Mumtaz Reveals REAL Reason She Didn't Marry Shammi Kapoor At 17: 'Women In His Family Did Not...'

Veteran actress Mumtaz and Shammi Kapoor fell in love with each other after they met on the sets of Brahmachari. Despite Mumtaz’s mother’s objections, Shammi Kapoor’s pursuit continued and he even expressed his desire to marry Mumtaz, who was 18 years younger than him. In a recent chat, Mumtaz revealed the real reason why she never married the superstar.

“He wanted me to give up my career when I was just 17. I don’t think anyone can give me the same amount of love that he showered on me. I never forgot him. Even today when his name is mentioned, tears well up in my eyes. It was not a love affair, it was much more. We loved each other deeply. Unfortunately, womenfolk in the Kapoor family did not work during those days. He had to respect his family’s wishes, I had to respect my career,” Reddif quoted her as saying.

Speaking about choosing a career over love, she mentioned, “What else could I do? I had a family to support. I was being paid Rs 8 lakh even as a struggle. I was the highest-paid actress of my time. As a child, when my mother asked whom I wanted to marry when I grew up, I’d say I wanted to marry the son of the Shah-en-Shah Of Iran. I wanted only the best in life.”

Previously, Mumtaz had told Pinkvilla, “I was only around 17. He was 18 years older than me. It was too early for me to get married.Mujhe kucch banna tha. (I wanted to achieve something).” She had told ETimes, “Shammi Kapoor was very loving and caring with me. Nobody would believe that we were in love. Nobody believed that I had said ‘no’ to him for marriage because Shammi’s status in riches was higher; they said ‘How can Mumtaz refuse Shammi?’”

Shammi Kapoor spoke about his feelings for Mumtaz in a video shared by Lehren Retro. He said, “At that time, I was a widower and Mumtaz happened to be a very pretty little girl and for a little short while, we both had dreams and then it turned into a nightmare. I’m happy as I am today.”

Before Shammi Kapoor fell in love with Mumtaz, he had lost his first wife, Geeta Bali. Shammi was then a single father to son Aditya and daughter Kanchan. Mumtaz then had an illustrious career and went on to star in films for nearly three decades.