For anyone who grew up on Manmohan Desai’s films, it’s hard to imagine not having watched his 1981 multistarrer Naseeb. And if Naseeb is part of your film memory, chances are you remember the kabaddi-themed number “Pakdo Pakdo Pakdo”, featuring Rishi Kapoor and a then-new face: Kim Yashpal.Born in Beirut as Satyakim Yashpal to Yash and Wendy Yashpal, Kim had an early passion for dance. Determined to learn Kathak, she moved to Mumbai and began training under the noted dance maestro Gopi Krishna. It was during her time in his classes that she crossed paths with several film industry insiders, many of whom noticed her talent.At a party, Kim Yashpal met actor Shashi Kapoor, who introduced her to producer N.N. Sippy. Sippy was working on a horror film titled Phir Wahi Raat (1980), starring Rajesh Khanna and directed by Danny Denzongpa. Kim landed the lead role.Although Phir Wahi Raat didn’t make waves at the box office, it brought Kim into the public eye, and sparked a relationship with its director, Danny Denzongpa, with whom she would be romantically linked for years. Danny reportedly encouraged her to take on more film roles. She went on to star in Bulundi (1981), where she starred opposite Danny again, alongside screen legends Raaj Kumar and Asha Parekh. Kim Yashpal and Danny Denzongpa were in a relationship during the 1980s.Her most prominent screen moment came with Naseeb. The song “Pakdo Pakdo Pakdo”, with Rishi Kapoor, became immensely popular, giving her a mainstream breakthrough. But the turning point came a year later with Disco Dancer (1982), a film that launched Mithun Chakraborty to superstardom not just in India, but in countries like the USSR, China, and Japan. Kim, as the female lead, became instantly recognizable thanks to the iconic number “Jimmy Jimmy Aaja Aaja”. It gave her a nickname — the “Jimmy Jimmy girl”.Also Read | His dream project got cancelled because of Amitabh Bachchan’s bankruptcy, he took financial help from Raju Srivastav: ‘I had nothing for my children’While Disco Dancer was a game-changer for Mithun, Kim’s career didn’t see the same momentum. She appeared in films like Hum Se Hai Zamana (1983) and Andar Baahar (1984), but neither did much for her trajectory. A bikini scene in Hum Se Hai Zamana led to her being typecast in glamour roles, and substantive parts dried up. In 1984, she played a double role in Dilawar, again with Danny Denzongpa, but the film failed at the box office. A brief comeback came with Commando (1988), directed by B. Subhash, where she was cast opposite Hemant Birje, while the lead pair was Mithun and Mandakini. However, most of her scenes were edited out, a decision that reportedly left her disillusioned with the industry.Story continues below this adHer personal life also began to unravel around the same time. Her relationship with Danny Denzongpa came to an end, and there were reports suggesting that actress Parveen Babi’s re-entry into Danny’s life may have created difficulties for Kim. Professionally, though, they crossed paths once more in Suniel Shetty’s debut film Balwaan (1992), performing together in the song “Dhin Tak Dhin Tak”. Post-Commando, Kim’s roles were limited to dance numbers. Notable among them was a “tapori” item song alongside a young Salman Khan in Baaghi (1990). Her final film appearance came in Priyadarshan’s Muskurahat (1992), after which she retired from films and withdrew entirely from public life.Click here to follow Screen Digital on YouTube and stay updated with the latest from the world of cinema.© IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd