Mumtaz opens up on charging Rs 20 lakh for appearing with Dharmendra on TV

Bollywood icon Mumtaz, who made a rare television appearance alongside late actor Dharmendra on Indian Idol Season 13 in 2023, has revealed that the outing came at a hefty price. In a recent interview, the veteran actor shared that her first-ever appearance on the small screen cost the makers Rs 18–20 lakh, explaining why she has largely stayed away from television despite repeated offers.

Speaking to Vickey Lalwani on his YouTube channel, Mumtaz opened up about her long-standing reluctance to do TV shows and the value she places on her work. She said, “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. And till now, they have contacted me over one hundred times, and I told them about my price. 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. I have always



been like that I did only one show, and I took Rs 18-20 lakh for that. They said they can’t pay me, and I haven’t done it; I don’t want to do it. Paisa pheko, tamasha dekho (Throw money, enjoy the show)!”

During the same conversation, Mumtaz also addressed reports about rejecting the iconic film Seeta Aur Geeta. Clarifying her decision, she said, “Not just fees. But yes, that was also one of the reasons. But, Ramesh Sippy sahab was a big producer and director at that time, so he thought I might to it in Rs 2 lakh because he was a big producer. 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. But you see, Hema Malini did it na.”

Mumtaz added that while she loved the subject of the film, she has no regrets about turning it down, as she did not want to lower her value at the peak of her career.