Veteran actress Saira Banu recently shared an emotional tribute on social media in memory of the late Kamini Kaushal, who passed away recently.
In her post, Saira included a carousel of images featuring herself alongside Kamini Kaushal from their earlier movie as well as pictures of Kaushal with Dilip Kumar.
Saira reflected on the profound impact Kamini Kaushal had on cinema, stating, “While the whole internet grieved over Uma Ji’s passing, I found myself wondering, what can one possibly say about a woman so rare and so ahead of her time? In an era when so few women entered cinema with the grace of a truly cultured upbringing, Kamini Kaushal, our beloved Uma Ji, stood apart.”
She went on to praise Kamini’s unique qualities, saying, “She brought with her not just beauty but a literary mind and a refinement that was unmistakably her own. She belonged to that gentle world of books, poetry, and thoughtfulness, and she carried it into her work in a way that elevated her presence.”
Saira shared a memorable anecdote about Kamini and Dilip Kumar, noting, “I still remember how Dilip Sahib always spoke of her with deep respect. He admired that she came from a literary family and that her conversations were enriched with ideas far beyond the world of films. For him, Umaji was someone who brought a certain rare substance to the studios, a woman who could speak of cinema and yet transcend it with ease.”
Describing her first encounter with Kamini, Saira wrote, “My own journey with her began in the most unexpected way during my water ballet training for April Fool. I had to jump from a great height, and when I completed the activity and came down, there she was. She immediately said to me, ‘You know, Saira, I couldn’t have done what you just did… How did you do it?’ From that very first meeting, I held her in genuine respect, and I remained courteous to her always, not out of obligation, but out of admiration.”
She added that Kamini often called Dilip Kumar for advice, saying, “I still remember the affectionate phone calls she would make, asking Sahib to meet people who wished to see him. I would ensure that I took really good care of those guests who visited our home from different corners of the country and the world. She used to call Sahib to seek his advice on various matters or simply to talk, and I always handed the phone over to him.”
For those unaware, Kamini Kaushal, born Uma Kaushal, had shared insights into her past relationship with the legendary actor Dilip Kumar in her memoir. She provided a candid glimpse into the personal experiences that shaped her life and addressed their heartbreaking separation. In her biography, she mentioned, “We were both shattered. We were very happy with each other. We shared a great rapport. But that’s life. I couldn’t dump people and say, ‘Enough now, I’m going!’ I had taken on the girls. I wouldn’t be able to show my face to my sister. My husband, a fine human being, understood why it happened. Everyone falls in love.”
Interestingly, Dilip Kumar also acknowledged his feelings for Kamini in his biography and referred to her as his first love. He later reflected on this heartbreak in Bunny Reuben’s book “Dilip Kumar – Star Legend of Indian Cinema,” expressing that she was, “the only one with whom I achieved total identification. I think everybody falls in love only once. ‘Again’ – if there is an ‘again’ – 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.”
Kamini Kaushal and Dilip Kumar shared the screen in three films: “Shaheed,” “Shabnam,” and “Nadiya Ke Paar.” Although Dilip Kumar rarely spoke openly about his feelings, renowned novelist Ismat Chughtai revealed that he was deeply in love with Kamini.
Kamini Kaushal passed away at the age of 98.