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{{Short description|Indian actress (1934–2020)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2016}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Kumkum
| image = Kumkum Actress.jpeg
| imagesize =
| caption =
| birth_name = Zaibunnisa Khan
| birth_date = {{birth date|1934|4|22|df=y}}
| birth_place = Hussainabad of [[Sheikhpura]], [[Bihar and Orissa Province|Bihar]], [[British India]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|2020|7|28|1934|4|22|df=y}}
| death_place = [[Mumbai]], [[Maharashtra]], [[India]]
| yearsactive = 1954–1973
| occupation = Actress
| spouse = Sajjad Akbar Khan
| children = 1
}}

'''Kumkum''' (born '''Zaibunnisa Khan'''; 22 April 1934 – 28 July 2020)<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.amarujala.com/entertainment/bollywood/kumkum-actress-passes-away-at-the-age-of-86 |title=86 की उम्र में अभिनेत्री कुमकुम का निधन, किशोर कुमार और गुरु दत्त के संग किया था काम |website=Amar Ujala |language=hi}}</ref> was an Indian actress.

She is best known for her roles in ''[[Ankhen (1968 film)|Ankhen]]'' (1968), ''[[Lalkaar]]'' (1972), ''Mother India'' (1957), ''Mr. X in Bombay'' (1964),<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.screenindia.com/fullstory.php?content_id=7034 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040223174440/http://www.screenindia.com/fullstory.php?content_id=7034 |url-status=dead |archive-date=23 February 2004 |title=In the name of the father |date=16 January 2004 |work=[[Screen Weekly]] |access-date=31 August 2010}}</ref> ''[[Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere]]'' (1960), ''Son of India'' (1962), ''Kohinoor'' (1960), ''Ujala'', ''Naya Daur'', ''Shreeman Funtoosh'', ''Ek Sapera Ek Lutera'', ''Ganga Ki Laharen'', ''Raja Aur Runk'', ''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 film]]s, starting with ''[[Ganga Maiyya Tohe Piyari Chadhaibo]]'' (1963), which was also the first ever [[Bhojpuri language|Bhojpuri]] film.<ref name="exp">{{cite news |title=Strong at 50, Bhojpuri cinema celebrates |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/strong-at-50-bhojpuri-cinema-celebrates/749762/0 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |date=14 February 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/actor-kumkum-dead-652740/ |title=Actor Kumkum passes away |date=28 July 2020}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
Kumkum's birth name is Sayyeda Zaibunnisa. She was born in a [[Shia Islam]] family to Sayyed Manzoor Hassan [[Nawab]] of Hussainabad in [[Sheikhpura]] district of [[Bihar]] and Sayyeda Khursheeda Bano.

Kumkum married Sayyed 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 have only one child— Sayyeda Andaleeb Sajjad Khan (daughter).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://m.jagranjosh.com/general-knowledge/actress-kumkum-biography-1595936166-1 |title='Mother India' Actress Kumkum Biography: Birth, Death, Family, Films, Bollywood and Bhojpuri Career |date=28 July 2020 |website=Jagranjosh.com}}</ref>

==Career==
Kumkum was discovered by [[Guru Dutt]]. Guru Dutt was to picturize the song "Kabhi Aar Kabhi Paar Laaga Teere Nazar" for his movie ''[[Aar Paar (1954 film)|Aar Paar]]'' (1954) on his friend [[Jagdeep]] (father of Javed Jaffery, Naved Jaffery), but later decided to picturize this song on a female actor. But at that time, no one agreed to do a small song. Then Guru Dutt finally picturized 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 film)|C.I.D]]'' (1956), sung by [[Geeta Dutt]] was picturized 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 Rahen|Char Dil Char Raahein]]'' (1959). She became the first heroine to be cast opposite [[Dharmendra]] in his debut film ''[[Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere]]'' in 1960.

She was trained in Kathak by the noted [[Pandit]], [[Shambhu Maharaj]]. She showed her dancing talents in the film ''[[Kohinoor (1960 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 picturized 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 "[https://hindisong.info/2021/06/22/sad-song-kishore-kumar-mere-mehbub-kayamat-hogi/?preview_id=1251&preview_nonce=061b18b7bc&preview=true&_thumbnail_id=1274 mere mehboob kayamat hogi]{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}" from mr. x in Bombay. This was a science fiction movie of that time and Kumkum 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 picturized on the pair Kishore-Kumkum remains popular since their release to this day.

Kumkum was a favorite choice for writer director [[Ramanand Sagar]]. [[Ramanand Sagar|Sagar]] decided to cast Kumkum as Dharmendra's sister in ''[[Ankhen (1968 film)|Ankhen]]'', a super hit film of 1968. In 1970, for ''Geet'', Kumkum was Ramanand Sagar's choice for a small role. In the 1972 hit film ''[[Lalkar]]'', she was one of the four main leads and was paired opposite [[Dharmendra]]. 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 (actor)|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 cinema|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.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/mother-india-actress-kumkum-passes-away-at-86/articleshow/77218393.cms |title='Mother India' actress Kumkum passes away at 86 |work=The Times of India |date=28 July 2020 |access-date=2 February 2021}}</ref>

==Filmography==
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
# ''[[Aar Paar]]'' (1954) as dancer in song "Kabhi Aar Kabhi Paar" (Uncredited Role)
# ''Amar Kirtan'' (1954)
# ''[[Mirza Ghalib (film)|Mirza Ghalib]]'' (1954)
# ''Gawaiya'' (1954)
# ''Noor Mahal'' (1954)
# ''Haseena'' (1955)
# ''[[Mr. & Mrs. '55]]'' (1955)
# ''Jasoos'' (1955)
# ''[[Milap (1955 film)|Milap]]'' (1955)
# ''Musafirkhana'' (1955)
# ''Society'' (1955)
# ''[[Pyaara Dushman (1955 film)|Pyaara Dushman]]'' (1955)
# ''Joru Ka Bhai'' (1955)
# ''[[House No. 44]]'' (1955)
# ''Bindiya'' (1955)
# ''[[Rukhsana (film)|Rukshana]]'' (1955)
# ''Sati Madalasa'' (1955)
# ''Navratri'' (1955)
# ''Hatimtai Ki Beti'' (1955)
# ''[[Kundan (1955 film)|Kundan]]'' (1955)
# ''[[Funtoosh]]'' (1956)
# ''[[Mem Sahib]]'' (1956)
# ''Bhagam Bhag'' (1956)
# ''Hamara Watan'' (1956)
# ''[[Ek Hi Raasta (1956 film)|Ek Hi Raasta]]'' (1956)
# ''Lalkaar'' (1956)
# ''Malika'' (1956)
# ''Zindagi Ke Mele'' (1956)
# ''[[Naya Andaz]]'' (1956)
# ''Kar Bhala'' (1956)
# ''Dhasehra'' (1956)
# ''Dhola Maru'' (1956)
# ''[[C.I.D. (1956 film)|C.I.D.]]'' (1956)
# ''Sipahsalar'' (1956)
# ''Naqaab Posh'' (1956)
# ''Mr. Chakram'' (1956)
# ''Gauri Puja'' (1956)
# ''Basant Panchami'' (1956)
# ''[[Basant Bahar (film)|Basant Bahar]]'' (1956)
# ''Samundari Daku'' (1956)
# ''[[Naya Daur (1957 film)|Naya Daur]]'' (1957)
# ''Bada Bhai'' (1957)
# ''[[Mother India]]'' (1957)
# ''[[Pyaasa]]'' (1957)
# ''Patal Pari'' (1957)
# ''Anjali'' (1957)
# ''[[Dushman (1957 film)|Dushman]]'' (1957)
# ''[[Baarish (film)|Baarish]]'' (1957)
# ''Bansari Bala'' (1957)
# ''Ustad'' (1957)
# ''[[Ghar Sansar (1958 film)|Ghar Sansar]]'' (1958)
# ''Mr. Qartoon M.A'' (1958)
# ''Bhala Aadmi'' (1958)
# ''[[Char Dil Char Rahen (1959)|Char Dil Char Rahen]]'' (1959)
# ''Do Gunde'' (1959)
# ''[[Shararat (1959 film)|Shararat]]'' (1959)
# ''Commander'' (1959)
# ''[[Madhu (1959 film)|Madhu]]'' (1959)
# ''Kali Topi Lal Rumal'' (1959)
# ''[[Ujala (film)|Ujala]]'' (1959)
# ''Gokul Ka Chor'' (1959)
# ''[[Kohinoor (1960 film)|Kohinoor]]'' (1960)
# ''Duniya Jhukti Hai'' (1960)
# ''[[Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere]]'' (1960)
# ''Barood'' (1960)
# ''Nache Nagin Baje Been'' (1960)
# ''Rangeela Raja'' (1960)
# ''Shan-E-Hind'' (1960)
# ''Tu Nahin Aur Sahi'' (1960)
# ''Aplam Chaplam'' (1961)
# ''Karorepati'' (1961)
# ''Salam Memsaab'' (1961)
# ''Shola Jo Bhadke'' (1961)
# ''Tel Malish Boot Polish'' (1961)
# ''[[Son of India (1962 film)|Son Of India]]'' (1962)
# ''King Kong'' (1962)
# ''Sher Khan'' (1962)
# ''Burmah Road'' (1962)
# ''[[Ganga Maiyya Tohe Piyari Chadhaibo]]'' (1962, Bhojpuri)
# ''[[Laagi Nahi Chhute Ram]]'' (1963, Bhojpuri)
# ''[[Mr. X in Bombay]]'' (1964)
# ''[[Ganga Ki Lahren]]'' (1964)
# ''Baghi Shehzada'' (1964)
# ''Qawwali Ki Raat'' (1964)
# ''Ek Sapera Ek Lutera'' (1965)
# ''Shreeman Funtoosh'' (1965)
# ''[[Sau Saal Baad]]'' (1966)
# ''Labela'' (1966)
# ''[[Main Wahi Hoon]]'' (1966)
# ''Shera Damu'' (1966)
# ''Smuggler'' (1966)
# ''Duniya Nachegi'' (1967)
# ''[[Raja Aur Runk]]'' (1968)
# ''[[Aankhen (1968 film)|Ankhen]]'' (1968)
# ''[[Gunah Aur Kanoon]]'' (1970)
# ''[[Geet (1970 film)|Geet]]'' (1970)
# ''[[Aan Baan (1972 film)|Aan Baan]]'' (1972)
# ''[[Lalkar]]'' (1972)
# ''[[Dhamkee]]'' (1973)
# ''[[Jalte Badan]]'' (1973)
# ''[[Ek Kunwari Ek Kunwara]]'' (1973)
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb name|0474975}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kumkum}}
[[Category:2020 deaths]]
[[Category:Indian film actresses]]
[[Category:Actresses in Hindi cinema]]
[[Category:Actresses in Bhojpuri cinema]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian actresses]]
[[Category:Actresses from Bihar]]
[[Category:1934 births]]

Kumkum actress - Revision history

Freaklabsindia at 15:36, 21 March 2026