Late actress Kamini Kaushal’s remarkable career spanned more than seven decades and included a special relationship with Dharmendra. She was his first co-star to work with him in the film industry.

Their collaboration not only marked the beginning of Dharmendra’s journey in cinema but also left a lasting impression on both the actors.

Long before Dharmendra became a household name, his entry into the film world was deeply influenced by Kamini. Both of them worked together for the first time in the film ‘Shaheed’. Dharmendra often recalls their initial meeting, which he once described as a defining and heart-touching moment of his life.

In a social media post, Dharmendra had earlier shared a black-and-white photo of their first meeting. He wrote, “First picture of the first meeting with Kamini Kaushal, the heroine of the first film ‘Shaheed’, a heavy love on both their faces. Introduction (My first meeting with Kamini Kaushal, the heroine of my first film ‘Shaheed’. We both had happy faces, it was an introduction full of love) (sic).”

The late actor’s influence extended far beyond his work with Dharmendra. She started her career with the acclaimed film ‘Neecha Nagar’ in 1946 and acted alongside veteran actors like Dilip Kumar, Dev Anand and Raj Kapoor. His last appearance was in ‘Laal Singh Chaddha’ in 2022 at the age of 95.

Sajan Narayan, one of his family friends, confirmed his death on Friday and provided details about his last moments. “He died late Thursday night at his Mumbai home,” Sajan Narayan told PTI. She would have turned 99 in February.

The late actor is survived by his three sons Shravan, Vidur and Rahul. He died at his home in Mumbai at the age of 98.