Mumtaz........

 
When Mumtaj�s parents named her thus, they might not have known that they were letting themselves into a delicious irony. Their pretty daughter�s historical namesake may have been keeping Agra in business, but their own baby may end up getting the other 'agra', as in Viagra, out of business. For, the buxom actress is fast turning out to be the ultimate turn on for the Tamil fans.

So much so that there are no films made in Tamil nowadays without her presence. She almost seems as inevitable as the title card in a film. Reflecting the rage that she has become among the masses, there were serpentine queues winding through several streets with people jostling with each other to catch a glimpse of Mumtaj on her birthday recently in Chennai. She has also had to change her residence frequently because of intrusions from the fans.

Mumtaj is surprised by this adulation. �This is something I never dreamt of,� she says tersely. She can be forgiven for her lack of articulation skills. At any rate, people do not want to hear her, they are happy just seeing all of her on 70 mm!

Says a leading producer: �It is now clear that Mumtaj is the real heir apparent to Silk Smitha. After Smitha, Mumtaj is the first bimbette to raise expectations high�. She may not have the tipsy bedroom eyes of Silk, but there is nothing slinky or kinky about Mumtaj. She is primeval in her appeal.

Mumtaj, as it happens, did not get into films to be a sexy siren. In her first film, Monisha En Monalisa, she was the heroine. Though the film was a success, film offers did not come her way. At first she was disappointed, but soon decided that she will not go down as a one-film wonder.

Mumtaj then changed tack and rediscovered herself as a sexy starlet. The song Kattipudi, Kattipudi in Kushi was almost an anthem to many youths for quite some time. �I am grateful director Sasi for giving me that song.� For her fans, it was her signature tune.

It is to Mumtaj�s credit that she has been so successful at a time when regular heroines are not averse to shedding their clothes or shaking a mean hip and a long leg. Mumtaj does not care about this slotting as heroine or an item dancer. �See it is a team effort. If somebody is a hero, somebody else is a villain. Likewise, if I am not heroine, I am a dancer�.

Does it worry her that her claim to fame lies in her sex appeal? �It is not for me alone, all actresses have to bear this cross. We have figures, so we flaunt it�. Talking of figures, Mumtaj better watch out, as she is clearly is putting on weight. �I have been hearing about this for quite some time. I understand and I am doing regular exercises to keep myself more trim and fit�.

Anyway, the actress is quite touched by the fact that people do notice her on screen. Ask her about the future and she exclaims: "The going is good, so why bother at this juncture. The future will take care of itself. I will soon get back into shape for my fans." 

A lean Mumtaj would mean a fat purse for the producers. This Mumtaj, it would seem, is the viagra for many producers to keep churning out blockbusters.
 
(source: India Syndicate)