Quotes from Mumtaz

I had lost my mother during 'Boond Jo Ban Gaye Moti.'

I can proudly say that for 80 per cent of my life, I achieved what I wanted to. There were very few setbacks. I don't remember anything that I wanted and did not get. Once I made up my mind about something, I went for it. The easiest thing in life is to give up and I didn't.

I survived cancer thanks to the support of my family.

I'm a practical woman.

I had two beautiful daughters and a husband who loved me immensely.

In fact, what my fans shown towards me is devotion.

I've been through so much pain in life, what's a tattoo?

Well, I've always wanted to get a tattoo done, I just never got around to doing it!

I was all of 18, and in love with Shammi Kapoor while we were filming 'Brahmachari.' He wanted me to give up my career, but I wasn't ready. I had my family to look after.

My roots are from Iran and so, I cook Iranian dishes that have been passed down the generations in our family. I was born and raised in India and enjoy cooking Indian food, too.

There's a time for every woman to get married. You should seize that moment.

I am very good friends with Shatrughan Sinha.

I was just 15 years old when I did my first film, 'Faulad,' in 1963, opposite Dara Singh. Although I had worked earlier as a child actress, this was my first break as a lead heroine.

I have no regard for people who say, 'I can't.'

To a certain extent, I can say I owe my career to Dara Singh because after doing films with him, I started getting good offers. I have very high regards for him. As a person, he was very protective about me and used to take care of me on the sets. He was very soft-spoken and a fine gentleman. He was disciplined and punctual.

I have been a homemaker after bidding Bollywood adieu and, therefore, been a caregiver to my family.

A year after I got married, 'Prem Kahani,' 'Roti' and 'Aap Ki Kasam' released. I refused 'Safar,' 'Haathi Mere Saathi'... because I was hellbent on getting married. Despite that, the phone never stopped ringing, whether I was in Mombasa or London.

I was in the film industry just for 13 years and to remember me after 35 years is really an honour.

Some years ago, I landed in Mumbai with no eyebrows, no eyelashes, or hair. I wore a mask over my nose and yet people came up to me and asked, 'aren't you Mumtaz?'

Nobody can replace Dev sahab. He changed the trend of Indian cinema. He was an icon.

I've kept alive my childlike innocence. I don't let anything or anyone dampen my zest for life. Now, that's very important.

Dara Singh worked very hard to maintain his physique. I remember he would work in two to three films at a time and would work for 16 hours at a stretch. He would always do all his stunts by himself. His stamina was unbeatable.

Be it career or marriage, spirituality helps you believe in yourself.

I never underestimated or overestimated myself. You should know where you stand. Moreover, you should have confi'dence in yourself because if you don't, what is the point of struggling? You don't know where you are headed!