She is rightly known as “the Jubilee girl.” She was seventeen when she became the toast of picturegoers throughout the length and breadth of India. She has been right on top of fame’s ladder and, although she still makes pictures, she is primarily a wife and mother. Her name is Mumtaz Shanti.

Sans make-up, sans glamour, she made a comely picture of a sedate Punjabi housewife as she sat in the spacious drawing room of her well-appointed home in Shivaji Park, and recalled, with nostalgia untinged with regret or envy, those “days of glory”.

“My real name is Mumtaz, and I was unwilling to part with it for screen work,” she said. “So they compromised and added ‘Shanti’ to it, so that it would symbolise the need for Hindu-Muslim unity!”

Mumtaz Begum was born in a village in the Punjab. Orphaned at a tender age, she was brought up by an aunt who instilled in her a sense of duty towards home and hearth, so that when she got married, no one would be able to say that the little girl’s home training was neglected.

Her uncle, however, was convinced that his little niece was destined to be famous. He encouraged her to learn singing and dancing, and inevitably she was spotted in Lahore by Producer Walli who induced her to adopt a film career.

In 1937, Mumtaz went to Calcutta to star in her first film “Soni Kumharan” in Punjabi. The picture celebrated its Silver Jubilee, and the old uncle was more certain than ever before about the future of his talented niece.

However, being more orthodox than ambitious, he thought it proper that Mumtaz shouid marry Producer Walli and then continue with her career.

The twinkle-toed actress was all for the idea. The big city frightened her, the thought of earning thousands of rupees confused her. At heart, she was still the simple village girl who had been taught from childhood how to look after the home and be a good housewife.

And so, they were married. Mrs. Walli, still in her teens, continued to work under the guidance and supervision of her talented husband, who besides being a film producer was also an executive in the city’s Health Department. 

Mumtaz Shanti’s second picture was Shorey’s “Mangti.” It chalked up a Diamond Jubilee and a personal triumph for its young star.

Sometime after this great success, Mumtaz Shanti made her debut on the Hindi screen.

Acknowledged as the Punjab’s finest dancer, she was once induced to give a dance item in a film which starred the actress Veena. This was in the nature of a “guest” role, for Mumtaz Shanti has always been a leading lady on the screen, right from the beginning.

The late Rai Bahadur Chuni Lal, then at the helm of affairs at Bombay Talkies, went to Lahore especially to see Veena’s work in the picture. But all he really noticed were the dancing feet and comely grace of the lovely  Mumtaz Shanti.

He insisted on her going back with him to Bombay to star in Hindi films. However, her husband being too busy to make the trip, her sense of duty prevailed and she declined the offer.

But Fate ruled otherwise. Walli Saheb was offered a contract to produce pictures in Bombay and, in 1941, husband and wife came together to this premier city where Mumtaz Shanti reached the pinnacle of fame. “Basant” and “Kismet” conjure up to the mind two of the screen’s most superb entertainers. The, film world resounded with the name of Mumtaz Shanti and her lovely ballet in “Kismet” (accompanied by the popular song, “Ghar Ghar Mein Diwali hai, Mere Ghar men Andhera”) is remembered to this day by film fans.

Both films celebrated jubilees wherever they were released. “Kismet” had a phenomenal three-year run at the Roxy Theatre in Calcutta. And, as if justifying her screen name, Mumtaz Shanti became the idol of both Hindus and Muslims.

“Even today I find, in my fan-mail, letters from all parts of the world recalling my work in `Basant’ and ‘Kismet,’ and I believe that because of their truly sterling performances old-timers are remembered by their fans as the present generation of stars never will be,” – Mumtaz said with conviction.

Inundated with contracts offered by eager producers, Mumtaz Shanti appeared in several films, among which were “Badalti Duniya,” “Sawal.” “Bharathari,” “Doosri Shadi” and “Ghar-ki-Izzat.” 

For three successive years she was nominated “Best Actress” in a popular poll conducted by a Calcutta journal. But all this adulation did not spoil Mumtaz Shanti. Nor did it make her very happy. Her heart was in her home. She did not care very much about being “Best Actress.” All she wanted to be was a good wife.

Mumtaz Shanti is terribly sincere about this. She says. “I know it is the fashion for film stars to say that they love cooking. sewing and looking after the home. Yet, I can truthfully say that my whole life is centered around my home. I was brought up to think that way, and fame has not been able to make me forget my early training.”

Having successfully been able to combine the dual responsibility of a home and a career, Mumtaz Shanti feels she would like to keep on working, if only in the films made by her husband.

Among her recent films have been Vyas’s “Sanskar” and Walli’s “Zamane-ki-Hawa.” In the latter film, she tried to imitate Bette Davis who is her favorite actress. She also admires Joan Crawford and Ingrid Bergman.
In “Zamane-ki-Hawa,” which she considers to be her favorite film, Mumtaz Shanti played the role of a ‘woman of the world.’ She smoked, drank, wore flashy costumes and a provocative hair-do. She enjoyed playing this role, although she admits that simple and tragic roles suit her personality more than any other kind. 

She insists that pictures flop and stars lose their luster, only because the roles do not suit the actors.

“I feel that film parts should be specially written for our top stars,” says Mumtaz Shanti. Citing the example of her favorite star, she continued: “Look at Bette Davis. Even at this age she is popular because her roles suit her distinct personality so admirably.”

Mumtaz Shanti, who always helps and advises her husband in the selection of stories and stars for his films, is certain that if someone would appoint her as official adviser to the Film Industry, she would be able to work wonders!

Best remembered for her roles in “Basant” and “Kismet,” Mumtaz Shanti has a large fan following even today and is mobbed by her admirers whenever she steps out. Being shy and reticent by nature, she solves this problem by donning a burqa when she goes out on her shopping trips.

Her home and her little son, Sikander Walli, the apple of her eye, keep her busy from early morning till late in the night. She has an aversion to keeping servants and, besides cooking meals and washing clothes, she even answers the door-bell herself, no matter how busy she is.

She favors her native Punjabi costume for daily use and wears a sari only on special occasions. Between pictures she tends to put on weight, but this does not bother her, because “to me reducing is no problem. I can do it any time I want to.”

Mumtaz Shanti has never been abroad, but she plans to have a holiday as soon as possible and even feels that she would like to make her home in England, so that her little son can get the best education.

When asked about her hobbies, she says she has none. Then she adds: “Unless you consider the fact that I have made it a hobby to work at being a good and dutiful wife.” (This interview was conducted in 1954).