Salma Mumtaz

Who was Salma Mumtaz?

Salma Mumtaz was a Pakistani film actress, dancer, director and producer. Mumtaz made her film debut as an actress in the 1960 Urdu language film, Neelofar. A dancer in addition to an actor, Mumtaz danced in more than three hundred predominantly Punjabi language films during her career. She also became known for portraying mothers and motherly figures opposite well known Pakistani and Indian actors, including Waheed Murad, Mohammad Ali, and Shahid. Some of her best known films included Dil Mera Dharkan Teri, Puttar Dai Piyar, Heer Ranjha, and Sheran Di Jori. Mumtaz also worked behind the camera as a film director and producer.

Mumtaz was born in Jalandhar, present-day India, in 1926. Mumtaz's brother, Pervaiz Nasir, was a film producer. Her younger sister was actress Shammi. Mumtaz moved to the city of Lahore, Pakistan, with her family following the Partition of India in 1947.

Salma Mumtaz died in Lahore on January 21, 2012, from complications of a long battle with diabetes at the age of 85. Her survivors included her daughter, television actress Nida Mumtaz.