Ashok Kumar was one of India’s most famous actors from before to after its independence from the UK. As a young assistant to Bengali film-maker Himanshu Rai, he got his start in acting by accident when he volunteered to substitute for the lead actor, Jeevan Naya (1936), who fell ill before production on the film Achhut Kanya (1936) was to start. Kumar was terrified of acting in the first place, especially opposite lead actress Devika Rani, known as ‘the dragon lady’ for her smoking, drinking, cursing and legendary hot temper. After finishing shooting, Kumar continued with overseeing the process of the film with editing, mixing and processing. His unexpected acclaim to his role had him in demand for more acting roles, which he pursued in a few more ‘Bombay Talkies’ with Devika Rani.His breakthrough performance was in Kismet (1943) which ran for three years in Bombay and Calcutta and was one of the first Hindi language mega-hits of India and gained him national fame through his charismatic performances and his talented singing. From then onwards, Kumar became a sought-after actor who appeared in over 200 Hindi and a few other Indian language films, playing romantic leads or threatening villains and making Rs.300-400 a month during the 1940s and 1950s.Although his roles gradually decreased to supporting and minor parts as he got older and suffered more ill health, his popularity in India never diminished and he was often in demand for cameos and live convention appearances. From the 1990s to his death, he lived in a comfortable retirement in Bombay with a slew of Indian films to show for his work.
Ashok Kumar
Movies
Dhund
A traveler, Chandrashekhar alights from his car to take refuge in a house only to meet a beautiful, troubled young woman, Rani who had just murdered her abusive spouse, Thakur Ranjit Singh. In just a moment Chandrashekhar gets attracted to Rani and when the police gets informed about this incident…
Aarti
Aarti (Meena Kumari) is a dedicated and hard-working doctor, who believes that her skills should be used for the welfare of patients only. In contrast her fiance, Dr. Prakash (Ashok Kumar) believes in the opposite. Then one day, Aarti’s is saved from drowning by a poor, unemployed youth, Deepak (Pradeep…
Safar
Neela and Avinash are medical students, and are attracted to each other. But Avinash is poor and wants Neela to live a comfortable life. When Neela, who tutors Monto Kappor, meets his elder businessman brother, Shekhar, he instantly falls in love with her. He goes to propose marriage with her…
Amar Deep
Raja was adopted by a criminal don (Ashok Kumar) at a very young age. After the death of the don, Raja inherits the property, and refrains from crime. However, the wealth and the power associated with it, make him arrogant. He desires Radha, the daughter of his servant, Ramu, and…
Lakshya
Karan, a spoiled teenager, joins the Indian Army on a whim but backs out when he finds a soldier’s life to be difficult. When this creates conflict with his girlfriend, he reenlists and proves his mettle by becoming an officer just as war breaks out.
Aradhana
Arun meets Vandana during a vacation and very soon they secretly get married.Arun is a air force pilot an dies in a crash leaving pregnant Vandana heartbroken.As her marriage was never formalized she decides not to accept the kid her father to dies in between this.Vandana gives birth to her…
Mahal
The story is about a man Shankar who moves into an old n abandoned palace. Upon his visit to the palace, he is greeted by the gardener who tells him that the palace was inhabited by a couple forty years back and that the couple died one aft another cos…
Bheegi Raat
Painting artiste Ashok lives a wealthy lifestyle along with his Bombay-based father, Dwarkanath, who wants him to marry Vinita, the daughter of businessman Ramdas. Ashok not only refuses but also insults her and she swears to avenge this humiliation. He then re-locates to Nainital, rents a cottage from Colonel Bhim…
Naya Sansar
Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!
Inspired by the incredible true story of Lucky Singh, an extremely charismatic and fearless confidence man and thief who socialized with the rich, famous and influential of Delhi society and then proceeded to rob them blind. He was the bête noire of the police and had stolen millions by the…
Well Done Abba
This is the story of Armaan Ali, a driver working for a senior executive in Mumbai. He takes a month’s leave to find a husband for his teenage daughter, who lives near Hyderabad. When he is delayed and returns to work after three months, his employer threatens to sack him.…
Fun Facts
Father of Aroop Kumar Ganguly and Late Preeti Ganguli.
Brother of Kishore Kumar and Anoop Kumar.
He became the first-ever actor to play a negative role in a Bollywood movie in the 1943 movie Kismat.
He never celebrated his birthday after his brother died in 1987 on his birthday.
His daughter runs an acting school in his name.
Besides acting, he was a fine painter and also an active practitioner of homeopathy, often solving cases even regular doctors couldn't solve.
His nickname, Dadamoni, means "jewel of an older brother.""
Was best friends with Saadat Hassan Manto.
Was a lab assistant before joining films.
According to Saadat Hassan Manto