Kumkum (born Zebunnissa Khan; 8 June 1938 – 28 July 2020) was an Indian actress who appeared in Hindi and Bhojpuri films. With a career spanning just across two decades from the entire 1950s and 1960s until the early 1970s, she is widely remembered for her dancing numbers besides her ability to play both lead as well as second lead and character roles across several films with ease and perfection. She was one of the most popular actresses of her time.
She is best known for her roles in Ankhen (1968), Lalkar (1972), Mother India (1957), Mr. X in Bombay (1964), Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere (1960), Son of India (1962), Kohinoor (1960), Ujala (1959), Naya Daur (1957), Shreeman Funtoosh (1965), Ek Sapera Ek Lutera (1966), Ganga Ki Lahren (1964), Raja Aur Runk (1968), Geet (1970) and Ek Kunwari Ek Kunwara (1973). She paired with many film heroes of her era and was popular in roles alongside Kishore Kumar.
Kumkum also acted in Bhojpuri films, starting with Ganga Maiyya Tohe Piyari Chadhaibo (1963), which was also the first ever Bhojpuri film.
Early life Kumkum's birth name is Zebunnissa. As per a tribute post to her on X by her daughter Sayyeda Andaleeb Khan following her demise on 28 July 2020, Kumkum was born on 8 June 1938. She was born in a Shia Islam family to Nawab Manzoor Hassan Khan, a landlord of Hussainabad near Patna and Sayyeda Khursheeda Bano. Her family had shifted to Patna when she was around two years old. Though she hailed from a Nawab family, the family wealth and inheritance gradually deteriorated over time. Eventually, when she turned five years old, her family had to relocate from Patna to Kolkata for a source of living.
Career and personal life She initially arrived in Bombay (Mumbai) for a leisure trip in 1952. Having been fond of dancing since her childhood, she formally learnt dancing from the renowned Kathak dancer Pandit Shambhu Maharaj in Lucknow after having completed her schooling. Her connection with Lucknow acquainted her with music director Naushad Ali who knew her even before she entered films since he himself hailed from Lucknow. As a result of a chance encounter with him, news of the arrival of a young and new dancer spread across film units in Bombay. This eventually led her to her first film Sheesha (1952) in which she performed the dance number "Angana Baaje Shehnai Re, Aaj Mori Jagmag Atariya" sung by Shamshad Begum. Following a few more films as a singer-dancer she attained fame and success through Guru Dutt's Aar Paar (1954) which she got only after Censor Board demanded a change in the song's picturization such that instead of Jagdeep lip-syncing, it should be done by a lady. It was only then that Kumkum was cast for this uncredited role after a screen test. She also got to act in a full fledged role for the first time once again through Guru Dutt's next film Mr. & Mrs. 55 (1955). Though casting her in the role of a mother of five met with opposition from Guru Dutt's cinematographer V. K. Murthy who felt she herself she was too young for that role, Dutt nevertheless cast her. The success of the film further established her. Later, Kumkum was again seen in a small role in Guru Dutt's Pyaasa (1957). The famous song "Yeh Hai Bombay Meri Jaan" from C.I.D (1956), a film produced by Guru Dutt, sung by Geeta Dutt and Mohammed Rafi was picturized on her and Johhny Walker respectively, she had a role in the film too. She was also paired alongside Shammi Kapoor in a side role in Mem Sahib (1956) and also in lead opposite Shammi Kapoor in 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 showed her dancing talents in the 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 Baghi Shahzada (1964), Ganga Ki Lahren (1964), Shreeman Funtoosh (1965), Haaye Mera Dil (1968) and Mr. X in Bombay (1964). The songs like "Khoobsurat Haseena" and "Mere Mehboob Qayamat Hogi" 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. Throughout her career, she acted in every kind of film, ranging from films of high profile banners with top stars to small budget films as well.
Kumkum was a favorite choice for writer director Ramanand Sagar. Sagar decided to cast Kumkum as Dharmendra's sister in 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 in the comedy film Ek Kuwara Ek Kuwari, directed by Prakash Mehra, which was a blockbuster. She also starred opposite the then newcomer Sanjeev Kumar in several films which includes Smuggler (1966), Raja Aur Runk (1968), Gunah Aur Kanoon (1970) etc. Her last film was Ramanand Sagar's Jalte Badan (1973) opppsite Kiran Kumar though her last release was the much delayed film Bombay By Nite (1976) opposite Sanjeev Kumar. Following her marriage to Sajjad Akbar Khan in 1975, she shifted to Saudi Arabia where her husband (who originally hailed from Lucknow) was based, thereby leaving the film industry. She spent the next 20 years there with her husband and daughter before returning back to India in 1995. She died on 28 July 2020 at age 82 in Mumbai.
Bhojpuri Films Kumkum was one of the top stars in the first phase of 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), Bhouji (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.
Filmography Hindi Year Film RoleNotes1952SheeshaSinger-dancerDebut film; appeared as a singer-dancer in the song "Angana Baaje Shehnai Re, Aaj Mori Jagmag Atariya".1953Ansoo1954Aar PaarSinging laborerUncredited role as the laborer singing the song "Kabhi Aar Kabhi Paar Laaga Teere Nazar...".Amar KirtanGawaiyaMeenaarSinger-dancerUncredited appearance as the performer of the song "Le Le Bahaar Mein Bahaar Ke Maze...".Mirza GhalibCourtesanUncredited appearances as the singing courtesan in the songs "Ganga Ki Reti Pe..." & "Chali Pee Ke Nagar...".Noor Mahal1955BindiyaHaseenaHatim Tai Ki BetiHouse No. 44ProstituteUncredited appearanceJasoosJoru Ka BhaiKundanLady shopkeeper whom Jokhuram (Om Prakash) flirts withGuest appearance as the female performer in the song "Meri Jaan Gair Ko Tum Paan Khilaya Na Karo...".MilapProstituteSpecial appearance as the performer in the song "Piya Khul Ke Na Nain Milaaye Re...".Mr. & Mrs. 55Preetam Kumar's sister-in-lawMusafirkhanaSinger-dancerGuest appearance as the performer of the song "Arey Palti Re Palti Kismat Palti...".Nav RatriPyara DushmanRaj KanyaRukhsanaSati MadalasaSociety1956Anokha JungleBasant BaharRadhikaBasant PanchamiBhagam BhagSinger-dancerGuest appearance as the performer in the song "Chhalke Chanda Ka Paimaana...".C. I. D.Master's girlfriendDasheraDhola MaruEk Hi RastaSinger-dancerGuest appearance as one of the 2 performers in the song "Kaisi Lagi Jaaye To Jaaye Jiya...".FuntooshClub singer-dancerGuest appearance as the performer in the song "Ae Johnny Jeene Mein Kya Hai..."Gauri PoojaHamara WatanKala ChorKar BhalaLalkarMalikaMem SahibKaminiMr. ChakramNaqab PoshNaya AndazRainaSamundari DakuSipah SalarZindagi Ke Mele1957AnjaliRohini's friendArpanRohini's friendAbridged version of Anjali (1957)BaarishKamliBada BhaiBansri BalaDushmanGulnarMother IndiaChampaNaya DaurSinger-dancerGuest appearance as one of the 2 performers in the song "Reshmi Salwar Kurta Jaali Ka...".Patal PariPyaasaJuhiUstad1958Bhala AdmiGhar SansarJyotiKabhi Andhera Kabhi UjalaMr. Qartoon M. A.KusumSachhe Ka BolbalaSuvarna SundariPratima1959Char Dil Char RahenStella D'SouzaCommanderDo GundeTulsiGokul Ka ChorKali Topi Lal RumalRaniMadhuShararatJyotiUjalaKammo1960Bambai Ki BilliBaroodBindiyaBhaktarajDil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi TereSonu MangeshkarDuniya Jhukti HaiBalmaGhar Ki LajShobha RaiKala Bazar(Herself)Fleeting appearance as one of the film stars who attended the premiere of Mother India (1957) also starring her, at Maratha Mandir.KohinoorRajlakshmiNache Nagin Baje BeenRaniRangeela RajaShan-e-HindTu Nahin Aur SahiGeeta1961Aplam ChaplamKrorepatiMeenaSalaam Mem SahebKaminiShola Jo BhadkeTel Malish Boot PolishSheil Pandey1962Burmah RoadDeepaKing KongRadhiSher KhanSon Of IndiaKamala1963Jab Se Tumhen Dekha HaiQawwali singer-dancerOne of the performers in the qawwali "Tumhe Husn Deke Khuda Ne Sitamgar Banaya Banaya...".1964Baghi ShahzadaZeenatGanga Ki LahrenUmaKawali Ki RaatShaheenMr. X In BombayShobha Mathur1965Ek Sapera-Ek LuteraRadhaSab Ka UstadShyamaShreeman FuntooshMeena1966La BelaRadhaMain Wohi HoonAshaSmugglerBelaSo Saal Baad1967Aayega Aaney WalaMeera alias ShobhaDilrubaDuniya NachegiRekhaGunehgarMala1968AnkhenSunandaHaye Mera DilKamala (mother) & Sangeeta (daughter)Double roleRaja Aur RunkMadhaviTeri Talaash Mein1969Nai Zindagi1970DhartiRosieGeetJanaki (Jankho)Gunah Aur KanoonPoonamVeer Amarsingh RathodChandrawati1971Ek Din Aadhi RaatUsha1972Aan BaanDulariLalkarToshi1973Ek Kunwari Ek KunwaraTaraDhamkeeRoopa MishraJalte BadanGangaLast film & role1976Bombay By NiteSushmaLast released film (delayed by several years)
Bhojpuri Year Film RoleNotes1962Ganga Maiyya Tohe Piyari ChadhaiboSumitri1963Laagi Nahi Chhute RamChanda1964Balma Bada NadaanNaihar Chhutal Jaye1965BhoujiGangaGangaAlso producer
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