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 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.
Father of Aroop 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 couldnt 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 , he had a tough time directing "8 days" because V.H. Desai had a problem in memorizing lines. After doing 12 retakes of a scene Ashok ended up hitting his head with his fists.
Father-in-law of Deven Verma.
Uncle of Amit Kumar and Sumeet Kumar.
Grand uncle to actor, model Abhijeet Sanyal. ( Anoop Kumars daughters son).
Step great grandfather of Kiara Advani ( Step granddaughters GeneieveJafferys granddaughter). Geneieve s step mom was actress Bharti Jaffery ( Ashok s daughter).Bharti married Hameed Jaffery when Geneive was 13 years old. It was the second marriage for both.
Son acted under the name Aroop Kumar Ganguly.
Step Grandfather of model and beauty queen Shaheen Jaffrey. She is the step daughter of Bharti Jaffrey who married Hamid Jaffrey ( Sayeed Jaffrey s brother). Shaheen is always mistaken for Dilip Kumars actress niece Shaheen from Mahasangram.. Shaheen is a former beauty queen and worked as Mahesh Bhatts assistant in the film Maarg.
Daughter Bharti Jaffrey is an actress.
Grandfather of actress Anuradha Patel. Anuradhas mother is actress Bharti Jafferey. Bhrati separated from Anuradhas father Dr. Virendra Patel when Anuradha was a baby.
Grandson name is Rohit Patel. He is the son of actress Bharti Jaffrey from her first marriage. He is the brother of Anuradha Patel.
Step Grandfather of model, beauty queen Shaheen Jaffrey. Shaheen is the step daughter of actress Bharti Jaffrey who married Hameed Jaffrey (Sayeed Jaffreys brother). Shaheen is always mixed up Dilip Kumars niece Shaheen who acted in Mahasangram and was married to Sumeet Saigal. Shaheen is the younger step sister of Anuradha Patel.
Great grandson name is Varun Patel ( Grandson Rohit Patel son). Rohit is actress Bharti Jaffery son from her first marriage.
Grandfather to actor Sahil Jaffrey. Sahil has worked alot in theatre. Sahil is the son of actress Bharti Jaffery and Hameed Jaffery ( Sayeed Jafferys brother).Sahil is brother of Anuradha Patel and model, beauty queen Shaheen Jaffery.
Grandson is famous Bombay fashion photographer Rahul Patel. Rahul was born from daughter Bharti s first marriage to Dr. Virendra Patel. Rahul s sister includes actress Anuradha Patel.
Step Grandaughter is Genevieve Jaffery Advani who is a school teacher. She is the mother of actress Kiana Advani. Genevieve is the step daughter of Bharti Jaffery and Hameed Jaffery ( brother of Sayeed Jaffery). She is also the sister of model and beauty queen Shaheen Jaffery and actor Sahil Jaffery. Genevieve is the half sister of Anuradha Patel, Rahul Patel (They were born from Bharti s first marriage to Dr. Virendra Patel.).
Daughter in law is Nirmala Devi. She is married to Ashoks son Arup Kumar Gangoly. Nirmala is a devotee of spiritual leader Rajneesh.
Great grandson name is Nirvaan Gangoly and Dhruv Gangoly. Nirvaan and Dhruv are the grandsons of Ashoks son Arup Ganguly. Nirvaan and Dhruv are the children of Rishi Ganguly (Arups son) and Mita Ganguly. Rishi Gangoly is the 2nd son of Arup. Rishi is Indias First Website Coach and runs his own organization called WebDudes.In in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. He is also Indias First Email Marketing Coach. He worked in Apple Inc when Steve Jobs was alive. He attended St. Marys High School, Mount Abu, Rajasthan High School 1984 - 1988.
Great grandson name is Mishaal Advani. Mishaal is the son of Ashok granddaughter Geneieve Advani ( daughter of actress Bharti Jaffery). Mishaal was born in 1995 and the brother of actress Kiara Advani.
Grandson in law is actor Kanwaljit Singh. He is married to granddaughter Anuradha Patel.
Great grandchildren are Sidhartha Singh and Aditya Singh. They are the children of granddaughter Anuradha Patel.
Daughter Preeti Ganguly was a follower of Rajneesh and lived at Osho s ashram for a while. After she left she lost a lot of weight and was not able to find any roles in films.
Grandson name is Mihir Gangoly. He is the son of Arup Kumar Ganguly. Mihir is married to Monica Gangoly. Mihir was born in 1971 and is Arups second eldest.Mihir has two daughters. Mihir is the lead drummer of the band " The Eleventh Hour" in Banglore,India. They are a famous band and play to house packed shows all over. Mihir works at the world famous company "Top Storey Building Management Systems Pvt.Ltd.".
Daughter Preeti Ganguly was briefly married to a South Indian film producer.
Ashok Kumar was a lab assistant in Bombay Talkies before he became an actor in 1936.
Had a book released on his life titled " Dada Moni - The Authorized Biography of Ashok Kumar" by Kishore Valicha. This was in 1996.
Granddaughter named Somdatta Gangoly (Chakraborthy). She is the daughter of Ashok Kumars son.
Grandson name is Tushar Arup Kumar Ganguly. He is the youngest son of Arup Kumar Ganguly (Ashok Kumars son), Tushar works at the world famous company Svan Marine Solutionz Private Limited. Tushar is married to Girija Iyer Gangoly who works Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited as the Network Insights and Special Projects Head. Tushar and Girija have a son named Vir.
