Veteran Actress and Dharmendra’s First Film Heroine Passes Away

Bollywood’s veteran actress Kamini Kaushal, who had been battling age-related health issues for a long time, passed away on Friday. She was 98 years old at the time of her death. Her passing has cast a shadow of sorrow across the entertainment industry.

Indian media reports confirmed the news of her death, which was also verified by her family. However, in light of their grief, the family has requested privacy during this difficult time.

Kamini Kaushal was one of the oldest actresses in the Indian film industry. Over the course of a career spanning seven decades, she appeared in more than 90 films. Her journey in the film industry began with Neecha Nagar (1946), which won the prestigious Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival. She went on to appear in numerous films such as Shahid, Nadiya Ke Paar, Do Bhai, Ziddi, Shabnam, Paars, Jhajhar, and Abroo, among others.

Kamini is best remembered as the heroine in Dharmendra’s debut film, Shahid (1965). Her remarkable performance in the 1954 film Biraj Bahu earned her a Filmfare Award for Best Actress in 1956. She also gained recognition for her influential roles in films like Upkar and Purab Aur Paschim, in which she starred alongside Manoj Kumar.

Apart from mainstream cinema, Kamini also made her mark on television. Her show Chaand Sitare became iconic. Her most recent film appearance was in Laal Singh Chaddha (2022), starring Aamir Khan and Kareena Kapoor, marking her final screen appearance.

Kamini Kaushal was honoured with the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015 and earned widespread acclaim for her contribution to both film and television.