Mumbai: Aruna Irani has started working again, nearly two months after her husband, filmmaker Kuku Kohli, died. The 80-year-old actor posted a video on Instagram on Sunday, thanking her fans for helping her through what she described as a very difficult time.
Kohli, who directed films including Phool Aur Kaante (1991) and Suhaag (1994), died of a heart attack on 25 August. He was 77.
“After Kuku ji’s death, I’m so, so grateful for all the love and support you’ve given me. I can’t believe that so many of you stood by me during such a difficult time,” Irani said in the video.
She said it was because of that support that she was able to work again.
“It’s that same love and support, that energy, which has helped me stand before you today and start working again. I hope you’ll continue to stand by me and give me the same love until the last breath of my life. Thank you. Thank you so much.”
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Support from the industry
Several actors left comments on the reel.
“Love you Arunaji. Stay strong. Loads of love and blessings to you always. You are my idol,” wrote Sudha Chandran.
Rati Pandey commented, “You are strong and will be loved forever. Love you Aruna ji.”
“The Industry is blessed to have talent like you Aruna ji. God bless you,” wrote Rahil Azam.
Irani and Kohli got married in 1990. She had previously spoken about how they initially didn’t get along while working together, but eventually fell in love. Kohli was already married with children at the time, and Irani later revealed that she had kept their marriage secret for years because of this.
Kohli made his directorial debut with Phool Aur Kaante, which was also Ajay Devgn’s debut film as an actor. Irani was also part of the movie’s cast. After Kohli’s death, Devgn remembered him as someone who had changed the course of his life.
“Forever grateful for the faith you had in me. You will be deeply missed, Kuku ji,” he wrote on X.
Irani has worked in Hindi films and television for more than six decades. Her last on-screen appearance was Vishal Bhardwaj’s O’Romeo (2026) earlier this year. She hasn’t said what project she’s working on now.
(Edited by Ratan Priya)