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Kishore Kumar Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated October 5, 2026 • 4 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth4 August 1929

Age58 (at time of death)

BirthplaceKhandwa, Central Provinces (now Madhya Pradesh), British India

ProfessionPlayback Singer, Actor, Composer, Lyricist, Director, Producer, Screenwriter

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried (at time of death)

SpouseRuma Guha Thakurta; Madhubala; Yogeeta Bali; Leena Chandavarkar

FamilyParents: Kunjalal Ganguly and Gouri Devi; Siblings: Ashok Kumar, Anoop Kumar, Sati Devi

Kishore Kumar Biography

Kishore Kumar, born Abhas Kumar Ganguly on 4 August 1929 in Khandwa, was a multitalented figure in Indian cinema — a playback singer, actor, composer, and,

Early life and background

Abhas Kumar Ganguly, who would become known to millions as Kishore Kumar, was born on 4 August 1929 in Khandwa, then part of the Central Provinces in British India. He grew up in a Bengali household; his father, Kunjalal Ganguly, worked as a lawyer and his mother, Gouri Devi, came from a well-to-do Bengali family. Kishore was the youngest of four children and spent much of his childhood around his elder brothers, including the established film star Ashok Kumar, who influenced his early interest in music and cinema.

Kishore attended Christian College in Indore and completed his graduate studies. He moved to Bombay (now Mumbai) to pursue a career in films and adopted the screen name Kishore Kumar while beginning work as a chorus singer at Bombay Talkies.

Career

Kishore Kumar’s career spanned many facets of filmmaking. He first appeared on screen in the 1946 film Shikari and recorded his earliest known playback song, “Marne Ki Duayen Kyon Mangu,” for the 1948 movie Ziddi. Though he began with small singing assignments, his voice and versatility soon drew attention from prominent music directors.

S. D. Burman played a key role in encouraging Kishore to cultivate an original singing style rather than imitate his idol K. L. Saigal. Kishore’s acting career included lead and comic roles in popular films such as Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi (1958), Half Ticket (1962), and Padosan (1968). He also worked behind the camera: he produced, directed, composed music for, and acted in films like Jhumroo (1961) and Door Gagan Ki Chhaon Mein (1964). In Door Gagan Ki Chhaon Mein, he also cast his son Amit Kumar as his on-screen child.

His collaborations with composers such as S. D. Burman, Salil Chowdhury, and R. D. Burman produced many memorable songs. Salil Chowdhury entrusted him with songs early on despite Kishore’s lack of formal musical training. R. D. Burman and Kishore formed a particularly fruitful partnership during the 1970s, delivering numerous hits across a range of styles, including semi-classical pieces that showcased Kishore’s expressive range.

Kishore was known for his trademark yodeling, a technique he picked up from records by Jimmie Rodgers and Tex Morton, and for his ability to adapt vocal pitch and texture to suit different actors on screen. This adaptability made him the preferred playback voice for a long list of leading men across several decades.

Awards and recognition

Over his career Kishore received multiple Filmfare Awards for Best Male Playback Singer for songs that became cultural touchstones, including “Roop Tera Mastana” (Aradhana) and later wins for songs in Amanush, Don, Thodisi Bewafaii, Namak Halaal, Agar Tum Na Hote, Sharaabi, and Saagar. He also earned several Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards during the early 1970s.

Public profile

Kishore Kumar’s public persona blended comic timing, eccentricity, and deep musicality. He was noted for hobbies that included reading novels, driving, table tennis, and football. Accounts from his career describe periods of unpredictability—late arrivals on sets and occasional absenteeism—which at times affected film productions and box-office outcomes.

His personal life drew attention as well. He married four times and was father to two sons, Amit Kumar and Sumit Kumar, both of whom became singers. His brothers Ashok and Anoop Kumar were also film actors, and the siblings occasionally worked together on projects.

Kishore’s standing in popular culture was cemented by a stream of songs that helped define the soundscape of Hindi cinema. Tracks from films like Aradhana helped transform him into the era’s leading playback singer and made him closely associated with stars such as Rajesh Khanna. He lent his voice to performances by a wide range of actors over decades, contributing to the success and identity of many films.

Later years and death

Kishore continued to record and perform into the 1970s and early 1980s; his final acting appearance was in the 1980 film Door Wadiyon Mein Kahin. He died in Bombay (now Mumbai) on 13 October 1987 at the age of 58. The cause of death was reported as a heart attack.

Latest updates

Kishore Kumar’s legacy endures through the large catalog of songs he recorded, the films he acted in, and the productions he created. His collaborations with composers and singers of his time remain widely celebrated, and many of his recordings are still recognized as staples of Indian film music.

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 Kishore Kumar, send the page URL and a reliable correction source to f4udotin@gmail.com.

Reference context: StarsUnfolded
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Recent Work

Door Wadiyon Mein Kahin

Final acting appearance (1980)

1980
Saagar

Playback performance awarded Filmfare Best Male Playback Singer (1986 award for song "Saagar Kinaare")

1985
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Career Highlights

  1. Multifaceted film career as playback singer, actor, composer, lyricist, director, producer, and screenwriter
  2. Breakthrough songs in Aradhana that established him as a leading playback singer
  3. Multiple Filmfare and Bengal Film Journalists' Association awards across the 1970s and 1980s
  4. Produced, directed and composed for films including Jhumroo and Door Gagan Ki Chhaon Mein
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 Kishore Kumar born?

Kishore Kumar was born on 4 August 1929.

What is Kishore Kumar known for?

Kishore Kumar is known for playback Singer, Actor, Composer, Lyricist, Director, Producer, Screenwriter.

What is Kishore Kumar’s marital status?

Kishore Kumar's marital status is listed as Married (at time of death).

Who is Kishore Kumar married to?

Kishore Kumar is publicly listed as married to Ruma Guha Thakurta; Madhubala; Yogeeta Bali; Leena Chandavarkar.