Kumkum (actress)


Kumkum,, was an Indian actress.
She is best known for her roles in Ankhen, Lalkaar, Mother India, Mr. X in Bombay, Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere, Son of India, Kohinoor, Ujala, Naya Daur, Shreeman Funtoosh, Ek Sapera Ek Lutera, Ganga Ki Laharen, Raja Aur Runk, Geet and Ek Kuwara Ek Kuwari. She paired with many film heroes of her era and was popular in roles alongside Kishore Kumar.
Kumkum also acted in Bhojpuri films, starting with Ganga Maiyya Tohe Piyari Chadhaibo, which was also the first ever Bhojpuri film.

Personal life

Kumkum's birth name is Sayyeda Zaibunnisa. She was born in a Shia Islam family to Sayyed Manzoor Hassan Nawab of Hussainabad in Sheikhpura district of Bihar 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.

Career

Kumkum was discovered by Guru Dutt. Guru Dutt was to picturize the song "Kabhi Aar Kabhi Paar Laaga Teere Nazar" for his movie Aar Paar on his friend Jagdeep, 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 in Pyaasa. The famous song "Yeh Hai Bombay Meri Jaan" from C.I.D, sung by Geeta Dutt was picturized on her. She was also paired alongside Shammi Kapoor in a side role in Mem Saheb and also in lead opposite Shammi Kapoor in Char Dil Char Raahein. She became the first heroine to be cast opposite Dharmendra in his debut film Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere in 1960.
She was trained in Kathak by the noted Pandit, Shambhu Maharaj. She showed her dancing talents in the film Kohinoor with Dilip Kumar. "Madhuban Mein Radhika Nache Re" and "Haye Jaadugar Qaatil, Haazir Hai Mera Dil", sung by Asha Bhosle for Naushad were picturized on Kumkum. She was paired opposite Kishore Kumar in films like Ganga Ki Laharen, Shreeman Funtoosh, Haaye Mera Dil and Mr. X in Bombay. She was leading heroine in all-time favorite Hindi Sad song "" 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" from Mr. X in Bombay, "Ijazat Ho Toh" from Haaye Mera Dil, "Sultana Sultana" from Shreeman Funtoosh and "Machalti Hui" from Ganga 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 director Ramanand Sagar. Sagar decided to cast Kumkum as Dharmendra's sister in Ankhen, a super hit film of 1968. In 1970, for Geet, Kumkum was Ramanand Sagar's choice for a small role. In the 1972 hit film Lalkar, she was one of the four main leads and was paired opposite Dharmendra. Kumkum was paired with Kiran Kumar in Jalte Badan, produced, directed and written once again by Sagar. She was paired opposite Vinod Khanna in Dhamkee in 1973 and the duet song "Chand Kya Hai Roop Ka Darpan" became hugely popular. She was paired opposite Pran in the comedy film Ek Kuwara Ek Kuwari, directed by Prakash Mehra, which was a blockbuster.
After her marriage, Kumkum left the industry.

Bhojpuri Films

Kumkum was one of the top stars in the first phase of Bhojpuri films which began with Ganga Maiyya Tohe Piyari Chadhaibo. In his book, Cinema Bhojpuri, Avijit Ghosh writes that she also acted in Laagi Nahi Chhute Ram, Balma Bada Nadaan, Naihar Chhutal Jaye, Bhauji and Ganga, 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.

Death

Kumkum died on 28 July 2020 at her residence in Mumbai, aged 86.

Filmography

  1. Aar Paar as dancer in song "Kabhi Aar Kabhi Paar"
  2. Amar Kirtan
  3. Mirza Ghalib
  4. Gawaiya
  5. Noor Mahal
  6. Haseena
  7. Mr. & Mrs. '55
  8. Jasoos
  9. Milap
  10. Musafirkhana
  11. Society
  12. Pyaara Dushman
  13. Joru Ka Bhai
  14. House No. 44
  15. Bindiya
  16. Rukshana
  17. Sati Madalasa
  18. Navratri
  19. Hatimtai Ki Beti
  20. Kundan
  21. Funtoosh
  22. Mem Sahib
  23. Bhagam Bhag
  24. Hamara Watan
  25. Ek Hi Raasta
  26. Lalkaar
  27. Malika
  28. Zindagi Ke Mele
  29. Naya Andaz
  30. Kar Bhala
  31. Dhasehra
  32. Dhola Maru
  33. C.I.D.
  34. Sipahsalar
  35. Naqaab Posh
  36. Mr. Chakram
  37. Gauri Puja
  38. Basant Panchami
  39. Basant Bahar
  40. Samundari Daku
  41. Naya Daur
  42. Bada Bhai
  43. Mother India
  44. Pyaasa
  45. Patal Pari
  46. Anjali
  47. Dushman
  48. Baarish
  49. Bansari Bala
  50. Ustad
  51. Ghar Sansar
  52. Mr. Qartoon M.A
  53. Bhala Aadmi
  54. Char Dil Char Rahen
  55. Do Gunde
  56. Shararat
  57. Commander
  58. Madhu
  59. Kali Topi Lal Rumal
  60. Ujala
  61. Gokul Ka Chor
  62. Kohinoor
  63. Duniya Jhukti Hai
  64. Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere
  65. Barood
  66. Nache Nagin Baje Been
  67. Rangeela Raja
  68. Shan-E-Hind
  69. Tu Nahin Aur Sahi
  70. Aplam Chaplam
  71. Karorepati
  72. Salam Memsaab
  73. Shola Jo Bhadke
  74. Tel Malish Boot Polish
  75. Son Of India
  76. King Kong
  77. Sher Khan
  78. Burmah Road
  79. Ganga Maiyya Tohe Piyari Chadhaibo
  80. Laagi Nahi Chhute Ram
  81. Mr. X in Bombay
  82. Ganga Ki Lahren
  83. Baghi Shehzada
  84. Qawwali Ki Raat
  85. Ek Sapera Ek Lutera
  86. Shreeman Funtoosh
  87. Sau Saal Baad
  88. Labela
  89. Main Wahi Hoon
  90. Shera Damu
  91. Smuggler
  92. Duniya Nachegi
  93. Raja Aur Runk
  94. Ankhen
  95. Gunah Aur Kanoon
  96. Geet
  97. Aan Baan
  98. Lalkar
  99. Dhamkee
  100. Jalte Badan
  101. ''Ek Kunwari Ek Kunwara''