Bimal Roy바카라s Biraj Bahu (1954) based on Saratchandra Chattopadhyay바카라s novel remains a high spot in Kamini Kaushal바카라s life and career. Her portrayal as Biraj, the unwavering wife, who tries to keep her family together through distress, not only won her the Filmfare Award, it perhaps resonated her personal turmoil. In a strange twist of circumstance, Kamini was asked to marry her brother-in-law B.S.Sood after her older sister Usha died in a car accident. She was regarded as an 바카라ideal바카라 second mother to Usha바카라s orphaned girls.
The second conflict point in Kamini바카라s life came when she fell deeply in love with Dilip Kumar but had to choose 바카라duty바카라 over 바카라love바카라. 바카라I broke down several times while enacting the role in Biraj Bahu. My character had a sense of righteousness. She was confident that her husband (Abhi Bhattacharya) would never dismiss her as unfaithful,바카라 she said years later of her cathartic take. In fact, the reference to the Lord Ram-Sita narrative with Suno Sita ki kahani playing in the background, as Biraj slowly walks back home, couldn바카라t have been missed.
This heartbreak was perhaps also the genesis of the Tragedy King title, which became Dilip Kumar바카라s nomenclature down the years. His first brush with pain became the palette from which the actor dipped for his performances. Years later, B R Chopra바카라s Gumrah was said to be a take-off on this terminated tale of love, a film that Dilip apparently declined.
바카라Life바카라s about change. If it doesn바카라t change it바카라s not life,바카라 once said Kamini. Yes, life did change for them. Dilip Kumar went on to write cinematic history. Kamini had a kaleidoscopic innings as well. But the fact that they바카라d walked a certain path together remains a common chapter in their respective chronicles.
Revisiting this tale of love and loss바카라
Reluctant Bride
Uma Kashyap (Kamini Kaushal바카라s orginal name) was born to celebrated botanist Professor S.R Kashyap in 1927. She was the youngest among two brothers and three sisters. The gifted Uma did radio plays on Akashwani while studying at Kinnaird College in Lahore. Filmmaker Chetan Anand, who heard her on radio, offered her Neecha Nagar (1946). Renamed Kamini Kaushal by Chetan, she won an award at the Montreal Film Festival for her debut.
While her professional life was set to soar, her personal life turned more dramatic than a film script. Kamini, barely 21, was urged by her family to marry her brother-in-law Braham S Sood (chief engineer at the Bombay Port Trust) after her older sister, Usha, died in a tragic car accident leaving behind two daughters. 바카라I loved my sister deeply. I feared my nieces, Kumkum and Kavita, who were just around two and three, would flounder without a mother,바카라 shared Kamini, who got married in 1948. Reluctant to call her act as a 바카라sacrifice바카라, she called it an 바카라ideal solution바카라 instead, even as the responsibility made her nervous.
Her 바카라genteel바카라 and 바카라decent바카라 husband, popularly called Rummy, helped her slip into the new role. The couple went on to have three sons Rahul, Vidur and Shravan. Years later, son Rahul maintained that it was indeed a generous act by his mother. 바카라That was probably the biggest sacrifice mom made in her life; to marry for duty, not love,바카라 he said.
Heartbreak
Her husband being broadminded, Kamini continued her career. Filmistan바카라s Do Bhai (1947), with Geeta Roy바카라s poignant track Mera sundar sapna, won her popularity. She was seen with Raj Kapoor in Jail Yatra, and Aag, with Ashok Kumar in Poonam and Night Club and Dev Anand in Ziddi and Shair (all between 1947 - 1954). But her stint with Dilip Kumar proved to be a watershed moment in her life. Shaheed, Pugree, Nadiya Ke Paar, Shabnam and Arzoo (between 1948-1950) 바카라 the onscreen chemistry was unmistakable. While she was spontaneous, Dilip바카라s seriousness left her impressed. 바카라Dilip and Kamini act some of the most tender, most intimate and moving love scenes that have ever been seen on the Indian screen,바카라 wrote critic Babu Rao Patel about Shaheed.
Soon enough, the two were drawn towards each other. Trinetra Bajpai and Anshula Bajpai바카라s book, Dilip Kumar: Peerless Icon Inspiring Generations, mentions the 바카라comely바카라 Kamini Kaushal was Dilip바카라s 바카라first flame and also his first serious heartbreak바카라. The book cites peers as witness to their romance. Kathak exponent Sitara Devi is said to have met the supposed couple 바카라huddled together바카라 in a Mumbai local first class. While Urdu writer Ismat Chugtai had counselled Dilip against the pointlessness of his affection towards Kamini.
The book also has director/ producer of Pugree, P.N. Arora claim that Dilip visited the actress on the set of the film. He recalled how Kamini바카라s 바카라military man brother바카라 arrived on the set one day and allegedly brandished a pistol, 바카라threatening to kill바카라 the two if they didn바카라t bring a halt to their alleged liaison. Separation was inevitable.
Beyond Break-Up
Though their worlds had changed, Dilip and Kamini remained each other바카라s well-wishers. Kamini continued her life with her family in the spacious two-storey home Gateside in the serene Mazgaon, surrounded by families of other Bombay Port Trust (BPT) engineers.
Her last film as heroine was Godaan (1963). Later, she moved to character roles and was notable in Manoj Kumar바카라s films including Shaheed, Upkar, Purab Aur Paschim, Shor, Roti Kapda Aur Makaan and Santosh (between the 바카라60s 바카라바카라70s). She also did TV shows including Khel Khilone and puppet shows under her banner Gudia Ghar Productions (1989 to 1991). In the 2000s, she was seen in Yash Raj Films바카라 Laaga Chunari Mein Daag, Chennai Express and more recently Kabir Singh. Dilip Kumar, on the other hand, chalked an impressive journey to be regarded as India바카라s finest.
Looking Back
Years later, Dilip recalled his first heartbreak in Bunny Reuben바카라s biography Dilip Kumar 바카라 Star Legend of Indian Cinema, reportedly saying, 바카라She (Kamini) was the only one with whom I achieved total identification. I think everybody falls in love only once. 바카라Again바카라 - if there is an 바카라again바카라 - is merely an imitation of the brilliant flame, the blinding light, the days of trance, the nights of impatience and waiting, and days of such happiness that one cannot believe they will last.바카라
More recently, in his autobiography, Dilip Kumar: The Substance And The Shadow, Dilip mentioned that he was drawn to Kamini 바카라more intellectually than emotionally바카라. In fact, he hints that Madhubala came in his life as a balm to a lingering hurt saying, 바카라She filled a void that was crying out to be filled바카라 whose liveliness and charm were the ideal panacea for the wound that was taking its own time to heal.바카라
In a past interview, Kamini candidly discussed the crossroads at which she found herself, 바카라We (Dilip and she) were both shattered. We were very happy with each other. We shared a great rapport. But that바카라s life,바카라 she lamented (Filmfare). 바카라I couldn바카라t dump people and say 바카라Enough now, I바카라m going!바카라 I had taken on the girls. I wouldn바카라t be able to show my face to my sister. My husband, a fine human being, understood why it happened. Everyone falls in love,바카라 she said giving credit to her husband, B.S. Sood.
Son Rahul Sood accorded respect to his mother and was quoted saying, 바카라The commitment stayed; even when India바카라s heartthrob and thespian Dilip Kumar came a-knocking. My mother went through a turbulent time. But eventually, she chose Papa and his daughters over Dilip saab.바카라 In fact, one touching memory that Rahul shared was of his mother slipping a framed photo of her deceased sister Usha under her husband바카라s pillow as he took his last breaths in hospital. It only reiterated the understanding they shared.
A few years ago, Kamini and Dilip, both in their 80s then, were at the same event. The aging thespian failed to recognize her. 바카라I was heartbroken. It broke my heart to see him give me a blank look. He looked at me and I looked at him. Actually, he finds it hard to recognise anyone. I felt sad and walked away. What an era we have been through!바카라 shared a sentimental Kamini (Filmfare).
Twilight Years
Through time, her sense of duty towards her family and her respect for Dilip바카라 both remained unwavering. During one of Dilip바카라s many bouts with illness, she said, 바카라So many decades have passed. Everybody has a place in life and then we let go. We made a good pair and did good work. The public liked to see us do films together.바카라 (TOI)
In the same vein she said, 바카라Dilip saab was a natural actor바카라 He had a flawless command over the Urdu language바카라 It is not as if he spoke that way to impress you. He was genuinely proficient. Even I am like that. Very straightforward. I can never pretend to be something I am not.바카라 (TOI).
On one occasion when he was hospitalised, she said, 바카라It바카라s very sad, he is suffering so much. Dilip saab has been ailing for so many years. My prayers are with him for a speedy recovery.바카라 Her admiration for Saira as the perfect wife was palpable when she added, 바카라It is nice how she celebrates his birthdays and invites the film industry to meet him. He always looks happy and well-groomed.바카라
Sadly, when the thespian passed away at the age of 98 on July 7, 2021 a frail Kamini, whose memory is also fading, couldn바카라t say much. Her family offered condolences on her behalf. Her penthouse in South Mumbai, lush with merry flowers and homing birds, is her world now. Kamini Kaushal, though feeble at 95, betrays the serenity of a life lived with dignity.
[Inputs From Pinkvilla]
