Kumkum (actress)
Kumkum, born Zaibunnisa (08 June 1934 – 28 July 2020), was an Indian actress. She acted in approximately 115 films during her career. She is best known for her roles in "Mr. X in Bombay" (1964), "Mother India" (1957), "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" 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  (1963), which was also the first ever Bhojpuri film. Early life. Kumkum's birth name is Zaibunnisa Khan. She was born in a prestigious Muslim family to father, Sayed Manzoor Hassan Nawab of Hussainabad in sheikhpura district of Bihar and mother, Khursheed Bano. Kumkum married 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 had two children—Andaleeb Akbar Khan (daughter) and Hadi Ali Abrar (son). Career. Kumkum was discovered by Guru Dutt. Guru Dutt was to 	Kumkum (actress)
2371355	picturise the song Kabhi Aar Kabhi Paar Laaga Teere Nazar" for his movie "Aar Paar" (1954) on his friend Jagdeep (father of Javed Jaffery, Naved Jaffery), but later decided to picturise this song on a female actor. But at that time, no one agreed to do a small song. Then Guru Dutt finally picturised this song on Kumkum. Later, Kumkum was seen in a small role in "Pyaasa" (1957). The famous song "Yeh Hai Bombay Meri Jaan" from "C.I.D" (1956), sung by Geeta Dutt was picturised on her. She was also paired alongside Shammi Kapoor in a side role in  Mem Saheb (1956) and also in lead opposite Shammi Kapoor in "Char Dil Char Raahein" (1959). She was trained in Kathak by the noted Pandit, Shambhu Maharaj. She showed her dancing talents in the film "Kohinoor" (1960) with Dilip Kumar. "Madhuban Mein Radhika Nache Re" and "Haye Jaadugar Qaatil, Haazir Hai Mera Dil", sung by Asha Bhosle for Naushad were picturised 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 "mere mehboob kayamat hogi  from mr. x in Bombay. This was a science fiction movie of that time and Kum kum ji 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 picturised on the pair Kishore-Kumkum remain popular since their release to this day. Kumkum was a favourite 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. But in "Lalkar" (1972), she was paired with Dharmendra, while Rajendra Kumar was paired with Mala Sinha. Kumkum was paired with Kiran Kumar in "Jalte Badan" (1973), 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 (1962). In his book, Cinema Bhojpuri, Avijit Ghosh writes that she also acted in Laagi 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. Death. Kumkum died on 28 July  2020 at her residence in Mumbai, aged 86.