Veteran Bollywood star Mumtaz has made a candid revelation about her television appearance fees, stating she demanded and received a substantial sum for her only TV outing with legendary actor Dharmendra. The actress, known for her iconic roles in the 70s, emphasized her firm stance on being paid her worth, coining a 'paisa pheko, tamasha dekho' (throw money, watch the show) attitude.
The Solo Television Appearance
Mumtaz's sole foray onto the television screen happened in 2023 when she appeared as a guest alongside Dharmendra on Indian Idol Season 13. This marked a momentous reunion, being their first joint television appearance in over five decades. While the episode was celebrated by fans for bringing the iconic pair together, Mumtaz has now disclosed the financial negotiations behind the scenes.
In a recent interview with Vickey Lalwani on his YouTube channel, Mumtaz clarified that this was her only television experience. "Even today, they call me on television. When I went on TV for the first time with Dharam ji and danced with him on the stage, that was the only time I went on television," she stated.
Standing Firm on Her Price
The actress revealed that despite being approached over a hundred times by various TV shows, she has consistently turned them down due to unsatisfactory payment offers. She disclosed her fee for the Indian Idol appearance was a whopping Rs 18-20 lakh.
"I have told the television people a thousand times that this is my price, I can adjust Rs 20-25k, but not more than that. I did only one show, I took Rs 18-20 lakh for that," Mumtaz asserted. She addressed the common industry counter that other celebrities charge significantly less, saying, "They said that people do it in Rs 3-4 lakh, so I told them that I can't say anything for those people, that's their wish. They can do it for free also, but this is my price."
Her final word to producers is a now-viral phrase: "Paisa pheko, tamasha dekho!" (Throw the money, then watch the show!).
Reflecting on Seeta Aur Geeta and Career Choices
The conversation also touched upon her famous decision to turn down the iconic film Seeta Aur Geeta, a role that eventually went to Hema Malini and became a major hit. Mumtaz confirmed that fee was one of the reasons, though not the sole factor.
She explained that producer-director Ramesh Sippy, being a major figure, expected her to do the film for around Rs 2 lakh. "Every big producer has their own ego issues. But thankfully, I was getting so many films already that I didn't feel this film would do anything special for me. So, things didn't work out between us," she recounted.
When asked if she regretted missing the film, Mumtaz firmly denied it, pointing to her own successful track record. "How many other films in her (Hema Malini) career became a hit? She has more or me? Please make the list, I have given more hits," she stated, while adding a note of humility. She emphasized her principle of not lowering her market value for any producer, as it sets a problematic precedent.
Mumtaz and Dharmendra, a beloved on-screen pair, starred in several successful films like Loafer (1973) and Jheel Ke Us Paar (1973). The actress recently paid a heartfelt tribute to Dharmendra following his passing, reminiscing about their shared cinematic journey.
