Achieving the level of stardom that Ashok Kumar attained in Hindi cinema is perhaps impossible for any actor. Whether playing a negative or positive role, the legendary actor infused such life into his characters that audiences couldn’t take their eyes off him. Born into a Bengali family, Ashok Kumar once revealed that his ancestors were dacoits, yet people loved him regardless.
Ashok Kumar, an iconic figure in Indian cinema, left an indelible mark on the hearts of fans with his acting prowess. Over a career spanning six decades, he appeared in approximately 300 films, working from the era of black-and-white movies to the advent of color television.
Born on October 13, 1911, in Bhagalpur, Ashok Kumar is regarded as the first major star of Hindi cinema. Many of his admirers, witnessing his immense stardom, consider him the first superstar of Indian cinema. His real name was Kumudlal Ganguly, and he was affectionately called ‘Dada Muni,’ a term used to refer to an elder brother. In 1936, he made his film debut with “Jeevan Naiya.” Throughout his career, he delivered numerous blockbuster movies. While much is known about his illustrious film career, few are aware that his ancestors were dacoits. However, unlike typical dacoits, people didn’t fear them but adored them.
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Ashok Kumar sir’s Ancestors: The Revered Dacoits of Bengal
Born into a Hindu Bengali Brahmin family, Ashok Kumar revealed in an interview that his ancestors were dacoits, a revelation that astonished the interviewer. In a snippet shared by Old Is Gold Films on Instagram, Ashok Kumar spoke about his lineage.
“An interesting fact about my ancestors,” he said. “My father used to say that about 150 years ago, our ancestors were dacoits in Bengal. Their leader was Raghuraj Daku, a famous figure in Bengal. They only targeted a specific area, robbing the rich and distributing the loot among the poor. This is why people loved them so much.”
He also mentioned that Rabindranath Tagore wrote about his ancestors, reciting a few lines during the interview.
A 50-Year-Long Legacy in the Industry
Ashok Kumar was an actor who began his career before icons like Dilip Kumar and Manoj Kumar and continued to work even after the rise of superstars like Rajesh Khanna, Dharmendra, and Amitabh Bachchan. Whenever he appeared on screen, he captivated the audience’s attention entirely.
Achieving the level of stardom that Ashok Kumar attained in Hindi cinema is perhaps impossible for any actor. Whether playing a negative or positive role, the legendary actor infused such life into his characters that audiences couldn’t take their eyes off him. Born into a Bengali family, Ashok Kumar once revealed that his ancestors were dacoits, yet people loved him regardless.
Ashok Kumar, an iconic figure in Indian cinema, left an indelible mark on the hearts of fans with his acting prowess. Over a career spanning six decades, he appeared in approximately 300 films, working from the era of black-and-white movies to the advent of color television.
Born on October 13, 1911, in Bhagalpur, Ashok Kumar is regarded as the first major star of Hindi cinema. Many of his admirers, witnessing his immense stardom, consider him the first superstar of Indian cinema. His real name was Kumudlal Ganguly, and he was affectionately called ‘Dada Muni,’ a term used to refer to an elder brother. In 1936, he made his film debut with “Jeevan Naiya.” Throughout his career, he delivered numerous blockbuster movies. While much is known about his illustrious film career, few are aware that his ancestors were dacoits. However, unlike typical dacoits, people didn’t fear them but adored them.
Ashok Kumar Ancestors: The Revered Dacoits of Bengal
Born into a Hindu Bengali Brahmin family, Ashok Kumar revealed in an interview that his ancestors were dacoits, a revelation that astonished the interviewer. In a snippet shared by Old Is Gold Films on Instagram, Ashok Kumar spoke about his lineage.
“An interesting fact about my ancestors,” he said. “My father used to say that about 150 years ago, our ancestors were dacoits in Bengal. Their leader was Raghuraj Daku, a famous figure in Bengal. They only targeted a specific area, robbing the rich and distributing the loot among the poor. This is why people loved them so much.”
He also mentioned that Rabindranath Tagore wrote about his ancestors, reciting a few lines during the interview.
A 50-Year-Long Legacy in the Industry
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Ashok Kumar was an actor who began his career before icons like Dilip Kumar and Manoj Kumar and continued to work even after the rise of superstars like Rajesh Khanna, Dharmendra, and Amitabh Bachchan. Whenever he appeared on screen, he captivated the audience’s attention entirely.
Starting with “Jeevan Naiya,” Ashok Kumar went on to deliver memorable films like “Janmabhoomi,” “Achhut Kanya,” “Izzat,” “Vachan,” “Nirmala,” “Prem Kahani,” “Shikari,” and “Sajan.” He was the pioneer of horror films in Indian cinema, starring in the first Hindi horror movie, “Mahal,” in 1949. Besides being an excellent actor, he was also a talented singer and producer.
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