The Unlikely Rise of a B-Grade Power Duo
Long before he became nationally beloved as Hanuman in Ramanand Sagar's Ramayan at age 60, Dara Singh had already carved out an extraordinary career as a leading man in Indian cinema. The world-renowned professional wrestler stumbled into acting during visits to Mumbai and Chennai, initially taking roles casually before recognizing film's lucrative potential and pursuing it with characteristic passion.
When No Leading Lady Would Work With Him
During the 1960s, Dara Singh was producing films at an incredible pace, with 12 releases running in theatres simultaneously at one point. Despite his popularity with audiences, mainstream cinema circles dismissed his movies as 'B-grade,' creating a significant problem: established actresses refused to work with him, fearing the same label.
Enter Mumtaz, a 15-year-old newcomer struggling to find her footing in the industry. When she met the 35-year-old Dara Singh, an unlikely partnership was born. "I was the only actress who agreed to work with him because no big hero of that time wanted to work with me," Mumtaz recalled in a 2012 interview. She acknowledged her roles were limited—"I didn't have much to do in these films as it was all about him"—but this collaboration proved transformative for both.
Becoming the Highest-Paid B-Grade Stars
Their professional partnership flourished between 1963 and 1967, resulting in 16 films together, including notable titles like Faulad (1963), Sikandar-E-Azam, Rustom E-Hind, and Daku Mangal Singh. Mumtaz described Faulad as a "turning point" in her career, while calling Dara Singh the "superstar of fantasy films."
Despite not being taken seriously by critics, their commercial success made them the highest-paid actors in the B-grade circuit. Dara Singh commanded ₹4 lakh per film, while Mumtaz earned ₹2.5 lakh per movie—substantial sums for that era. "My role used to be very small, maybe a couple of romantic scenes and some songs," Mumtaz remembered with amusement. "I still remember I used to get a remuneration of Rs 2.5 lakh, which was considered a big amount in those days."
The Partnership That Launched a Superstar
This successful collaboration eventually ended when Mumtaz's career trajectory changed dramatically after being cast opposite Dilip Kumar in Ram Aur Shyam. This breakthrough role propelled her into mainstream cinema's upper echelons, where she focused her energies thereafter.
Though rumors circulated about a possible romance between the co-stars during their filming years, neither Dara Singh nor Mumtaz ever publicly addressed these speculations. Dara Singh passed away in 2012 at age 83, leaving behind a legacy that bridges wrestling, B-grade cinema glory, and eventual television immortality as Hinduism's most beloved divine monkey warrior.
