Veteran actress Kamini Kaushal, regarded as the oldest living actress in India, has passed away at the age of 98. The actress, celebrated as one of Hindi cinema’s most admired and graceful performers, her death brings to a close a remarkable chapter in Indian film history.
A family source noted, “Kamini Kaushal’s family is extremely low profile and needs privacy.”
Kamini Kaushal’s Profile
Born on February 24, 1927, Kamini Kaushal made her acting debut in 1946 with Neecha Nagar. The film achieved global acclaim, winning the Best Film Award at the inaugural Cannes Film Festival, becoming the only Indian film to secure the prestigious Palme d’Or. She also received the Montreal Film Festival Award for her performance, marking an extraordinary start to her career.
A Seven-Decade Legacy In Hindi Cinema
Across more than seventy years in the industry, Kaushal worked with some of Bollywood’s iconic stars, including Dilip Kumar and Raj Kapoor. Admired for her poise, sincerity, and exceptional acting craft, she was widely regarded as one of the finest actresses of her generation.
Previously, Kaushal reflected on how she viewed her craft, “I never felt overwhelmed by watching myself on-screen. I always looked at my performances critically. When I look at any of my films, I ask myself if I managed to convey what I wanted to express through my performance? Am I looking convincing in the role?”
She also spoke about aligning with her directors’ visions, “Also, for me, my director is the first audience, so I have to be in sync with my director because, in the end, I am executing his vision, right? There are many times when I did not do the rehearsals with Bimal (Roy) da, but read the script, worked on that scene internally, and told Bimal da ‘Let’s take the shot’ and it came out right.”
Iconic Filmography
Kaushal delivered memorable performances in classics such as Do Bhai (1947), Shaheed (1948), Nadiya Ke Paar (1948), Ziddi (1948), Shabnam (1949), Paras (1949), Namoona (1949), Arzoo (1950), Jhanjar (1953), Aabroo (1956), Bade Sarkar (1957), Jailor (1958), Night Club (1958), and Godaan (1963).
