'I was the highest paid actress

'I never had any nakhras, never threw tantrums, so I got along with all my heroes.'

Jeetendra and Mumtaz were both excellent dancers, so it was inevitable that they would be cast together.

Mumtaz, who had a small role in V Shantaram's Sehra in 1963 and a leading role in his Boond Jo Ban Gayi Moti four years later, went on to match steps with Jeetendra in a number of films, including Jigri Dost, Humjoli, Himmat, Ek Nari Ek Brahmachari, Roop Tera Mastana, Kathputli and Naagin.

In 1974, she married businessman Mayur Madhvani and soon after, quit films to focus on her family.

But the memories of the duo dancing to the tunes of Dil Ki Baatein Dil Hi Jaane, Raat Suhani Jaag Rahi Hai, Phool Hai Baharon Ka and Dil Mein Kya Hai remain even after half a century.

On April 7, Jeetendra turned 82. Mumtaz flashbacks to their films together, "We did lots of songs together.

Most of them were romantic songs with us either playing girlfriend boyfriend or husband-wife. And as is usual in most Indian films, they were usually shot in a garden, in the rain or came in a dream sequence."

'Jeetuji was very jolly, always laughing and joking'

Jeetuji and I did around six-seven films together but it's been nearly 50 years since I left the industry, so the memories are somewhat blurred.

What I do remember is that he was a good-natured, happy-go-lucky, down-to-earth person, and a strong one.

He was required to lift me in quite a few of the songs and I used to be quite heavy then.

But like a breeze, he would just sweep me off the ground. I was always very professional, never had any nakhras (airs), never threw tantrums, so I got along with all my heroes.