Bollywood Loses Icon Kamini Kaushal; Amitabh Bachchan Mourns

The Indian film industry is mourning the loss of veteran actress Kamini Kaushal, who passed away at the age of 98. Superstar Amitabh Bachchan took to his blog to express his profound grief, calling Kaushal an ‘icon’ and a ‘dear family friend’ from before the partition. He reminisced about the close bonds between her family and his mother’s family in undivided Punjab, emphasizing their shared history and camaraderie. Bachchan described Kaushal as a ‘most pleasant, warm, affectionate and talented artist’ whose departure signifies the end of a significant era. He conveyed his deepest sympathies to her family, stating that ‘one by one they all are leaving us,’ a sentiment underscoring the collective sense of loss felt by those who knew her and admired her work. Kamini Kaushal was a prominent figure in Indian cinema from the 1940s to the 1960s, sharing the screen with legends like Ashok Kumar, Raj Kapoor, and Dilip Kumar. Her career began with the critically acclaimed film ‘Neecha Nagar,’ which famously won the Grand Prix at the inaugural Cannes Film Festival. Over her illustrious seven-decade career, she graced over 70 films. Her final screen appearance was in the 2022 film ‘Laal Singh Chaddha.’ Kaushal’s final rites were observed with close family members present, marking a solemn farewell to a beloved artist.