Ashok Kumar(1911-2001)
- Actor
- Producer
- Music Department
The Grandfather & Great Custodian of Indian Motion Pictures!
Ashok Kumar was one of India's most famous actors for over half a century, from before
independence to the cusp of the new millennia!
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 was one of India's most famous actors for over half a century, from before
independence to the cusp of the new millennia!
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.