“India’s First Female Superstar Quit At 26”
The history of Indian cinema began in the 1910s with Dadasaheb Phalke’s motion pictures. But when talking films (talkies) arrived, they created a new wave of superstars. While KL Saigal, Karan Dewan, and Ashok Kumar became famous male actors, a teenage girl also ruled the screens—Mumtaz Shanti.
A Rising Star
Mumtaz started as a child artist in Punjabi films in 1937. At just 16, she got her first lead role in the Hindi film Basant (1942). The film was a huge hit, running in theaters for 76 weeks and becoming the highest-grossing film of the year. In 1943, she starred in Kismet, which was the first Indian movie to earn ₹1 crore. Since all her films were successful, she earned the title ‘Jubilee Girl.’
A Short but Impactful Career
Mumtaz continued to act in hit films like Ghar Ki Izzat (1948) and Aahuti (1950). She worked with top stars and even played senior roles opposite younger actors like Dilip Kumar.
In the late 1940s, she married filmmaker Wali Sahab. Although she continued acting for a few years, she soon chose family over films. In 1952, she moved to Pakistan with her husband, ending her film career at just 26. She spent the rest of her life in Lahore and passed away in 1989 at the age of 63.
A Lasting Legacy
Mumtaz’s movies broke many records. Kismet ran in one theater for three years, a record that lasted until Sholay (1978) and Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995). Basant and Kismet remained among the most-watched Indian films for nearly 80 years.
Mumtaz Shanti may have left Bollywood early, but her name remains legendary in Indian cinema.
