Former actress Kimi Katkar, a prominent figure in the Indian film industry during the 80s, bid adieu to her acting career at its pinnacle. With her acting skills, she earned the moniker Tarzan Girl for her role in the cult film Adventures of Tarzan alongside Hemant Birje. The movie, an Indian interpretation of the iconic Tarzan character, gained immense popularity, particularly due to the sizzling chemistry between Hemant and Kimi.
Kimi Katkar entered the film industry with a supporting role in the 1985 film Patthar Dil, but her breakthrough came when she secured the lead role in Adventures of Tarzan the same year. She continued her prolific career into the late 1980s, starring in several successful films such as Khoon Ka Karz, Mera Lahoo, Dariya Dil, Sone Pe Suhaaga, Gair Kanooni, and Jaisi Karni Waisi Bharnii. Remarkably, between 1988 and 1990, she featured in 35 films, with a remarkable 15 releases in 1989 alone. Kimi shared the screen with seasoned stars like Jeetendra, Dharmendra, Shatrughan Sinha, Vinod Khanna, and Rishi Kapoor, as well as emerging talents like Anil Kapoor, Govinda, and Aditya Pancholi.
In 1991, Kimi Katkar starred opposite Amitabh Bachchan in Hum, marking a significant moment in her career with the chart-topping song Jumma Chumma De De, earning her the title of the Jumma Chumma Girl. However, at the height of her success in 1992, Kimi bid farewell to Bollywood, choosing to marry photographer and filmmaker Shantanu Shourie. In an interview with Herald Goa in 2009, Kimi expressed contentment with her decision, stating, “I feel I left the industry at the right time. After acting with Amitji (Amitabh Bachchan) in Hum, what else was left for me to do?”
Post-marriage, Kimi Katkar moved abroad, residing there for several years before returning to India and settling in Goa. While her decision to retire disappointed some fans, Kimi remained firm in her belief that it was the right time to start a new chapter in her life. The actress remains fondly remembered for her significant contributions to Indian cinema during the peak of her career.