Kamini Kaushal Dead at 98: Tributes Pour In for the Trailblazing Actress of Hindi Cinema

Kamini Kaushal, a celebrated actor from the 1950s, has passed away at 98. A family source confirmed this to SCREEN. Kamini's career began with Chetan Anand's "Neecha Nagar" in 1946, which won the Palm d'Or at Cannes. Her notable films include "Nadiya Ke Paar," "Ziddi," and "Shaheed." Her final role was in "Laal Singh Chaddha" alongside Aamir Khan.

Born Uma Sood, Kamini shared in 2017 that she was hesitant about entering films after graduating in English from Lahore's Kinnaird College for Women. She said, “I was studying at Lahore's Kinnaird College for Women then, and my first reaction was 'no'. I had heard from somewhere that the film industry was not a good place for girls.”

Memorable Collaborations and Personal Life

Kamini worked with many renowned actors of her time. She appeared with Raj Kapoor in his debut film "Jail Yatra" and later in RK Films' "Aag." She once told PTI about her co-stars: “Each of my heroes were different from each other. Raj was very extrovert and always used to bluff a lot on the set. He was a fun-loving guy. Dev was sincere and passionate about his craft. Dilip, like me, was quiet and I was most comfortable to work with him. We did many films together.”

Rumours suggested Kamini and Dilip Kumar were romantically involved, but neither commented on it. Instead, Kamini married her brother-in-law to honour a promise made to her dying sister to care for her daughters.

Transitioning Roles and Later Appearances

By the mid-1960s, Kamini shifted towards character roles that left a lasting impression. During this period, she featured in films like "Do Raaste," "Prem Nagar," and "Maha Chor." Even after stepping back from regular acting, she occasionally returned to the screen.

In 2013, she appeared in Shah Rukh Khan's "Chennai Express." Reflecting on this experience with SCREEN, she said, “I couldn't say no. I thought I must do a film with Shah Rukh.” Before this appearance, she played Shahid Kapoor’s grandmother in the 2019 film "Kabir Singh."