Starring in over 275 films and more than 30 Bengali Dramas, Ashok Kumar gave the Indian film industry and us a treasure to cherish forever. This legend has his birthday today i.e. 13th October.
Ashok Kumar came from a non filmy background but both his brothers Anoop and Kishore Kumar were also actors. Affectionately called as Dadamoni, Ashok Kumar was born in Bhagalpur and studied in Koklata. His career was not a well thought out choice but an accident. He started-off with Bombay Talkies production ‘Jeevan Naiya’ in 1936 but his real break was through Achyut Kanya in the same year. Devika Rani and Ashok Kumar did a string of films after this but she overshadowed him always. He soon brought in a new, much more natural style of acting as opposed to the theatrical, dramatical style which was practiced then. Ashok Kumar later ventured from acting to production with Bombay Talkies itself. He also acted in television and his biggest and most famous TV stint was through the anchoring for the show Hum Log.
Ashok Kumar was a man with many talents. Apart from acting, singing, production, anchoring, he was also a painter and a practitioner of homeopathy.
The final film of his career was Aankhon Mein Tum Ho in 1997. Throughout his career, he won many awards and accolades. The biggest honour was the Dadasaheb Phalke in 1988 and Padma Bhushan in 1998 for his contribution towards the Indian Cinema, which was bestowed upon him by the Government of India.
Ashok Kumar passed away December 10, 2011 due to a heart ailment.
His birthday, which could’ve been one of the happiest days of his lives, was saddened when his younger brother Kishore Kumar passed away on 13th October 1987, on his birthday. Ashok Kumar stopped celebrating his birthday since then but fans all over still send wishes to this legend.
We at Fridaymoviez also wish this Legend a Very Happy Birthday!