19 October,2026 01:50 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Aruna Irani. Pic via Instagram
Veteran actor Aruna Irani recently expressed heartfelt gratitude to her fans for supporting her during a difficult phase following her husband and filmmaker Kuku Kohli's death. The actress shared a video message thanking fans and announced that she now wishes to resume work.
In the video shared on Instagram, Aruna Irani started by greeting her fans and acknowledging the affection they have shown her during this challenging time. She said, "After the death of Kukuji, the love you all gave me, the support you gave me, I am very, very grateful for that."
She further admitted that she did not expect such overwhelming support during a difficult period in her life. Thanking her fans, she said, "I can't believe that in such a difficult time of mine, you all will be with me, will be standing with me.
"The same love and the same energy of support that I am standing in front of you today and I am able to start working again. I hope that you all will be with me till the last breath of my life. The same love you gave me. Thank you. Thank you so much," she added.
For the unversed, filmmaker Kuku Kohli, known for films such as Phool Aur Kaante, died on August 25, 2026, at the age of 77. His passing left the film fraternity mourning. A video from the filmmaker's funeral ceremony had earlier surfaced showing a bereaved Aruna, dressed in white, arriving at the venue. She appeared emotional as she made her way towards the crematorium.
Aruna and Kuku Kohli shared a long-term, complicated relationship. The actress has been navigating life following the loss of her husband.
The couple's love story began on sets, but not on particularly romantic terms. Aruna earlier revealed that she and Kuku initially shared a "love-hate relationship". Recalling that he would make the actors wait until Dharmendra arrived on the sets, something that would frustrate her because she was juggling multiple films at the time, she added that Kuku would later console her whenever she was upset. Eventually, the equation changed.
However, they had a complicated relationship right from the beginning. Aruna had revealed that Kuku was already married and had children when they met. She initially was unaware that he had a wife and daughters, and said this was one of the reasons she kept their relationship private for years.
Aruna and Kuku later tied the knot in 1990, when she was 40. Their marriage remained a secret, and Aruna did not publicly discuss it till Kuku's first wife, Rita Kohli, was alive.
She explained that she felt it was inappropriate to speak about their relationship publicly out of respect for his first family.
