cinema’s success. Qamyab will explore the unknown lives of such actors and artists as we believe even these forgotten gems of Bollywood deserve their due recognition today.

In any Hindi film, a mother’s role is important and most respected of all. Nargis became immortal with Mother India (1957) and Nirupa Roy’s maa in Deewaar (1975) was so pivotal that she dominated the film’s poster along with Amitabh Bachchan and Shashi Kapoor while the heroines were relegated to background.

The ’80s Bollywood saw many yesteryear lead heroines like Asha Parekh, Waheeda Rehman, Rakhee and Aruna Irani take up character roles of mother. Anjana Mumtaz was also one of them who made the switch during this time and left her own mark in Bollywood cinema.

Starting her career in 1969 as a lead actress in Sambandh opposite the dashing Deb Mukherjee, Anjana Mumtaz is now known for playing mother to almost every Hindi film hero and heroine of the ’80s and ’90s. Not many know that her real name was Anjana Manjrekar (not related to director Mahesh Manjrekar) who was born in a Maharashtrian family on 4th January 1949 to Dinanath Manjrekar, a fire brigade officer and Mangala, a homemaker.

Anjana was interested in films since early age and didn’t show interest in studies but nevertheless completed her education till tenth grade. Her mother found that she loved dancing and got her enrolled with Mangal Master; she later learned Kathak from renowned dance teacher Gopi Krishna. Anjana was big fan of Meena Kumari and got to meet her idol during the shooting of Pakeezah in 1965 at Filmistan Studio. Meena Kumari introduced the young Anjana to her husband director Kamal Amrohi who decided to cast her in his next film but the film got delayed and she went on to sign Sambandh. She debuted with the name Anjana and that was her screen name throughout the first phase of her movie career.

Sambandh was a decent hit which gave her due recognition and Anjana bagged some big projects with top actors like Sanjeev Kumar, Dharmendra, Mehmood, Joy Mukherjee and then newcomer Amitabh Bachchan. Some of the films she signed were Ehsan (1970), Maa ka Aanchal (1970), Garam Masala (1972), Insaan Aur Insaan (1973), Bandhe Hath (1973) and Do Phool (1974).

After giving a debut hit, Anjana’s other Hindi films didn’t work that well at the box office but success came to her in regional cinema from none other than the Marathi superstar Dada Kondke with whom she delivered some super hits like Andhala Marto Dola (1973), Tumcha Aamcha Jamla (1976) and Ram Ram Gangaram (1977). She also signed a few Gujarati films which became successful notably Sonbaini Chundadi (1976) and Nal Damayanti (1988).

During her peak phase in regional cinema, Anjana decided to settle down in marriage with her neighbour Sajid Mumtaz who was an Air India Official and they got married in 1979. Three years later, Anjana gave birth to their only son Ruslaan Mumtaz. She bid farewell to the film world and lead a happy married life. A few of her delayed movies released in this period.

As Ruslaan started growing up, Anjana’s husband encouraged her to get back to her passion which was acting in movies. But Anjana Mumtaz, well in to her mid-30s now, was sceptical as to what kind of roles would come her way. By the mid ’80s, television was booming in India with the State owned Doordarshan producing many serials. The ‘Sholay’ director Ramesh Sippy was making Buniyaad (1986), a multi-starrer serial with big names and he cast Anjana for the role opposite Vijayendra Ghatge where she played mother to Abhinav Chaturvedi. Thus began the second innings for Anjana Mumtaz.

Hindi film roles followed soon after and Anjana Mumtaz became part of many super hit films of ’80s and ’90s where she played mother to practically every hero and heroine from Sunny Deol and Mithun Chakraborty to Suniel Shetty and Saif Ali Khan and from Sridevi and Madhuri Dixit to Mamta Kulkarni and Preity Zinta. Some of her successful movies include Ghar Sansar (1986), Khatron Ke Khiladi (1988), Mitti Aur Sona (1989), Vardi (1989), Tridev (1989), Baap Numbari Beta Dus Numbari (1990), Roti Kee Keemat (1990), Saajan (1991), Phool aur Kaante (1991), Khuda Gawah (1992), Balwaan (1992), Sangram (1993), Yaar Gaddar (1994), Sabse Bada Khiladi (1995), Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi (1996), Saajan Chale Sasural (1996), Dulhe Raja (1998), Dhadkan (2000) and Koi Mil Gaya (2003).

Koi Mil Gaya remains one of Anjana’s last successful film after which she reduced her assignments. Her last known release was in 2008 titled Tulsi: Mathrudevobhava. Apart from the successful Buniyaad, she also worked in few TV serials during her peak like Chattan, Kudrat, Gharana and Devi. In 2007, her son Ruslaan Mumtaz made his film debut with MP3 : Mera Pehla Pehla Pyar and went on to do few more movies but he didn’t find much success and later switched to TV serials and did well there. Anjana’s sister Madhu Manjrekar also acted in the 1974 film called Bazaar Band Karo.

Today, Anjana Mumtaz lives a happy retired life with her family and enjoys spending time with her grandson Rayaan Mumtaz. From playing mother roles in films, she is now the real-life grandmother.