Not Madhubala or Nargis, India's first female superstar was a 16-year-old: 'Jubilee Girl' quit films at 26, left India !!
In the early days of Indian cinema, a 16-year-old named Mumtaz Shanti emerged as the country's first female superstar, earning the title "Jubilee Girl" for her record-breaking hits. Starting her career as a child artist in Punjabi films in 1937, she transitioned to lead roles and made a sensational Hindi debut with Basant in 1942. The film ran for an astounding 76 weeks, becoming the highest-grossing film of that year. Her follow-up, Kismet (1943), not only captivated audiences but also became the first Indian film to earn ₹1 crore, cementing her stardom at a very young age.
Over the next few years, Mumtaz Shanti continued to shine with hits like Ghar Ki Izzat (1948) and Aahuti (1950), sharing the screen with top stars of the era and even playing a senior lead to emerging talents such as Dilip Kumar. Despite her remarkable success and setting enduring box-office records, her film career was short-lived. After marrying filmmaker Wali Sahab, she retired at 26 and moved to Pakistan, where she lived out the rest of her life in Lahore until her passing in 1989. Her legacy as a trailblazer in Indian cinema endures, with her films remaining popular decades after their release.
In the early days of Indian cinema, a 16-year-old named Mumtaz Shanti emerged as the country's first female superstar, earning the title "Jubilee Girl" for her record-breaking hits. Starting her career as a child artist in Punjabi films in 1937, she transitioned to lead roles and made a sensational Hindi debut with Basant in 1942. The film ran for an astounding 76 weeks, becoming the highest-grossing film of that year. Her follow-up, Kismet (1943), not only captivated audiences but also became the first Indian film to earn ₹1 crore, cementing her stardom at a very young age.
Over the next few years, Mumtaz Shanti continued to shine with hits like Ghar Ki Izzat (1948) and Aahuti (1950), sharing the screen with top stars of the era and even playing a senior lead to emerging talents such as Dilip Kumar. Despite her remarkable success and setting enduring box-office records, her film career was short-lived. After marrying filmmaker Wali Sahab, she retired at 26 and moved to Pakistan, where she lived out the rest of her life in Lahore until her passing in 1989. Her legacy as a trailblazer in Indian cinema endures, with her films remaining popular decades after their release.