Bollywood legends Raaj Kumar, Feroz Khan and Dilip Kumar are celebrated for working on their own terms in the film industry. Surprisingly, the era witnessed more competition among female actors than their male counterparts. Notably an actress, recognised for her reserved demeanour on set posed a challenge for many emerging actors working alongside her. It is said she avoided interaction with younger stars. During that era, Madhubala, Nutan, Nargis, and Meena Kumari were notable stars. One actress who stood out, making waves on-screen and earning the affection of the audience with her remarkable acting was Vyjayanthimala. Despite being a people’s favourite for her performances, one of her habits proved less favourable among co-stars.
In a recent interview, former actress Mumtaz, known for Aapki Kasam, shared insights into Vyjayanthimala’s on-set behaviour that caused her some difficulty. Mumtaz revealed that during the 60s, when she entered the film industry, actresses like Waheeda and Vyjayanthimala dominated the screen. Only a few heroines at that time were friendly to newcomers. According to Mumtaz, Vyjayanthimala didn’t even engage in a conversation with her.
Mumtaz explained that Vyjayanthimala’s reserved behaviour stemmed from the age and status difference. Being a big star, Vyjayanthimala didn’t interact much with newcomers, she revealed. She commended Waheeda Rehman for her welcoming approach to newcomers. Mumtaz also cited instances where artists declined to give autographs in public.
Mumtaz, in the same interview, also discussed the challenges she faced in the past while shooting. She recalled instances when she had to travel long distances to find a washroom in a film set. She highlighted an incident during the shooting of the song Jai Jai Shiv Shankar, where no washroom was nearby. Mumtaz shared that, during such situations, she would take her hairdresser along to search for one.
Vyjayanthimala, the first South actress to make her debut in Bollywood, carved her niche in the film industry. Starting her acting journey in Tamil cinema, she transitioned to Hindi cinema, dominating the 50-60s era alongside Meena Kumari, Madhubala, Nargis, Suchitra Sen, Waheeda Rehman, Mala Sinha, and Nutan. She stayed focused on her priorities, making sure her acting never overshadowed her skills as a classical dancer.
In 1961, she portrayed a rural girl in Ganga Jamuna. Then, she convincingly played the roles of a prostitute in Amrapali in 1966 and an urban sophisticate in Sangam in 1964. Some of her remarkable dance numbers include Man Dole Mera Tan Dole, Main Ka Karoon Ram Mujhe Buddha Mil Gaya, Hothon Pe Aisi Baat and Ude Jab Jab Zulfen. Her impressive achievements include numerous records in her name.
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