Kamini Kaushal is a veteran Indian actress and film producer, known for her roles in the Hindi films Neecha Nagar (1946) and Biraj Bahu (1954).
Wiki/Biography
According to some sources, Kamini Kaushal was born as Uma Kashyap on Thursday, February 24, 1927, while according to some other sources, she was born on January 16, 1927 Born on Sunday, Lahore, Punjab (age 96; as of 2023), British India (now Punjab, Pakistan). According to source 1, her zodiac sign is Pisces and according to source 2, her zodiac sign is Capricorn. She received her BA (Honours) in English Literature from Kinnard College for Women, Lahore. At the age of 7, she appeared in the Hindi film Tragedy directed by her brother.
appearance
Height (approximately): 5′6″
Hair color: gray
Eye color: brown
family
She belongs to a Punjabi family.
Parents and siblings
Her father, Professor Shiv Ram Kashyap, is a professor of botany at Punjab University, Lahore. He is also considered the father of Indian botany, having discovered six species of plants. When Kamini was nine, her father died. She has two brothers named Amar Nath Kashyap and Kedarnath Kashyap and two sisters named Usha Kahyap and Pushpa Kashyap. Amar is the Assistant Commandant of the Royal Bombay Engineers.
Kamini Kaushal’s parents
Kamini Kaushal with her family
husband and children
After her sister Usha died in a car accident in 1948, Kamini married her brother-in-law Braham S Sood, who was the chief engineer of the Bombay Port Trust. Sood) get married. Her sister has two daughters named Kumkum Somani and Kavita Sahni. Kumkum is a writer and Kavita is an artist. Kamini and BS Sood have three sons, Rahul Sood (film producer), Vidur Sood (owner of VideoVid Productions) and Shravan Sood (businessman).
Old photos of Kamini Kaushal with husband and son
Kamini Kaushal with her sons Shravan, Rahul and Vidur (from left) and daughters Kumkum and Kavita (from left)
Relationships/Affairs
In the 2019 book Dilip Kumar: The Unparalleled Icon Who Inspiring a Generation, it was reported that Kamini was the first love of veteran Indian actor Dilip Kumar. However, Dileep did not openly admit his love for Kamini. Kamini’s brother was against their relationship as Kamini was a married woman and he also disapproved of her affair with Dileep. According to some sources, Kamini’s brother was so unhappy with their relationship that he shot himself. After this shocking incident, Dileep and Kamini reportedly ended their relationship. In an interview, Dileep said about Kamini:
She (Kamini) is the only one I completely identify with. I think everyone falls in love only once. “Again” – if there is such a thing as “again” – is but an imitation of the brilliant flames, the blinding light, the days of trance, the nights of impatience and waiting, the days of incredible happiness. “
Kamini Kaushal and Dilip Kumar
sign
Kamini Kaushal’s autograph
Profession
radio
At the age of 9, she started working for the radio drama “Uma” in Lahore. While studying in college, she produced a radio drama for Akashwani. Indian film producer Chetan Anand heard her voice on a radio show and offered her a role in the Hindi film Neecha Nagar (1946).
Movie
She made her acting debut in the 1946 Hindi film Neecha Nagar, playing the role of Roopa.
Stills of Kamini Kaushal as Roopa in Hindi film Neecha Nagar
She played leading roles in many popular Hindi films such as “Nadiya Ke Paar” (1948), “Ziddi” (1948), “Bade Sarkar” (1957), “Jailor” (1958), “Night Club” ( 1958) and “Five Fields” (1963).
Godaan(1963)
Kamini starred in three Hindi films with Indian actor Rajesh Khanna: “Do Raaste” (1969), “Prem Nagar” (1974) and “Maha Chor” (1976) Year).
Kamini Kaushal on the sets of ‘Do Raaste’
She worked with Indian actor Manoj Kumar in eight films. Some of these films are “Upkar” (1967), “Purab Aur Paschim” (1970), “Roti Kapda Aur Makaan” (1974), “Sanyasi” (1975) and “Santosh” (1989).
Stills from the Hindi movie “Purab Aur Paschim”
She also played supporting roles in Hindi films like “Chennai Express” (2013) and “Kabir Singh” (2019).
Kamini Kaushal at a press conference in Chennai Express
television
In 1984, Kamini starred in the British television series The Crown Jewels, in which she played the role of Shalini aunt. The TV series airs on the BBC.
Kamini Kaushal plays the role of Shalini aunty in TV series “The Jewel in the Crown”
From 1989 to 1991, she performed a puppet show “Chand Sitare” for children, which was broadcast on Doordarshan.
Kamini Kaushal as Chand Sitare
She has also appeared in several other Hindi television series such as “Waqt Ki Raftar” (1999; DD National) and “Shanno Ki Shaadi” (2005; Star Plus).
Shanno Ki Shaadi
Other jobs
Kamini also worked as a story writer for children’s magazine ‘Paraag’, in which she introduced characters like Bunty, Chotabai and Motabai, who were loosely based on her son and his cousins. In 1986, Kaushal produced an animated film called Meri Pari. She has appeared in print ads for several brands including Lux Soap and Surf.
Kamini Kaushal in Lux Advertisement
Kamini started a film production company called Gudiagarh Productions and produced various puppet shows under her banner. In 1953, she made the Hindi film “Chalis Baba Ek Chor”. She worked as a backup singer in the Hindi film Gyaniji (1977).
Awards
- 1947: Wins the Montreal Film Festival Award for his performance in the Hindi film Neecha Nagar
- 1955: Won the Filmfare Award for Best Actress for the Hindi film “Biraj Bahu”
Kamini Kaushal won the Filmfare Award (1955)
- 1964: Won the BFJA Award for Best Supporting Actress in the Hindi film “Shaheed”
- 2011: Karaka Award for Lifetime Achievement
- 2013: Kalpana Chawla Excellence Award
Kamini Kaushal receives Kalpana Chawla Award for Excellence
- 2015: Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award
Kamini Kaushal receives Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award
- 2015: BBC Women of 100 Awards
- 2020: Kabir Singh wins Screen Award for Best Supporting Actress in Hindi film
Favorites
Facts/Trivia
- Kamini said in an interview that during her teenage years, she never had time for a relationship. She said that when she was younger she was busy with various sports such as swimming, horseback riding, cycling and skating. Even into her later years, she still loved swimming.
- During school and college, she participated in various theater performances. However, she was never interested in becoming an actress. She revealed in an interview that once when she participated in a drama performance in college, she invited Indian actors Ashok Kumar and Leela Chitins as the chief guests. she says,
We performed for war relief funds in college. Ashok Kumar and Leela Chitins were the chief guests. We went to meet him after the show. I want to have some fun. I grabbed his hair from behind as he stood addressing the students. “
- After her marriage in 1950, she lived in “Gateside”, a manor house in Mazagon, which was assigned to her husband.
- She is an avid animal lover. When she was young, she had a monkey, a goat, 50 rabbits, a squirrel and several pet dogs. She also owns a pet cat named Minnie Mow.
Kamini Kaushal and a dog
- Kamini is a trained Bharatanatyam dancer. She received her training in Bharatnatyam under the guidance of her guru K. Mahalingam Pillai at Sri Rajarajeswari Bharata Natya Kala Mandir in Mumbai.
- Indian film director Chetan Anand gave her the name Kamini. Talking about the incident in an interview, Kamini said,
Chetan’s wife Uma Anand is also a part of the film. My name is also Uma and he wanted to give me a different name. I asked him to give me a name starting with “K” to match the names of my daughters Kumkum and Kavita. “
- On March 7, 1952, she became the first Indian actress to appear on the cover of Filmfare magazine.
Kamini Kaushal on the cover of Filmfare magazine
- Kamini was one of the Indian actresses who got the opportunity to organize an event in the presence of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
Collage of Kamini Kaushal and Indira Gandhi
- She was the first Indian heroine to be voiced by legendary Indian singer Lata Mangeshkar in the Hindi film “Ziddi” (1948).
- Kamini’s signature style is to wear a flower in her hair.
An old photo of Kamini Kaushal with a flower in her hair
- Kamini said in an interview that she never smoked or drank alcohol.
- Her son once said that Kamini was one of the most down-to-earth Indian actresses. When she was young, she often did housework alone, including mopping the floor.
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education