Mumtaz Askari Madhvani, aka Mumtaz, who was one of the most noted actors in the 70s, recently opened up about her interfaith marriage with businessman Mayur Madhvani and how marrying someone from outside her faith influenced certain aspects of her spiritual life. Mumtaz is known for films such as Khilona, Tere Mere Sapne, Apradh and Brahmachari among others. In 1974, she got married to Madhvani.
During her interview with Sitaron Ka Safar, the veteran actress said, “My favourites are Lord Shankar and Lord Krishna. I believe in them deeply, even though I am a Muslim. Whenever I walk down the stairs in my house, there is an idol of Lord Ganesha, who is my favourite, and I bow at his feet. I also believe in Lord Shankar. Since childhood, I have always loved good-looking people, and I feel he is the most handsome God. So I love him. These are the two deities I especially believe in.”
Further opening up on her marriage, she continued, “I believe in both religions. I married a Hindu, and my sister also married a Hindu. We are both happy. My husband takes great care of me. I don’t understand why people keep talking about Hindu and Muslim divisions, I don’t believe in that.”
However, she also shared that she disagrees with the practice of polygamy followed by some men.
“I always say that I married a Hindu, and so did my sister, and we are very happy. Among Muslims, many men have married three or four times and then left their wives. How does that make Muslims better than Hindus? A man should not marry three or four times in the first place. I myself am Muslim, and I say this is wrong, to keep one wife and then marry another, and then a third. Have you ever thought about how possessive women are in relationships? This is one relationship where every woman is possessive. Leaving one and marrying another, how is that right? Isn’t that a sin? In that sense, Hindus seem better, they usually marry once. Sometimes they may marry twice, but it’s not about easily leaving one person and moving on to another. That is wrong.”
The actress was last seen in the film Aandhiyan in 1990, after which she retired.
Also Read: Mumtaz Speaks About Daughter Natasha & Fardeen Khan’s Marriage
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