Whenever ‘
Aajkal Tere Mere Pyaar Ke Charche
‘ plays, it’s impossible not to imagine
Shammi Kapoor
and
Mumtaz
grooving together. Their on-screen chemistry in Brahmachari spilled over into real life, leading to a whirlwind romance. Shammi, ever the romantic, popped the question, but Mumtaz hit the brakes on their love story. In a recent chat, she spilled the beans on why she turned down Shammi’s proposal, revealing a fun twist to their short-lived affair.
In a conversation with Rediff.com, Mumtaz revealed that Shammi Kapoor proposed to her when she was just 17 and at the start of her career.
She decided to decline the proposal because it would have meant giving up her burgeoning career. Despite this, she confessed that Shammi’s love was unparalleled and unforgettable. Even now, mentioning his name brings tears to her eyes, reflecting a deep and profound connection that went beyond a simple
love affair
.
The veteran star shared that, during that era, women in the
Kapoor family
were not allowed to work, forcing her to prioritize her career over Shammi Kapoor’s love. She explained that his family’s expectations and her own need to support her family made her decision clear. Despite her deep feelings for Shammi, she chose her career, where she was earning Rs 8 lakh as a struggling actress—an impressive sum for the time. Reflecting on her childhood dreams, she revealed that she aspired to marry someone of the highest caliber, even mentioning a fantasy about marrying the son of the Shahenshah of Iran.
What happened when Mumtaz refused Shammi Kapoor’s marriage proposal? Actress reveals!
Mumtaz cherishes her memories of Shammi, but in a vintage interview shared by the YouTube channel Lehren Retro, Shammi described their romance as a “nightmare.” He reflected on their brief but intense relationship, noting that while he was a widower and she was a young beauty, their dreams soon soured. Despite the turmoil, he expressed contentment with his life as it is now.
Shammi Kapoor’s first wife,
Geeta Bali
, tragically passed away from smallpox, leaving him a single father to his children, Aditya and Kanchan. He later married
Neila Devi
, and the couple chose not to have children of their own. Neila and Shammi remained together until his death in 2011.