Ashok Kumar

Ashok Kumar Biography

The name Ashok Kumar doesn’t need special mentioning. He is one among those gifted actors of the golden era of Indian cinema who contributed a lot to celluloid. Eldest of three brothers, Ashok Kumar, Anoop Kumar and Kishore Kumar, he was one among those versatile actors of past 50 years of Bollywood cinema who has rendered his performance in the wide variety of roles being offered to him.

Three brothers belong to a wealthy Brahmin family of Bengal and all of them have given valuable contributions to Bollywood. In the comedy, Chalthi Ka Naam Gaadi, three brothers worked together creating a new history. They worked again for another comedy movie Badthi Ka Naam Daadi.

Fondly known as Dadamuni, he debut Bollywood through Jeevan Naiyya in 1936. He was paired opposite Devika Rani. After that Bollywood witnessed Ashok Kumar – Devika Rani series of movies through Achut Kanya, Izzat, Savithri and Nirmala. As Devika Rani was the shining star of Bollywood that time, Ashok Kumar got second preference only. But the series of three films from 1939-1941 – Kangan, Bandhan and Jhoola released one each in the respective years, opposite Leela Chitnis helped Ashok Kumar to raise to stardom. His voice was used for its songs as well.

When Kismat was released in 1943, it broke several records and became the best grosser of Bollywood till then. Ashok Kumar played negative role in this movie. Main ban ka panchi was one among the hit movies that time. After Devika Rani, he was most paired along with Madhubala and Meenakumari. In a few movies, he played anti-hero role too. In Howrah Bridge and Mahal Madhubala was casted as heroine where he played role of hero in Mahal and anti-hero in Howrah Bridge. Then we witnessed a string of love triangle movies of Ashok Kumar, Meena Kumari and Pradeep Kumar of which Behu Begam was most popular.

Ashirwaad was among the best movies of his career that won him many awards including National awards, filmfare and Bengal film association awards. Gradually he shifted to character roles with his distinct foot marks. After his brother Kishore Kumar’s death in 1987, he decided not to celebrate his birthday and till his death in 2001, he was considered to be one among the veteran actors of Bollywood.

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Updated: January 06, 2018