While recounting the old glory and recalling the stalwarts of Hindi films, we conveniently forget a few names which should never be forgotten. The most glaring omission resulting from this amnesia is the name of the greatest actress Mumtaz.We also tend to forget that in her very first film, Khilona, with significant banner and role, she won the most coveted Filmfare award. She acted in more than 100 films in a career span of only 12 years, and there is not even a single film in which her performance can not be termed as excellent.

Many people may raise their eyebrows with cynicism, but would agree with me in their heart of their heart. Quite a few actresses copied her and became famous too! A number of presently established actors and actresses rank her as their favourite.To quote Vijay Anand, on directing her for Tere Mere Sapne, "Mumtaz was sensitive, quick to understand and translate every nuance I hinted at, onto the screen, but she was always Dara Singh's Heroine for public. Even Devsaab could not get over that image." Though Vijay Anand made the best choice for the sensitive character of the film, it seems that not only Dev Anand, but also none of us have been able to get over that image even now, and that is why we feel shy to put Mumtaz in the category of great actresses.

Mumtaz entered the film scene as a young girl of 14-15 years of age, maybe because of her elder sister, Mallika was also in the films. Though Mallika went into oblivion, could be because of her marriage, but this young girl with her cherubic face, was there to stay for a long time till she herself decided to quit. Too young to be cast as leading lady, she started with bit roles only, but was not missed. In spite of the absence of any godfather, she quickly graduated to lead roles in the so called grade C movies when they wanted a young and beautiful face to be cast opposite DaraSingh. Moreover, considering the total duration of presence of the leading lady, with plethora of stars in current movies the time she gets now compared to the time for which Mumtaz used to come on the screen, even in the bit roles, they cannot be termed merely as the bit roles? So then how is a premise justified that an actress working in a low budget movie is not a good actress?

If her other personal attributes are analysed, she would again top the list for beauty, charm, shapely figure (notwithstanding a few spells of slight chubbiness), mobility of facial expressions, expressive beautiful eyes, agility, and expertise in all types of dances, unflawed complexion and what not, the list is unending. She is really fascinating, charming affable, sober, graceful, delicate, gorgeous, loveable, composed, bubbling with vitality, and sexy, or in one word - just a perfect woman. Everybody must have dreamt about her - girls, to be like her; and men, to have a companion like her or maybe she herself.

In conclusion, few befitting words are that Meenakumaris and Madhubalas will come and go, but another Mumtaz will never come. And there is no doubt that Mumtaz is the best thing that ever happened to Hindi films.

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