Regarded as one of the greatest and most beautiful actress of Hindi cinema, Mumtaz is the recipient of two Filmfare Awards.

Mumtaz made her acting debut at age 11 with Lajwanti (1958), Sone Ki Chidiya (1958), and did smaller roles in films like Stree (1961) and Sehra (1963).

[1] Mumtaz was typecasted as a "stunt film heroine", with Faulad (1963) and Daku Mangal Singh (1966), which stalled her career.

She went on to establish herself as one of the leading actress with films such as - Bandhan (1969), Aadmi Aur Insaan (1969), Sachaa Jhutha (1970), Khilona (1970), which won her the Filmfare Award for Best Actress, Tere Mere Sapne (1971), Hare Rama Hare Krishna (1971), Apna Desh (1972), Loafer (1973), Jheel Ke Us Paar (1973), Chor Machaye Shor (1974), Aap Ki Kasam (1974), Roti (1974), Prem Kahani (1975) and Nagin (1976).

Since she retired from acting, Mumtaz has settled in London with her husband, Ugandan businessman Mayur Madhvani with whom she has two daughters.

Mumtaz was born to Abdul Salim Askari (a dry fruits vendor) and Shadi Habib Agha who hailed from Mashhad, Iran.

Later, she got the role of the main lead heroine in 16 action films, including Faulad, Veer Bhimsen, Tarzan Comes to Delhi, Sikandar-E-Azam, Rustom-E-Hind, Raaka, and Daku Mangal Singh, with freestyle wrestler Dara Singh, and was labelled as a stunt-film heroine.

[9] Mumtaz frequently acted with Feroz Khan and gave hits such as Mela (1971), Apradh (1972) and Nagin (1976).

Shashi Kapoor, who had earlier refused Sachaa Jhutha opposite her because she was a "stunt-film heroine" acted with her in Chor Machaye Shor (1973).