Aruna Irani returns to work over 50 days after Kuku Kohli’s death

Veteran actor Aruna Irani has returned to work more than 50 days after the death of her husband, filmmaker Kuku Kohli. Kohli died on August 25 at the age of 77 after a massive heart attack. Over the weekend, Irani shared an emotional video on Instagram — her first public remarks since the loss.

Gratitude, not just grief

In the clip, she thanked fans and well-wishers for standing by her. She became visibly emotional while speaking about the affection that followed Kohli’s death.

“I’m very, very grateful to all the love and affection you’ve given me after Kuku ji’s death,” she said.

She added that the support helped her cope and gave her the strength to face work again. She also asked her audience to keep that love coming for the rest of her life.

The industry steps in

Responses arrived quickly from colleagues and fans across film and television. Actor Sudha Chandran called Irani her idol and sent love, blessings, and wishes for strength. Irani, 80, was visibly distressed at Kohli’s last rites in Mumbai, where family members and friends accompanied her to the Oshiwara crematorium.

Her most recent screen appearance was in Vishal Bhardwaj’s action thriller O’Romeo, which released earlier this year.

A private love story, revisited

Irani first met Kohli in 1990 on the set of Kohram, which arrived in cinemas in 1991. The early days were not always smooth: Kohli had asked for a month of her dates, and Irani later told the team she could not complete the commitment. Kohli was unhappy with the decision. They continued working together, and his calls — even when she had no work scheduled — sometimes irritated her. Eventually that friction gave way to love, and the two married.

The marriage remained private for years because Kohli was already married and had two daughters from his first marriage. In interviews, Irani has said Kohli stood up for their relationship and that she never wanted it to cause pain to anyone. When Kohli’s first wife, Rita Kohli, raised concerns, Irani argued that responsibility in a marriage rests with both partners and that a husband should be accountable for his decisions. She maintained that she had not entered the relationship intending to break up a family.

Why this moment matters

For a performer of Irani’s generation, stepping back onto a set is rarely just a professional decision. It can be a way of processing loss, staying connected, and accepting affection from the audience that grew up watching her. Her video gives fans a clear part to play: keep offering the steady encouragement that helped her stand in front of the camera again.

Here is the timeline at a glance:

• Kuku Kohli died on August 25 at 77 after a massive heart attack.
• Aruna Irani returned to work more than 50 days later.
• Her Instagram video was her first public comment about the death.
• Sudha Chandran called Irani her idol and sent blessings.

Source: India Today