Minoo Mumtaz – the ‘Dancing Queen’ of Bollywood, dies in Canada at 79

Veteran character actress Minoo Mumtaz, famed because the ‘Reshmi Salwar-wali’ lady – and sister of the late comic Mehmood Ali – handed away in Canada early on Saturday, a member of the family stated.

“Remorse to tell that my loving sister Minoo Mumtaz handed away (in Canada) a couple of minutes in the past. Deep gratitude to the movie fraternity, media, followers, buddies for many years of affection and adulation showered upon her,” her brother and former actor Anwar Ali stated in an early morning assertion.

Born as Malikunissa to Mumtaz Ali (dad) and Latifunnisa (mother) in Mumbai, she began her profession as dancer in her dad’s extremely well-liked song-and-dance stage reveals.

Earlier, the household used to reside in Nadiadwala Compound in Malad west, and later she specialised in dancing which obtained her a break within the movie business within the early Fifties, and later was typically referred to as the ‘Dancing Queen of Bollywood’, efficiently carving her personal area of interest alongside different prime dancers of the movie business.

It was the late legendary actress Meena Kumari – the sister-in-law of Mehmood – who suggested her to undertake her household pet identify ‘Minoo’ as her movie identify, which clicked and apparently did wonders to her profession.

Over time, Minoo went on to bop and act in over 75 movies with a number of memorable large or bit roles or dance sequences throughout her film profession spanning practically three a long time.

Famous for her bubbly, vivacious roles, typically paired with the highest heroines of the day as sister, ‘saheli’, sidekick,, spinster, confidante comedienne and even a criminal, however Minoo flourished most as a crooner-dancer on display screen.

She is particularly remembered for the superhit O.P. Nayyar dance-duet, “Reshmi Salwar, Kurta Jaali ka…” (‘Naya Daur’ – 1957), sung by Asha Bhosle and Shamshad Begum, and filmed on her and Zaibunissa Khan alias Kumkum, who handed away in July 2020.

Minoo excelled and carried out effortlessly both as a classical dancer, courtesan or cabaret dancer, with well-liked songs like “Saaqiya Aaj Mujhe Neend Nahin Aayegi”, “Jaa Re, Jaa Re” and “Foremost Tumhise Puchhti Hoon, Tumse Pyar Kyun Hai” filmed on her.

Hanif Zaveri, creator and shut household good friend of the distinguished Mehmood Ali movie clan, recollects how Minoo obtained married with a movie director S. Ali Akbar in 1963 and the couple had two daughters – Gulnaz, Mehnaz and a son Aejaz.

Although none have any Bollywood join, barring their illustrious cousins like actor Masood alias Pucky Ali, actor-singer-composer Maqsood alias Fortunate Ali, actor Maqdoom alias Macky Ali, who performed the crippled youngster in “Kunwara Baap” (1974), and so forth.

Curiously, Zaveri stated that whereas Minoo was a Sunni Muslim, her husband was a Shia, however their alliance was actually exemplary as they adopted the tenets of each sects of Islam.

“Minoo was expensive to her 4 brothers, particularly Mehmood… After her marriage she settled in Canada along with her husband, who made just a few movies in India…” Zaveri, who penned Mehmood’s biography – “Mehmood – A Man Of Many Moods” (2005, Standard Prakashan), informed IANS.

After her first break, she acted or danced in scores of main movies like “C.I.D” with successful quantity “Boojh Mera Kya Naam Re”, “Pocketmaar” (each 1956), “Naya Daur” (1957), “Yahudi” (1958), “Howrah Bridge”, “Dilli Ka Thug”, “Aji Bas Shukriya”, “Adalat” (1958), “Kagaz Ke Phool”, “Insaan Jaag Utha”, “Chirag Kahan, Roshni Kahan” (1959), within the fluffy ’50s.

Within the attractive ’60s, she was featured in “Ghunghat”, “Chaudhvin Ka Chand” (1960), “Gharana”, “Chhota Nawab” (1961), “Sahib, Bibi Aur Gulam” (1962), “Taj Mahal” (1963), “Jahan Ara”, “Ghazal”, “Chitralekha” (1964), “Preet Na Jaane Reet” (1966), “Palki” (1967).

She labored with a majority of the highest stars of the black-and-white period after which the early color movies that includes Ashok Kumar, Dilip Kumar, Dev Anand, Guru Dutt, Kishore Kumar, Raj Kapoor, Raaj Kumar, Balraj Sahni, Pradeep Kumar, Rajendra Kumar, Suraiya, Geeta Dutt, Madhu Bala, Meena Kumari, Waheeda Rehman, Sadhna, Bina Rai, Nutan, Vyjanthimala Bali, comedians like Johny Walker, Om Prakash, Mehmood, and plenty of others.