Kumkum | |
|---|---|
| Born | Zaibunnisa Khan (1934-04-22)22 April 1934 |
| Died | 28 July 2020(2020-07-28) (aged 86) |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1954–1973 |
| Spouse | Sajjad Akbar Khan |
| Children | Andaleeb Sajjad Khan[1] |
Kumkum, (bornZaibunnisa Khan; 22 April 1934 – 28 July 2020),[2] was an Indian actress.
She is best known for her roles inMr. X in Bombay (1964),Mother India (1957),[3]Son of India (1962),Kohinoor (1960),Ujala,Naya Daur,Shreeman Funtoosh,Ek Sapera Ek Lutera,Ganga Ki Laharen,Raja Aur Runk,Aankhen (1968),Lalkaar,Geet andEk Kuwara Ek Kuwari. She paired with many film heroes of her era and was popular in roles alongsideKishore Kumar.
Kumkum also acted inBhojpuri films, starting withGanga Maiyya Tohe Piyari Chadhaibo (1963), which was also the first everBhojpuri film.[4][5]
Kumkum's birth name is Sayyeda Zaibunnisa. She was born in a prestigiousShia Islam family to Sayyed Manzoor HassanNawab of Hussainabad inSheikhpura district ofBihar and Sayyeda Khursheeda Bano.
Kumkum married Sayyed Sajjad Akbar Khan who hailed from Lucknow, India and worked in Saudi Arabia. Kumkum shifted to Saudi Arabia after her marriage and returned to India after 23 years in 1995. The couple have only one child— Sayyeda Andaleeb Sajjad Khan (daughter).
Kumkum was discovered byGuru Dutt. Guru Dutt was to picturize the song "Kabhi Aar Kabhi Paar Laaga Teere Nazar" for his movieAar Paar (1954) on his friendJagdeep (father of Javed Jaffery, Naved Jaffery), but later decided to picturize this song on a female actor. But at that time, no one agreed to do a small song. Then Guru Dutt finally picturized this song on Kumkum. Later, Kumkum was seen in a small role inPyaasa (1957). The famous song "Yeh Hai Bombay Meri Jaan" fromC.I.D (1956), sung byGeeta Dutt was picturized on her. She was also paired alongside Shammi Kapoor in a side role inMem Saheb (1956) and also in lead opposite Shammi Kapoor inChar Dil Char Raahein (1959).
She was trained in Kathak by the notedPandit,Shambhu Maharaj. She showed her dancing talents in the filmKohinoor (1960) with Dilip Kumar. "Madhuban Mein Radhika Nache Re" and "Haye Jaadugar Qaatil, Haazir Hai Mera Dil", sung byAsha Bhosle forNaushad were picturized on Kumkum. She was paired opposite Kishore Kumar in films likeGanga Ki Laharen, Shreeman Funtoosh, Haaye Mera Dil andMr. X in Bombay. She was leading heroine in all-time favorite Hindi Sad song "mere mehboob kayamat hogi" from mr. x in Bombay. This was a science fiction movie of that time and Kumkum was a great star. The songs like "Khoobsurat Haseena" fromMr. X in Bombay, "Ijazat Ho Toh" fromHaaye Mera Dil, "Sultana Sultana" fromShreeman Funtoosh and "Machalti Hui" fromGanga Ki Lahren, which were picturized on the pair Kishore-Kumkum remains popular since their release to this day.
Kumkum was a favorite choice for writer directorRamanand Sagar.Sagar decided to cast Kumkum as Dharmendra's sister inAnkhen, a super hit film of 1968. In 1970, forGeet, Kumkum was Ramanand Sagar's choice for a small role. But inLalkar (1972), she was paired with Dharmendra, whileRajendra Kumar was paired withMala Sinha. Kumkum was paired withKiran Kumar inJalte Badan (1973), produced, directed and written once again by Sagar. She was paired oppositeVinod Khanna inDhamkee in 1973 and the duet song "Chand Kya Hai Roop Ka Darpan" became hugely popular. She was paired oppositePran in the comedy filmEk Kuwara Ek Kuwari, directed byPrakash Mehra, which was a blockbuster.
After her marriage, Kumkum left the industry.
Kumkum was one of the top stars in the first phase ofBhojpuri films which began withGanga Maiyya Tohe Piyari Chadhaibo (1962). In his book, Cinema Bhojpuri, Avijit Ghosh writes that she also acted inLaagi Nahi Chhute Ram (1963), Balma Bada Nadaan (1964), Naihar Chhutal Jaye (1964), Bhauji (1965) and Ganga (1965), which was also her home production. "Two heroines who ruled the first phase of Bhojpuri films were Kumkum and Naaz. Scripts were often written around their characters and to their credit, they often proved equal to the task," Ghosh writes in the same book.
Kumkum died on 28 July 2020 at her residence inMumbai, aged 86.[6]