MID-DAY (July 29, 2020)

Mother India actress Kumkum breathed her last on July 28 at the age of 86. The veteran actress was part of a number of yesteryear hit films like Mother India, CID, Kohinoor, Ujala, and Naya Daur, among others.

Late veteran actor Jagdeep's son, Naved Jafri, took to Twitter to pay respect to the actress. He wrote, "We have lost another gem. I have known her since I was a kid and she was family, a superb artist and a fantastic human being, innalillahe wa innailaihe raajeoon. Rest in peace kunkum aunty #ripkumkum #kumkum"

Kumkum hailed from Hussainabad in Sheikhpura district, Bihar.

Her most memorable film appearances include Mr X In Bombay, Mother India, Kohinoor, Ujala and Naya Daur.

She also starred in the first Bhojpuri film, Ganga Maiyya Tohe Piyari Chadhaibo, in 1963.

But her popularity rests mostly on the songs that were picturised on her, be it Madhuban Mein Radhika Nache Re, from Kohinoor (1960), Kabhi Aar Kabhi Paar from Aar Paar (1954) or Yeh Hai Bombay Meri Jaan from 1956's CID.

She was discovered by actor-director Guru Dutt in the 1950s, who case her in Aar Paar in an uncredited role. She later earned a small role in Dutt's Pyaasa.