Famous Bollywood actress Kamini Kaushal has passed away today at the age of 97. Kamini Kaushal was the oldest actress of Hindi cinema.
She was last seen in Aamir Khan and Kareena Kapoor starrer film Laal Singh Chaddha. Apart from this, she has played the role of Shahid’s grandmother in Shahid Kapoor and Kiara Advani starrer film Kabir Singh in the year 2023. According to the report of Times of India, Kamini Kaushal’s family has demanded privacy.
Kamini Kaushal was the highest paid actress
Kamini Kaushal was one of the most successful actresses of the 40s. She was the top actress in Box Office India’s top actress list in 1947 and 1948. She was included in Outlook India’s 75 Best Bollywood Actresses in the year 2022.
Kamini Kaushal’s father Prof. Shiv Ram Kashyap was the father of moss science in India.
Kamini Kaushal was born on 16 January 1927 in Lahore. His father Prof. Shiv Ram Kashyap was Professor of Botany at Punjab University, Lahore. He is also called the father of Bryology in India. He discovered six new species of plants. Kamini was the youngest among two brothers and three sisters. Kamini’s father died when she was seven years old.
At an early age, Kamini Kaushal started programming for All India Radio, for which she got a salary of Rs 10 every month. Along with this, Kamini did BA in English Literature from Government College, Lahore. (Hons.) Meanwhile, in 1946, Chetan Anand offered him to work in his film Neecha Nagar, and from here his film journey began.
In her film career spanning 7 decades, Kamini Kaushal worked in films like Do Bhai, Shaheed, Nadiya Ke Paar, Ziddi, Shabnam, Paras, Upkaar, Purab Aur Paschim, Roti, Kapda and Makaan. With increasing age, he has also worked in Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega, Chori Chori, Laaga Chunari Mein Daag, Chennai Express, Kabir Singh and Laal Singh Chaddha.
Had to marry brother-in-law after sister’s death
Kamini Kaushal married B.S. Sood in the year 1948. Actually, B.S.Sood was the husband of Kamini Kaushal’s elder sister. He also had two children. In 1948, her sister died in a road accident, after which Kamini Kaushal was married to her sister’s husband to raise her children.
Kamini Kaushal was Dilip Kumar’s first girlfriend.
Kamini Kaushal was seen with Dilip Kumar in the film Shaheed, released in 1948. Despite being married, Kamini Kaushal started liking Dilip Kumar during the shooting of this film. Dilip Kumar also wanted to marry him, however, due to brother’s opposition and family’s displeasure, Kamini had to end the relationship.
Kamini had said- both of us were shattered.
While talking to a glamor magazine in 2014, Kamini had said that he (Dilip Sahab) had written in his biography that he was shattered after separating from me, but the reality is that both of us were shattered. We were very happy with each other. But what could be done? I could not deceive anyone (husband) by saying that enough is enough, I am leaving. What face would I have shown my deceased sister? My husband is a very good person. Did they understand why this happened? Anyone can fall in love.’
When Dilip Kumar could not recognize Kamini after seeing him
Years later, Dilip Kumar and Kamini Kaushal met on the fourth anniversary of late actor Pran in 2013. Dilip Sahab had reached there with his wife Saira. During this time, Dilip Sahab’s chair was right next to Kamini Kaushal. Then Dilip Sahab was 90 years old and Kamini was 86. But Dilip Sahab could not recognize Kamini.
During an interview in 2014, Kamini had said, when Dilip Sahab gave me a blank look, my heart broke. In fact, by that time he was having trouble recognizing anyone. I felt very sad seeing this and went away from there.