Mumtaz reveals Shammi Kapoor’s wife feels bad when people ask about him: 'I don’t want to hurt anyone…'

During the filming of Brahmachari, Mumtaz and Shammi Kapoor developed a strong connection. Despite the age gap and objections from Mumtaz's mother, Shammi Kapoor pursued her and proposed marriage. Although they didn't wed, Mumtaz has consistently spoken fondly of the late actor in interviews. However, she has also shared that these comments have caused distress to Shammi Kapoor's wife, Neila Devi.

Mumtaz recently told the Times of India, “Everybody keeps asking me the same old things. And my sister got a few calls. People complained to my sister. They say, ‘Mumtaz shouldn’t answer those questions.’ But how many times should I say no comments? People want to ask me everything. My sister told me, ‘You are hurting industry people.’ I don’t want to hurt anyone; they are my family."

The veteran actress added, “People whom I have spoken about, now their kids have grown up, and they don’t like it when I speak the truth. I don’t regret it. But it does get monotonous. Everybody just wants to ask me about Rajesh Khanna and Shammi Kapoor. It is so monotonous. His (Shammi’s) wife feels bad, ‘Why is she talking about my husband?’ So, I don’t want to hurt anyone."

Following the death of his first wife, Geeta Bali, in 1965, Shammi Kapoor met the young actress Mumtaz on the set of Brahmachari. Their connection blossomed into love, but their relationship faced a significant hurdle: Shammi Kapoor's desire for Mumtaz to leave her acting career behind, which ultimately prevented them from marrying.

“He wanted me to give up my career when I was just 17. I don’t think anyone can give me the same amount of love that he showered on me. I never forgot him. Even today, when his name is mentioned, tears well up in my eyes. It was not a love affair; it was much more. We loved each other deeply. Unfortunately, womenfolk in the Kapoor family did not work during those days. He had to respect his family’s wishes, and I had to respect my career," Reddif quoted her as saying.

Shammi Kapoor later married Neila Devi in 1969. The actor passed away in 2011.