Why mumtaz Didn’t Act With dharmendra in Seeta Aur Geeta: The Real Reason Revealed

A Classic Film With a What-If Casting Story

Seeta Aur Geeta (1972), starring dharmendra and hema malini, remains one of hindi cinema’s most loved films.

Before hema malini was finalized, the dual-role film was first offered to veteran actress mumtaz, who was at the peak of her career then.

Mumtaz liked the script and concept, but ultimately chose not to do the film.

Mumtaz Breaks Her Silence After Many Years

In a recent conversation on Vicky Lalwani’s podcast, mumtaz opened up about why she rejected the film.

She explained that the decision had nothing to do with dharmendra or the quality of the story.

The real issue was remuneration and professional differences with the makers.

Disagreement Over Fees

According to mumtaz, producer-director Ramesh Sippy expected her to do the film for around ₹2 lakh.

At that time, mumtaz was already a top star and was earning much more from other projects.

She felt the fee did not match her market value or status in the industry.

Mumtaz candidly said that big producers often had ego clashes, and in this case, they simply could not agree on the money.

Since she already had many successful films in hand, she felt Seeta Aur Geeta would not add anything special to her career then.

Hema Malini Stepped In

After mumtaz declined, the role went to hema malini, and the film went on to become a massive hit.

Mumtaz acknowledged this fact light-heartedly, saying, “Hema Malini did the film, didn’t she?”

Her Fee Even Today

Though mumtaz is no longer active in films, she remains highly selective about public appearances.

In 2023, she appeared on indian idol 13 alongside dharmendra and reportedly charged ₹18–20 lakh for the episode.

She stated that while many guests charge ₹3–4 lakh, this has always been her fee, reflecting her stature.

Respectful Bond With Dharmendra

Mumtaz and dharmendra shared a warm and respectful relationship in real life.

Over the years, she has spoken fondly of him and shared memories on social media, showing mutual admiration and respect.

Their off-screen bond remained strong, even though they missed out on working together in Seeta Aur Geeta.

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