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Ashok Kumar Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated October 5, 2026 • 3 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth13 October 1911

AgeDied at 90 (10 December 2001)

BirthplaceBhagalpur, Bengal Presidency, British India (Bihar)

ProfessionActor, Painter, Singer, Film Producer, Film Director

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

SpouseShobha Devi

FamilySon - Aroop Kumar Ganguly; Daughters - Preeti Ganguly, Bharati Jaffrey, Rupa Ganguly; Parents - Kunjlal Ganguly and Gouri Devi

Ashok Kumar Biography

One of Indian cinema’s most adaptable performers, Ashok Kumar began his film career in the 1930s and went on to act, sing, produce and direct across more a

Early life and background

Ashok Kumar was born Kumudlal Kunjilal Ganguly on 13 October 1911 in Bhagalpur in what was then the Bengal Presidency of British India. Raised in a Bengali family, he was the son of Kunjlal Ganguly, a lawyer, and Gouri Devi, a homemaker from an affluent Bengali household. He completed higher education at Presidency College of the University of Calcutta, where he earned a law degree, though he chose not to pursue a career in the judiciary.

Before moving in front of the camera, he entered the film world working behind the scenes as a laboratory assistant at Bombay Studio for about five years. That technical beginning led to an unexpected acting opportunity: he made his screen acting debut in the 1936 film Jeevan Naiya after replacing the original choice for the role.

Career

Ashok Kumar built a career notable for range and longevity. Initially recognized for both acting and singing, he became one of the era’s leading male stars. Early highlights included performances in Achhut Kannya (1936) and Bandhan (1940). His appearance in the 1943 film Kismet established him as a major box-office draw; that picture became the first Indian film to cross the one crore mark at the box office.

Beyond acting, he worked as a film producer and director, and is credited with helping introduce future stars to Indian cinema. Two prominent actors he is associated with introducing are Dev Anand, who appeared in Ziddi (1948), and Madhubala, who rose to attention with Mahal (1949).

Ashok Kumar was also a singer and lent his voice to numerous songs in films across decades. Notable songs attributed to him include numbers from Achhut Kannya (1936), Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi (1958), Howrah Bridge (1958) and Aashirwad (1968). One of the songs he performed in Aashirwad is often cited for its unusual rhythmic delivery for the time.

He continued to act for many decades; his final film role came in Ankhon Mein Tum Ho (1997). In addition to his film work, he became a familiar television presence when he hosted Hum Log in the 1980s, the soap opera widely remembered as one of India’s early television serials.

Public profile

Known affectionately as Dadamoni, a term that conveys the fond respect of an elder brother, Ashok Kumar earned a reputation for versatility, performing successfully in comedy, tragedy and romantic roles. He received many of India’s top honors for his contributions to film and the arts over the course of his life, including multiple Filmfare Awards for acting, the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for acting in films, the National Film Award for Best Actor, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award and the Padma Bhushan.

He married Shobha Devi in 1936 and the couple had children, including daughters who pursued acting careers. His siblings included well-known figures in Indian entertainment; among them were brothers who also worked in film.

Outside his public work, he practiced homeopathy and pursued painting. His artistic interests extended to portraiture and figure studies, and he remained engaged with the arts throughout his life. He also enjoyed reading novels.

Later years and death

Ashok Kumar lived into his nineties. He stopped celebrating his birthday after 1987 following the death of his younger brother. He passed away on 10 December 2001 in Mumbai, Maharashtra, at the age of 90. The cause of death was heart failure.

Latest updates

Though he died in 2001, his legacy continues through the films, songs and performances he left behind, and through family members who remained active in Indian entertainment. His final screen appearance was in the 1997 film Ankhon Mein Tum Ho, and he is remembered for his long, varied career both on film and television.

Editorial Review and Sources

This F4U profile is written from publicly available career and profile information, then reviewed for clarity before publication. If you spot an outdated detail about Ashok Kumar, send the page URL and a reliable correction source to f4udotin@gmail.com.

Reference context: StarsUnfolded
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Recent Work

Ankhon Mein Tum Ho

Last film role (1997).

1997
Hum Log

Hosted the 1980s soap opera, one of India’s earliest television serials.

1980s
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Career Highlights

  1. Debuted as actor in Jeevan Naiya (1936) after working as a studio lab assistant
  2. Starred in landmark hit Kismet (1943), the first Indian film to cross one crore at the box office
  3. Introduced Dev Anand (Ziddi, 1948) and Madhubala (Mahal, 1949) to the film industry
  4. Won multiple prestigious awards including Filmfare Awards, National Film Award for Best Actor, Dadasaheb Phalke Award and Padma Bhushan
Reviewed by F4U Editorial Desk

F4U profile pages are prepared from public career information, checked for readability, and updated when reliable correction sources are shared with the editorial team.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Ashok Kumar born?

Ashok Kumar was born on 13 October 1911.

What is Ashok Kumar known for?

Ashok Kumar is known for actor, Painter, Singer, Film Producer, Film Director.

What is Ashok Kumar’s marital status?

Ashok Kumar's marital status is listed as Married.

Who is Ashok Kumar married to?

Ashok Kumar is publicly listed as married to Shobha Devi.