Noted yesteryear actress Kumkum breathed her last this morning (28th July) at her residence at Bandra in Bombay at the age of 86. She is survived by her husband, two sons including film director Hadi Abrar, and a daughter who runs a media house. In a career spanning a little less than two decades, she acted in more than a hundred films, notable among which were Mr. X In Bombay, Mother India, Kohinoor, Ujala, Ek Sapera Ek Lutera, Naya Daur, Raja Aur Runk, Geet, Aankhen and Lalkaar. She was also the leading lady of the first ever Bhojpuri film, Ganga Maiya Tohe Piyari Chadhaibo.
Born Zaibunnissa, she hailed from Hussainabad from Sheikhpura district of Bihar. She came from a very respectable family and was discovered by Guru Dutt when he was on the lookout for an actress to picturise the song Kabhi aar kabhi paar from Aar Paar. No actress was willing to feature in just one song and hence Guru Dutt finally picturised it on Kumkum. The actress also played a small role in the filmmaker’s Pyaasa. She also featured in the song Yeh hai Bombay meri jaan from C.I.D.. She was paired opposite Pran in Prakash Mehra’s hit comedy film, Ek Kuwara Ek Kuwari.