Kim

QAMYAB – THE FORGOTTEN GEMS OF BOLLYWOOD

Qamyab is our humble tribute to all those lesser-known actors, one hit wonders and junior artists who we see umpteen times but don’t know about; beyond their faces. These actors have been an integral part of Bollywood but didn’t get their due. This series is our sincere attempt to put a name to these faces, familiarize them to our readers and celebrate their achievements in life – however big or small. We believe that every artist contributes in his/her own way to the cinema’s success. Qamyab will explore the unknown lives of such actors and artists as we believe even these forgotten gems of Bollywood deserve their due recognition today.

Presently, actors from across the globe come to work in Bollywood but such wasn’t the case earlier. In the ‘70s and ‘80s, we have had fewer instances of foreign returned actors trying their luck out in Hindi film industry like Deepti Naval returning to her Indian roots from New York or Salma Agha coming from neighboring Pakistan and of course who can forget the Hong Kong bred Neelam Kothari who rose to fame here!!

In the late ‘70s, one more young girl made up her mind to come to India far away from Beirut not to be a movie actress but to learn the classical dance of Kathak. This young girl was Satyakim Yashpal who later changed her name to Kim Yashpal or just Kim for her film career.

Not to be mistaken for Kim Sharma who debuted much later in Aditya Chopra’s Mohabbatein (2000), Kim was born in Beirut as Satyakim Yashpal to Yash and Wendy Yashpal. As a kid, she was very fond of dancing and wanted to learn Kathak desperately. She realized that the best training for this classical dance could only happen in India. Hence, Kim packed her bags, came to Mumbai to fulfill her dream and started learning Kathak with Master Gopi Krishna. When she was training under him, she got acquainted with many actors and choreographers in the film industry who would also come there.

At one party, Kim met Shashi Kapoor who introduced her to producer N.N. Sippy who was planning a horror film called Phir Wahi Raat (1980) with superstar Rajesh Khanna to be directed by popular villain Danny Denzongpa. Sippy signed Kim for the lead role in Phir Wahi Raat. Though this was to be her Bollywood debut, Krishna Shah’s Cinema Cinema (1979) which was a documentary on Indian Cinema, released first where she was paired with Mushtaq Merchant. Another file Pehredaar (1979) which she signed later, was also geared up for release around the same time but for some reasons, it never released.

Kim’s first notable movie remains Phir Wahi Raat in which she was lucky to be paired with Rajesh Khanna. Though the film couldn’t do wonders at the box office, it brought Kim closer to her director Danny and they dated for quite a few years. Danny encouraged Kim to take up more film offers. The following year in 1981, Kim had another big release in Bulundi which boasted of a stellar cast comprising veteran actors Raj Kumar and Asha Parekh. Danny played a dual role in it and Kim was playing his girlfriend.

The same year, Kim was part of legendary Manmohan Desai’s multi-starrer blockbuster Naseeb which had an ensemble lead cast of Amitabh Bachchan, Shatrughan Sinha, Rishi Kapoor, Hema Malini and Reena Roy. Kim was cast opposite Rishi Kapoor and their Kabaddi song ‘Pakdo Pakdo Pakdo’ became quite popular. Interestingly, Kim got this movie by ‘naseeb’ (or destiny). Neetu Singh was the original choice for this role but quit the film as she was getting married and Kim came onboard as a last-minute replacement. Naseeb brought due recognition to Kim and who can forget her heavy outfit inspired from Eliza Doolittle (My Fair Lady) in the climax song ‘Rang jamaane aaye hai’.

The film released in December 1982 and went on to become one of the biggest hits of all time with its popularity transcending beyond India to Russia, Japan and China. The songs became a rage and one of its chartbusters ‘Jimmy Jimmy aaja aaja’ which was performed on Kim gave her the tag of Jimmy Jimmy girl. Disco Dancer made Mithun Chakraborty an overnight star and Kim would have expected the same but sadly, her career started sliding after this blockbuster hit.

Kim got to be part of some big films like Hum Se Hai Zamana (1983) and Andar Baahar (1984) but these films didn’t benefit her career at all. To make things worse, she had a bikini scene in Hum Se Hai Zamana which typecasted her as a glamour doll and she started getting roles involving skin show. In Andar Baahar, her character had negative shades but she had two item songs namely ‘Kaise kaise hai mere meherbaan’ and ‘Meri aankhon mein zaraa jhaanko to’ which became popular but again, this movie didn’t benefit her as its credit went to the lead actress Moon Moon Sen.

In the same year 1984, Kim did a lesser-known film Dilawar with Danny Denzongpa where she played her only double role but the film sank without a trace. In 1988, Kim found some ray of hope when B. Subhash signed her again for his film Commando which already had the reigning heartthrob Mandakini playing the main lead opposite Mithun Chakraborty while she was cast opposite Hemant Birje. Kim had shot for a lengthier role but on the editing table, her role was reduced to nothing which didn’t go down well with her and probably, ended her acting career as well.

Nevertheless, Kim’s filmography includes notable films like Cinema Cinema (1979), Phir Wahi Raat (1980), Bulundi (1981), Naseeb (1981), Disco Dancer (1982) Hum Se Hai Zamana (1983), Andar Baahar (1984), Dilawar (1984), Shapath (1984), Maa Kasam (1985), Commando (1988), Gentleman (1989), Baaghi (1990), Pratikaar (1991), Balwaan (1992) and Muskurahat (1992).

In her short career, Kim got to work with established stars like Raj Kumar Amitabh Bachchan, Rishi Kapoor, Rajesh Khanna, Mithun Chakraborty, Govinda, Anil Kapoor, Jackie Shroff, Salman Khan, Asha Parekh, Hema Malini, Reena Roy, Mandakini and of course Danny Denzongpa. She worked the maximum (around eight movies) with her friend Danny.

Kim and Danny’s relationship ended some years later but as professionals, they were seen together in Sunil Shetty’s debut film Balwaan (1992) where they both performed in the song ‘Dhin tak dhin tak’. Post Commando, Kim’s appearance in films was restricted to dance numbers only like Ek Hi Maqsad (1988), Gunahon Ka Devta (1990), Pratikaar (1990), Honeymoon (1992), Balwaan (1992) and her final film Muskurahat (1992). The best of the lot is her ‘Tapori’ song with a young Salman Khan in Baaghi (1990).

After her final film Muskurahat in 1992, Kim disappeared for almost twenty-five years and there was no trace of her. It was only around 2014, that she appeared on Facebook but her account was not active since long. Rumours started spreading that she is no more. Later, Kim gave an interview putting all these rumours to rest and disclosed that she spends her time between India and Europe where she is working for an NGO. Kim also stated that even after quitting films, she is still in touch with her industry friends like Shatrughan Sinha and his wife Poonam and Amrita Singh.

Kim still looks gorgeous as ever and has expressed interest to do modelling and is open to OTT platforms as well. The Jimmy Jimmy girl is looking for her second innings. Let’s wish her all the very best!!