Minoo Mumtaz

Minoo Mumtaz Biography

Minoo Mumtaz is a Bollywood actress of yesterdays, known for supporting roles. She has also played the role of a dancer in several movies, most notably in the 1950’s and 1960’s. She is the sister of the noted comedian of yesterdays, Mehmood. Her father Mumtaz Ali was also a character actor in Hindi cinema from the 1940s to 1970s. Noted singer-actor Lucky Ali is her nephew. Her brother Anwar Ali has also appeared in a few Bollywood movies like Saat Hindustani and Sadhu Aur Shaitaan. Thus she is a member of Mehmood Ali Family. Minoo is married to film director S. Ali Akbar since 1963 and currently she is settled in Canada.

She was born to noted character artist of 1940’s, Mumtaz Ali. Her real name is Malikunnisa Ali. She had 8 siblings of whom Mehmood Ali is most popular. Her father got addicted to drinking habits and thus responsibility to look after the big family went to the shoulders of Mehmood, the eldest among 4 brothers. Mehmood had one elder sister, Husseini Ali. Minoo has been associated with her father’s dance troupe "Mumtaz Ali Nites" and has performed as a child artist. Later too she performed as a dancer in the troupe as well as Bollywood movies, just due to poverty. Mehmood got married to Madhu, the sister of legendary actress Meena Kumari. Thus Meena Kumari became the sister-in-law of Mehmood. Later Malikunnisa Ali was rechristened to Minoo Mumtaz by none other than Meena Kumari.

"Sakhi Hateem" was her debut movie. She played lead role opposite legendary actor Balraj Sahni in 1959 film "Black Cat". Later she got associated with Guru Dutt’s camp and has appeared in almost all his movies – from CID to Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam. She has also played supporting roles in Taj mahal, Insan Jaag Utha and Ghoonghat.

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Updated: July 31, 2014