“I Also Deserve To Be Honoured,” Mumtaz Feels She Has Been Shortchanged

The iconic Mumtaz feels she has not been given her dues as far as the awards, National or popular, are concerned. “Of course I have received  recognition. Please don’t get me  wrong. I don’t sound like I am complaining. Bahot pyar aur izzat mila hai mujhe  apne watan se. But when it comes to awards , thodisi kanjoosi hui hai.I got the Filmfare award for Khilona.Thank you for that. But what  about  Vijay Anand’s Tere Mere Sapne  and B R  Chopra’s Aadmi Aur Insaan?”

  Mumtaz is very happy for Vyjayanthimala .“She deserves  the Padma Vibhushan . Vyjayanthimalaji  ko bahot bahot mubaarak. My best wishes to her. Achcha, abb mujhe  kab de rahen  aap log, yeh bataana? I will be  waiting for  the Padma Vibhushan.  Because  the other awards, I’ve got already. I will wait  for that. Love you all.”

Mumtaz worked in one film with Vyjayanthimala, and that was Suraj in 1966. When I ask what  the  experience  of  working with the legend was,  Mumtaz brushed my question aside.  “Yes Sir, but what about Tere Mere Sapne, Khilona which got me  the awards….what  about all those  pictures? I also deserve an award no? Theek hai , aap logon ko jab theek lage tabb dena.I deserve an award for these two pictures. Mera kaam  doosre pictures mein bhi bahot pyara hai.Agar aapke paas  waqt ho to dekh lijiye…Aap Ki Kasam aur Roti mein bhi maine  bahot achcha  kaam kiya  …You decide which of these  performances deserves an award and let me know in advance as I live in London(giggles). Aapko  bura na lage. Maaf kijiye agar maine koi budtameezi  ki ho.Namaskaar.”