Ashok Kumar a reluctant actor, became ‘SUPERSTAR’ with his First Film: Jeewan Naiyya (1936)

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By Filmi Khan

Ashok Kumar, also known as Dadamoni, was a legendary Indian actor who made significant contributions to the Indian film industry. Born as Kumudlal Ganguly on October 13, 1911, in Bhagalpur, Bihar, he became one of the most iconic actors in the history of Indian cinema.

Ashok Kumar
Picture: Social Media

Ashok Kumar was born to Kunjalal Ganguly and Gouri Devi. He had one sister Sati Devi who was married to famous producer Shashadhar Mukherjee and two younger brothers, Anoop Kumar and Kishore Kumar, who also became notable figures in the Hindi film industry.

He completed his early education at the Presidency College, Calcutta (now Kolkata) and later pursued a degree in law.

Ashok Kumar
Picture: Social Media

Ashok Kumar’s entry into the film industry was rather accidental. He initially worked as a lab assistant in Bombay Talkies, a prominent film studio in Mumbai.

Young Ashok Kumar Debut in the world of Cinema

His brother-in-law, Shashadhar Mukherjee, who was a film producer at Bombay Talkies, encouraged him to act, and Ashok Kumar made his acting debut in the film “Jeevan Naiya” (1936).

Ashok Kumar’s career in the film industry spanned over six decades, and he appeared in over 300 films. He excelled in various genres, including romantic, comedy, and drama.

Ashok Kumar
Picture: Social Media

Some of his notable films include Achhut Kanya (1936), Kismet (1943), Mahal (1949), Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi (1958), and Pakeezah (1972).

He was known for his versatility as an actor, seamlessly transitioning from being a suave leading man to playing character roles with ease.

Ashok Kumar appeared frequently opposite Nalini Jaywant in several movies of the 1950s. He did around 17 films with Meena Kumari in a span of twenty years ranging from Tamasha in 1952 to 1972 magnum opus, Pakeezah.

Ashok Kumar and Meena Kumari
Picture: Social Media

He played the suave cigarette-smoking criminal or police officer in several films in the mid to late 1950s, in what was the Indian film-noir movement.

Ashok Kumar’s collaboration with Dev Anand in films like Jewel Thief (1967), Prem Pujari (1970) was highly acclaimed. His other films with Dev Anand were Tamasha (1952), Baadbaan (1952) and Return of Jewel Thief (1996).

Ashok Kumar and Dev Anand
Picture: Social Media

By the 1960s, Ashok Kumar switched over to character roles, variously playing the parent, uncle or grandparent, being careful never to be typecast. From a judge in Kanoon (1960), an ageing freedom fighter in Bandini (1963), a caring brother in Mere Mehboob (1963), an ageing priest in Chitralekha (1964), a vicious zamindar in Jawaab (1970), criminal in Victoria no.203 (1971) and a doting grandfather and father-in-law in Anuraag (1972), he played a wide variety of roles.

Ashok Kumar
Picture: Social Media

Ashok Kumar played important roles in several landmark movies in the 1960s and 1970s, including Jewel Thief (1967), Aashirwad (1968) (for which he won a Filmfare Award as well as National Award in 1969), Purab aur Pashchim (1970), Pakeezah (1972), Mili (1975), Chhoti Si Baat (1976), Khatta Meetha (1980) and Khoobsurat (1980).

Ashok Kumar and Pran were best friends and acted in 27 films together from 1951 to 1987 and had 20 super-hit films together. Films like Purab Aur Pashchim, Victoria 203, Chor Ke Ghar Chor, Chori Mera Kaam, Adhikar (1971), Maan Gaye Ustad were major hits.

Ashok Kumar and Pran
Picture: Social Media

He teamed up with Shashi Kapoor and Rajesh Khanna in many films in the 1970s and 1980s and acted as the main supporting actor in their films.

Ashok Kumar played a significant role in the evolution of Indian cinema. He was one of the earliest actors to bring realism and natural acting to the Indian screen.

He was also involved in film production and direction, contributing to the growth of the industry.

Ashok Kumar received several awards during his career, including the Padma Bhushan (1999) and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award (1988), which is India’s highest award in the field of Indian cinema.

Ashok Kumar
Picture: Social Media

Dadamoni was married to Shobha Devi, and they had three children. The couple had four children, one son, Aroop Ganguly, and three daughters namely Bharati Patel, Rupa Verma and Preeti Ganguly. His son Aroop initially worked in one film as a protagonist Bezubaan (1962). This film was flopped on box-office. Then he switched his career in the corporate world. His eldest daughter, Bharati Patel, is the mother of the actress Anuradha Patel (Ijazat, 1987 fame). The second eldest daughter, Rupa Ganguly is an actress and widow of actor-comedian Deven Verma. His youngest daughter, Preeti Ganguly acted in few Hindi films but could not succeed. She was died in 2012.

He had a close-knit family, and his brothers Anoop Kumar and Kishore Kumar were equally famous in the Indian entertainment industry.

Ashok Kumar continued acting in films even in his old age, portraying character roles with great finesse.

He passed away on December 10, 2001, leaving behind a remarkable legacy in Indian cinema.

His contributions to the industry, along with his natural acting style and versatility, continue to inspire actors and filmmakers to this day.

Ashok Kumar with Dilip Kumar
Picture: Social Media

Dadamoni’s influence on Indian cinema is immeasurable, and he will always be remembered as a true legend and a pioneer in the world of Bollywood. His work has left an indelible mark on the Indian film industry, and he remains a beloved figure in the hearts of film enthusiasts and audiences.

Ashok Kumar Filmography:

YearTitleRoleNotes
1936Jeevan NaiyyaKaran
1936JanmbhoomiRamchandra
1936Achhut KanyaMohan
1937IzzatKarangopal
1937SavitriKaran
1937Prem KahaniJagat
1938Vachan
1938NirmalaRamdas
1939KanganVaikartana Siyaram
1940BandhanNirmal
1940AzadMrityunjay
1941Naya SansarKaranpriya
1941JhoolaRamchandra
1941AnjaanKaran Shekhar Azad
1942Zindagi
1943NajmaYusuf
1943KismetShekhar & MadanDouble Role
1943Angoothi
1944KiranShankar
1944Chal Chal Re NaujawanKaran
1945HumayunBadshah Naseeruddin Humayun
1945Begum
1946Uttra Abhimanyu
1946Shikari
1946Eight DaysShamsher Singh
1947ChandrashekahrPratapBengali Movie
1947SajanPrakash
1948Padmini
1949MahalHari Shankar
1950Aadhi Raat
1950SangramKumar
1950SamadhiShekhar
1950Nishana
1950MashaalSamar
1950Khiladi
1951Afsana Ratan Kumar / Diwan Chaman KumarDouble Role
1951DeedarDr. Kishore
1952TamashaAshok Kumar
1952Saloni
1952Raag Rang
1952Poonam
1952Nau BaharAshok
1952Kafila
1952Jalpari
1952BewafaAshok
1952Betaab
1953Shole
1953Shamsheer
1953ParineetaShekhar Rai
1954Samaj
1954Naaz
1954Lakeeren
1954Baadbaan
1955Sardar
1955Bhagwat Mahima
1955BandishKamal Roy
1956Ek Hi RastaPrakash Mehta
1956Shatranj
1956Bhai-BhaiAshok Kumar
1956InspectorShyam
1957Mr. XAshok Kumar / Mr. X
1957Talaash
1957Jeevan Sathi
1957BandiShankar
1957Ustad
1957Sheroo
1957Ek SaalSuresh Kumar
1958KarigarShankar Mohite
1958Light House
1958Sitaron Se AageRajesh
1958Night clubInspector Kishore
1958RaaginiJugal
1958Sone Ki ChidiyaHimselfGuest Appearance
1958Chalti Ka Naam GaadiBrijmohan Sharma
1958SaveraKundan
1958Howrah Bridge Prem Kumar / Rakesh
1958FarishtaAshok
1959Dhool Ka PhoolDefense LawyerUncredited
1959Nai Raahein
1959Naach Ghar
1959KanganCID Inspector Sharad M. Das
1959Daaka
1959Bedard Zamana Kya JaneBarrister Ashok
1959Baap Bete
1960KanoonJudge Badri Prasad / Badri Prasad’s Lookalike
1960MasoomKhan
1960Kalpana Amar
1960Kala AadmiMadan
1960HospitalShaibalBengali Movie
1960Aanchal
1961DharamputraNawab Badruddin (Husn Bano’s Father)
1961Warrant
1961Flat No. 9
1961Dark Street
1961KarodpatiAshok(Special Appearance)
1962Hong Kong
1962BantoDoctorPunjabi movie,pardeep kumar,Nishi,Diljit
1962Isi Ka Naam Duniya HaiKarangopal
1962Umeed
1962RakhiRaj Kumar ‘Raju’
1962Private SecretaryShambabu
1962Naqli NawaabNawab Shoukat Ali
1962Mehndi Lagi Mere HathDr. Mehta
1962Burmah RoadAshok
1962BezubaanDharm Das
1962AartiDr. Prakash
1963Ustadon Ke UstadSaaya
1963GumrahBarrister Ashok
1963Gharni Shobha
1963BandiniBikash Ghosh
1963Aaj Aur KalMaharaja Balvir Singh
1963Yeh Raste Hain Pyar KeAdvocate Byomkesh Mukherjee
1963Meri Surat Teri AankheinPyare
1963Mere MahboobNawab Buland Akhtar Changezi
1963Grahasti Harishchandra Khanna
1964BenazirNawab
1964Pooja Ke PhoolChoudhury Hukumat Rai
1964Phoolon Ki SejDr. Verma
1964Dooj Ka Chand
1964ChitralekhaYogi Kumargiri
1965Chand Aur SurajChanderprakash Atmaram Malik ‘Chander’
1965Aadhi Rat Ke BadAshok Kumar
1965Oonche LogRetired Major Chandrakant
1965Shevatcha MalusuraMarathi film
1965Naya KanoonShekhar
1965Bheegi RaatAnand
1965Bahu BetiJudge
1965AkashdeepShankar Gupta (Guptaji)
1966AfsanaGopal
1966MamtaManish Roy
1966Yeh Zindagi Kitni Haseen Hai
1966Toofan Mein Pyar Kahan
1966Daadi MaaPratap / Raja
1966Annavin AsaiJudge
1967Jewel Thief Arjun Singh
1967Nai Roshni Professor Kumar
1967MehrbanShanti Swarup
1967Hatey BazareyDr. Anaadi MukherjeeBengali Movie
1967BAhu BegumNawab Sikander Mirza
1968Dil Aur MohabbatSupt. of Police, Choudhry
1968AabrooAdvocate P.K. Anand
1968Sadhu Aur ShaitanPassenger (Hair Dresser)Uncredited
1968Ek Kali MuskaiChaudhary Saab
1968AashirwadShivnath ‘Jogi Thakur’ Choudhary
1969Pyar Ka SapnaShankarnath
1969Beti Tumhare Jaisi
1969AradhanaAir Commodore Ganguly
1969SatyakamSatyasharan ‘Dadji’ Acharya
1969Paisa Ya PyarMohanlal
1969IntaquamHeeralal Mehra
1969Do BhaiJudge Ajay Verma
1969Bhai BahenRaja Vikram Pratap
1969Aansoon Ban Gaye PhoolProfessor Vidyanand
1970Sau Saal Beet GayeDigvijay Singh / Nahar Singh
1970Maa Aur MamtaWilliam
1970SharafatJagatram
1970SafarDr. Chander
1970Purab Aur Paschim Guruji
1970JawabZamindar Uma Shankar
1971KanganLakshmipati ‘Rajaji’
1971AdhikarBarrister Shukla
1971Naya ZamanaSachin Choudhury (Rajan & Seema’s Father)
1971Hum Tum Aur WohMahendranath
1971Ganga Tera Pani AmritManju’s Father
1971Door Ka RaahiJoseph
1971GuddiHimself
1972PAkeezahShahabuddin
1972Garam MasalaMaharajUncredited
1972AnuragRai Sahib Shiv Shankar Rai
1972Victoria No. 203Raja
1972Zindagi ZindagiChoudhury Ramprasad
1972Zameen AasmanShanti Swaroop
1972Sazaa
1972Rakhi Aur HathkadiThakur Virendra Singh
1972Sa-Re-Ga-Ma-PaJaggu / Barrister Raghuveer Sahay
1972Rani Mera Naam
1972MaalikGanesh Duttji ‘Guru’
1972Dil Daulat DuniyaSeth Kalidas / Kalluram ‘Kalwa’Double Role
1973DhundPublic Prosecutor Mehta
1973Bada KabutarMama Rampuri
1973Taxi Driver
1973HifazatAsha’s Foster Father
1974Do PhoolDiwan Bahadur Atal Rai
1974Khoon Ki Keemat
1974Prem NagarRaja Uday Singh
1974Ujala Hi UjalaProfessor Shyamlal Gupta
1974Paise Ki GudiyaDr. Vinayak
1974Love In BombayUshman Bhai
1974Dulhan
1974Do Aankhein
1975Chori Mera KaamShankar
1975Aakraman
1975MiliMili’s father
1975Ek Mahal Ho Sapnon KaAnand Kumar
1975UljhanJudge Kailash Chander
1975Daffa 302
1976Chhoti Si BatColonel Julius Nagendranath Wilfred Singh
1976BhanwarDr. Verma
1976Shankar DadaSuperintendent of Police
1976Balika VadhuAged AmalVoice
1976Ek Se Badhkar EkRaja
1976SantanDinanath
1976Rangila Ratan
1976Harfan MaulaaRanjeet / Kedar / Mahavir
1976Ha Khel SavlyanchaThorat Marathi Film
1976BaroodBalraj Gupta – Criminologist
1976Arjun PanditDr. Shukla
1976Aap BeatiKishorilal Kapoor
1977Jadu TodaInspector Jolly Goodman
1977Dream GirlMr. Verma
1977Hira Aur PaththarDr. Anand
1977Anand AshramPratap Narayan Roychoudhary
1977Prayashchit
1977Mastan Dada
1977AnurodhMr. Mathur
1977Chala Murari Hero BanneRamel
1978Bahadur Jiska Naam
1978Do MusafirKailash Nath
1978Phool Khile Hain Gulshan GulshanLala Ganpat Rai
1978AnpadhGupta
1978Apna KhoonGeeta’s Father
1978Dil Aur DeewarRai Saheb
1978Chor Ke Ghar ChorRanjeet Singh
1978Safed JhoothBaldevraj Gulati
1978Tumhare LiyeDr. Vachaspati / Vaidyaraj
1978Premi Gangaram
1978Khatta MeathaHomi Mistry
1978Anmol Tasveer
1979Guru Ho Ja shuruCBI Inspector / Chief Kumar
1979Majnoon
1979Janta Hawaldaar
1979Bagula Bhagat
1979Amar Deep
1980KhubsooratDwarka Prasad Gupta
1980KhwabAdvocate Joshi
1980Aap Ke DeewaneInshallah Khan
1980TakkarZamindar (Vijay, Kishan, Meena’s Father)
1980Jyoti Bane JwalaDr. Bose
1980Sau Din Saas KEColonel Gupta
1980Saajan Mere Main Saajan Ki
1980Nazrana Pyar KaMahesh Kumar Gupta
1980JudaaiRetired Justice Umakant Verma
1980Aakhiri Inssaf
1981Yeh Kaisa Nashaa Hai
1981Pyar To Hona Hi Tha
1981Jail YatraRamnath Verma
1981MahfilRaghunath Singh
1981Maan Gaye UStadJailor
1981JyotiZamindar (Govind & Niranjan’s Father)
1982Patthar Ki Lakeer
1982Dial 100Shanti’s Husband
1982ShaukeenOm Prakash Choudhury
1982Heeron Ka ChorMr. Khanna (Mohan’s Father)
1982ShaktiPolice Commissioner
1982Anokha BandhanZamindar
1982Swarna Mahal
1982SumbandhAdvocate Hardayal Mathur
1982Mehndi Rang Layegi
1982Dard Ka Rishta
1982Chalti Ka Naam Zindagi
1983Farz Ki Keemat
1983TaqdeerDiwan Pratap SinghUncredited
1983Prem TapasyaDr. Chowdary
1983Love in GoaBaburao
1983MahaanMr. Rai (Rita’s Grandfather)
1983Pasand Apni ApniShantilal Anand
1983Kaya Palat
1983HaadsaaDr. Ved Kapoor
1983Chor PoliceMr. Sinha
1983BekararPradeep’s father
1984Prerna
1984FarishtaRai Bahadur
1984Ram Tera Desh Ram Das
1984DuniyaR. D. Puri
1984Shilalipi
1984Raja Aur RanaRajinder Singh (Raja)
1984Hum Rahe Na HumProfessor Mulk Raj
1984GrahathiShankar
1984AkalmadMajor
1985TawaifMr. Nigam
1985Bhago Bhoot AayaButler Anthony D’Souza
1985DurgaaDinanath
1985Ek Daku Saher MeinPolice Inspector
1985Phir Aayee BarsatBajaj – Dilip’s father
1986QatlBeggar / Street Singer
1986Amma
1986Pyar Kiya Hai Pyar KarengeAbdul Rehman
1986Asli NaqliDriver / Chacha
1986ShatruSuperintendent of Police
1986Inteqam Ki AagShobha’s father
1987Woh Din AyegaProfessor Bhattacharya
1987Mr. IndiaProfessor Sinha
1987AwamVeshat Ansari
1987HifazatKailashnath
1987Watan Ke RakhwaleProfessor Peter Fernandes
1987SupermanSuperman’s Foster Father
1987Pyar Ki JeetDr. Kumar
1987Jawab Hum Denge Defense Lawyer
1988InteqamRaghuveer
1988FaislaRehman
1989MajboorRavi and Sunil’s Father
1989ClerkSatyapati
1989Anjane RishteKirpa Ram
1989Dana PaniAdvocate Sinha
1989Sachai Ki Taqat
1989Mamta Ki Chaon Mein
1990Naya Zamana Nai Kranti
1991Begunaah Judge Dindayal
1991Maut Ki SazaaPandit Satyadev
1991Aadhi Mimansa
1992HumlaDevkishan Sharma
1992Surer Bhubane
1993Kanyadaan
1993Prathama
1993Aasoo Bane Angarey
1994Yuhi Kabhi God
1995Sajan Ka Dard
1995Mera DamadAjit Khanna
1995Jamla Ho JamlaBalaji GhorpadeMarathi film
1996Dushman Duniya KaDoctor
1996BeqabuDaddu, Raja’s Mentor
1996Return Of Jewel ThiefPrince Arjun Singh
1997Ankhon Mein tum HoMr. Kapoor (Daddu)
1997Achena AtithiKapoorfinal film role
2013Love in BombayUsman BhaiPosthumous release, originally made in 1971

Television

YearSerialRoleNotes
1984–1985Hum LogNarrator
1986Katha Sagar
Bahadur Shah ZafarBahadur Shah Zafar
Dada Dadi Ki Kahaniyan
Hum Hindustani
1987RamayanHimselfNarrator in first episode
1988CrossroadsRanjit Rupal
1990–1991Bheem BhavaniBheem
1993Ujale Ki Ore
1994TehkikatDada-Episode “Murder after Lucky Draw”

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