Daljit Kaur: ‘Queen of Punjabi film industry’ and often called ‘Hema Malini of Punjabi films’, Daljit Kaur passed away at her residence in Sudhar of Ludhiana district on Thursday. She was 68.
After her health deteriorated, Kaur shifted from Mumbai and had been living with her relative Harjinder Singh Khangura at Sudhar. She was suffering from dementia and died of prolonged illness, according to Khangura.
Also Read: Domestic violence: Girl raped by father, kin for six years; Father arrested
Her last film was ‘Moga to Melbourne via Chandigarh’, a satire on Punjab youths migrating abroad. Bhagwant Mann, who is now Punjab Chief Minister, had conceptualised the film. He was a co-actor with Kaur in the film. Mann was wrote the film’s story. Even though the film was shot in 2013, it remains unreleased till date.
Punjab govt forgets Kaur
Ironically, no one from the Punjab government or Ludhiana district administration, attended her cremation or sent condolence, lamented Khangura.
Rana Jung Bahadur, who was one of the actors in ‘Moga to Melbourne…’, said: “I had recommended Kaur’s name for this film because she was an extraordinarily talented actress and Bhagwant Mann had written a commendable story in his comical satire style on youths of Punjab who are moving abroad. The film had a great message for youths – to stay in Punjab and fulfill their dreams here. Unfortunately, the film was never released due to some issues but the shoot was completed. Mann and Kaur had worked together in it…”
Also Read: Veer Savarkar’s grandson files case against Rahul Gandhi for insulting him
Not asking for compensation
Khangura said that they do not want any monetary compensation from the government. “God has given us enough… we do not want anything from the government,” he said.
“However, no one from the district administration or the government attended the cremation today, nor we got any call condoling her death. Everyone knows she was the ‘Queen of Punjabi film industry’… but we are not expecting anything from the government. Her work is respected worldwide and that’s enough for us,” he said.
Kaur had illustrious career
Kaur had more than 70 Punjabi and at least 10 Hindi films to her credit. She ruled over Punjabi film industry from 1970s to 1990s and gave back-to-back superhits such as ‘Patola’, ‘Daaj’, ‘Putt Sarpanch de’ and ‘Ki Banu Duniya Da’, among others.
She also worked in several Hindi films such as ‘Yaari Dushmani’, ‘Dakait’, ‘Jeene Nahi Dunga’, and ‘Dhan Daulat’. She paired opposite Dharmendra and Rishi Kapoor.
Keep watching our YouTube Channel ‘DNP INDIA’. Also, please subscribe and follow us on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, and TWITTER.