# Anjana Mumtaz
**Anjana Mumtaz** (born 1941, birth name Anjana Manjrekar) is an Indian film and television actress known for supporting roles in Hindi, Marathi, and Gujarati-language films, and for mother and character roles in [Hindi cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/hindi-cinema) and television serials from the late 1980s onward.
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1941 in Bombay, Bombay Presidency, British India; birth name Anjana Manjrekar[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0030120/bio/) |
| Languages | Supporting roles in Hindi, Marathi, and Gujarati-language films[2](https://tv.apple.com/us/person/anjana-mumtaz/umc.cpc.2uj6d8188tlraj3hdtkus3gpm) |
| First credited role | Sambandh (1969), followed by Mahua (1969), in which she played the female lead alongside Aruna Irani[3](https://www.veethi.com/india-people/anjana_mumtaz-profile-9811-14.htm) |
| Career pattern | Early lead and character roles in the 1970s, a break for family life, a return in character roles from the late 1980s, and mother roles through the 1990s[3](https://www.veethi.com/india-people/anjana_mumtaz-profile-9811-14.htm) • [1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0030120/bio/) |
| Notable mother roles | Akshay Kumar's mother in Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi (1996) and Govinda's mother in Saajan Chale Sasural (1996)[3](https://www.veethi.com/india-people/anjana_mumtaz-profile-9811-14.htm) |
| Family | Married Sajid Mumtaz, an Air India official; her son is the actor Ruslaan Mumtaz[2](https://tv.apple.com/us/person/anjana-mumtaz/umc.cpc.2uj6d8188tlraj3hdtkus3gpm) |
## Early career
Anjana Manjrekar was born into a Maharashtrian family in Bombay. According to her IMDb biography, she visited the shooting of *Paakeezah* in 1965 and met [Meena Kumari](https://www.edgepedia.org/meena-kumari), who advised her to finish her studies and join films; Meena Kumari introduced her to the actor and filmmaker Mehmood, who in turn introduced her to the Mukherjees, who signed her for *Sumbundh*.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0030120/bio/)
Her first credited film role was in *Sambandh* (1969), followed the same year by *Mahua*, in which she played the female lead alongside [Aruna Irani](https://www.edgepedia.org/aruna-irani). She appeared in a small number of films in the early 1970s, including character roles in *Do Phool* and *Bandhe Haath* (both 1973), before stepping away from acting for family life.[3](https://www.veethi.com/india-people/anjana_mumtaz-profile-9811-14.htm) Her sister is the actress Madhu Manjrekar, who debuted in *Bazaar Bandh Karo*.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0030120/bio/)
## Return and the 1990s
**Comeback.** Anjana returned to films in the late 1980s in character roles and became a familiar supporting presence through the 1990s. Her credits from this period include *Tridev* (1989), *Bhrashtachar* (1989), *Nigahen: Nagina Part II* (1989), *[Phool Aur Kaante](https://www.edgepedia.org/phool-aur-kaante)* (1991), *Saajan* (1991), *Chamatkar* (1992), *Khuda Gawah* (1992), *Dil Tera Aashiq* (1993), *Tirangaa* (1993), *Haqeeqat* (1995), *Sabse Bada Khiladi* (1995), *Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi* (1996), *Bhairavi* (1996), *[Saajan Chale Sasural](https://www.edgepedia.org/saajan-chale-sasural)* (1996), *Dulhe Raja* (1998), *Dahek* (1999), and *Dhadkan* (2000).[3](https://www.veethi.com/india-people/anjana_mumtaz-profile-9811-14.htm) • [4](https://cinegraph.org/people/anjana-mumtaz)
She became especially identified with mother roles. She played [Akshay Kumar](https://www.edgepedia.org/akshay-kumar)'s mother in *Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi* and Govinda's mother in *Saajan Chale Sasural*, and IMDb notes she was well known for playing mothers in 1990s films.[3](https://www.veethi.com/india-people/anjana_mumtaz-profile-9811-14.htm) • [1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0030120/bio/) In Rakesh Roshan's science-fiction film *Koi... Mil Gaya* (2003) she played Mrs. Harbans Saxena.[5](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0030120/)
## Television
On television she played Subhadra, Vrishbhan's wife and Jay's mother, in *Buniyaad* ([DD National](https://www.edgepedia.org/dd-national), 1986), a serial in which the Times of India describes her role as important. Her later serial work included Gayatri Shamsher Raj in *Chattaan* ([Zee TV](https://www.edgepedia.org/zee-tv), 1997–1998), a role in *Jaan* (Zee TV, 1998–1999), Mrs. Seth in *Kudrat* (DD National, 2001), Mrs. Somani in *Gharana* (Zee TV, 2001–2003), and Revati Kailashnath Sharma in *Devi* ([Sony Entertainment Television](https://www.edgepedia.org/sony-entertainment-television), 2002–2004), a role she played across 76 episodes.[5](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0030120/) • [6](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/videos/tv/hindi/tv-and-film-actress-anjana-mumtaz-on-why-she-has-taken-a-break-from-showbiz/videoshow/108902033.cms)
## Family
She married Sajid Mumtaz, an [Air India](https://www.edgepedia.org/air-india) official, and the couple have one son, Ruslaan Mumtaz, who works in Bollywood films and television.[2](https://tv.apple.com/us/person/anjana-mumtaz/umc.cpc.2uj6d8188tlraj3hdtkus3gpm) • [3](https://www.veethi.com/india-people/anjana_mumtaz-profile-9811-14.htm) In January 2022, Ruslaan Mumtaz reported that he, his parents Anjana and Sajid, his wife Nirali, and his son Rayaan had all tested positive for COVID-19.[7](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Anjana-Mumtaz)
## Filmography counts
Databases disagree on how many films she has appeared in. IMDb lists 220 acting credits,[5](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0030120/) BollywoodMDB lists 89 films as actor,[8](https://www.bollywoodmdb.com/anjana-mumtaz-nm-6157/movies) Cinegraph lists 58 acting credits with activity from 1972 to 2006,[4](https://cinegraph.org/people/anjana-mumtaz) and Veethi states she has acted in more than 70 movies.[3](https://www.veethi.com/india-people/anjana_mumtaz-profile-9811-14.htm) The Apple TV profile describes her as known for supporting roles in over a hundred Hindi, Marathi, and Gujarati-language films.[2](https://tv.apple.com/us/person/anjana-mumtaz/umc.cpc.2uj6d8188tlraj3hdtkus3gpm)
## References
1. [Anjana Mumtaz – Biography, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0030120/bio/)
2. [Anjana Mumtaz Movies and Shows, Apple TV](https://tv.apple.com/us/person/anjana-mumtaz/umc.cpc.2uj6d8188tlraj3hdtkus3gpm)
3. [Anjana Mumtaz – Profile, Biography and Life History, Veethi](https://www.veethi.com/india-people/anjana_mumtaz-profile-9811-14.htm)
4. [Anjana Mumtaz, Cinegraph](https://cinegraph.org/people/anjana-mumtaz)
5. [Anjana Mumtaz, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0030120/)
6. [Tv and film actress Anjana Mumtaz on why she has taken a break from showbiz, Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/videos/tv/hindi/tv-and-film-actress-anjana-mumtaz-on-why-she-has-taken-a-break-from-showbiz/videoshow/108902033.cms)
7. [Anjana Mumtaz News, Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Anjana-Mumtaz)
8. [Anjana Mumtaz – Complete Movie List & Filmography, BollywoodMDB](https://www.bollywoodmdb.com/anjana-mumtaz-nm-6157/movies)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of South Asia › Indian screen actors, 1970s to 1990s*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 20, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 20, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 11, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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