Mumtaz Reveals Yash Chopra Once Proposed Marriage: ‘He Never Hit On Me, Always Respectful’

Veteran Bollywood actress Mumtaz revealed that acclaimed filmmaker Yash Chopra had once proposed marriage to her — a moment she still remembers with warmth and respect.

Veteran Bollywood actress Mumtaz revealed that acclaimed filmmaker Yash Chopra had once proposed marriage to her.

Source : Instagram

Veteran Bollywood actress Mumtaz, who ruled the silver screen in the 1970s with a string of hits like Do Raaste, Bandhan, and Khilona, recently shared some candid memories and her perspective on returning to cinema. In a conversation with Radio Nasha, she revealed that acclaimed filmmaker Yash Chopra had once proposed marriage to her — a moment she still remembers with warmth and respect.

Mumtaz says Yash Chopra liked her a lot

Recalling the incident, Mumtaz shared, "Yash ji used to genuinely like me very much. He was an assistant at that time under his brother, BR Chopra. He used to like me. I’m not saying I was very beautiful, I was reasonable, so he used to like me. I was young and he was an assistant. Unhone bohut sharafat se, tameez se mujhe shaadi offer kari (He very decently and respectfully proposed marriage to me). He said, ‘Moti Moti, I love you’, and I said, ‘No, I want to focus on work, I wanted to get somewhere’."

Mumtaz heaps praise on Yash Chopra

Speaking fondly of the late director, she added, “Bohut hi acche insaan the. Unke jaisa accha insaan aur director bohut kum hai. Unka beta Aditya bhi ab accha director hai. Par unone bohut izzat se mujhe shaadi offer ki thi, aisa nahi ki line maar rahe hai."

She continued, "Voh bohut shareef insaan the. Fir jab unhone shaadi ki, toh main unki shaadi mein bhi gayi. We were very, very good friends (He was a very good person. There are very few good people and directors like him. His son Aditya is also a good director now. But he had very respectfully proposed marriage to me—it wasn’t like he was hitting on me. He was a very decent man. Later, when he got married, I even attended his wedding).”

Mumtaz on her comeback and role preferences

Mumtaz married businessman Mayur Madhvani in 1974 and took a break from acting that lasted 13 years. In a recent interview with Instant Bollywood, she discussed the possibility of making a return to films. However, she made it clear that she is not interested in taking up elderly roles just for the sake of appearing on screen. She stated that she hasn't received any offers that match her appearance or personality and is waiting for a role that suits her aura.

She further clarified that she would consider a comeback only for a character that truly resonates with her, adding that she is not willing to play someone's mother unless the role meets her expectations.