কিশোর কুমার আভাষ কুমার গঙ্গোপাধ্যায়
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Kishore Kumar, born Abhas Kumar Ganguly, sang 245 songs for actor Rajesh Khanna across 92 films, an unbeaten record. He was also a prolific actor known for comedies like Padosan 1968 and Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi 1958. He died of a heart attack on October 13, 1987 in Bombay.
Names, aliases, and relatives of Kishore Kumar — birth name, kin, and personal ties.
Kishore Kumar by the numbers — life, work, and family.
Kishore Kumar — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.
Kishore Kumar was born Abhas Kumar Ganguly on August 4, 1929 in Khandwa, Central Provinces, British India. He was the youngest of four siblings, including actors Ashok Kumar and Anoop Kumar. His father Kunjalal Ganguly was a lawyer, and his mother Gouri Devi came from a wealthy family. Kishore initially shunned acting, preferring to sing and mimic K.L. Saigal. His brother Anoop encouraged him to develop his own singing voice.
Kishore Kumar’s big break came when music director Sachin Dev Burman heard him singing at his brother Ashok’s home and immediately signed him for playback singing. After Burman’s death, his son Rahul Dev Burman took over and favoured Kishore over other male singers. Kishore sang 245 songs for Rajesh Khanna across 92 films, a record. He also sang 202 songs for Jeetendra, 131 for Amitabh Bachchan, and 119 for Dev Anand. He acted in many films, including the comedies Padosan 1968 and Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi 1958. During the 1975-1977 Emergency, he refused to endorse the government’s 20-point program, leading to a ban on his songs on All India Radio and Vividh Bharati. In 1981, he suffered two heart attacks but recovered and continued singing until his final heart attack in 1987.
Kishore married four times. His first wife was Ruma Guha Thakurta 1951-1958, with whom he had son Amit Kumar. He then married actress Madhubala 1961-1969, who died due to health issues. His third marriage was to Yogeeta Bali 1976-1978, which ended in divorce. He married Leena Chandavarkar in 1980, and they had a son, Sumeet Kumar, remaining married until his death. His eccentricities included talking to trees and placing a sign reading Mental Hospital outside his home in Khandwa. He was parsimonious, often in tax arrears.
Kishore Kumar’s record of singing 245 songs for a single actor Rajesh Khanna remains unbeaten. He introduced electronic music to Bollywood along with Kalyanji Veerji Shah. His songs continue to be played on radio and television. He inspired international singer Robert Kishore, who named himself after his idol. Kishore won the Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer and remains one of India’s most beloved playback singers. His son Amit Kumar followed him into singing.
Every award, honor, and recognition received by Kishore Kumar — Grammys, hall-of-fame inductions, civic honors, lifetime achievements.
Little-known facts about Kishore Kumar — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.
Had a misunderstanding with Amitabh Bachchan in the mid-1980s. He refused to sing for Amitabh when Amitabh declined to act in a movie produced by Kishore. Amitabh then faced his worst career phase, later making a comeback with Kaun Banega Crorepati? 2000.
Learnt yodeling by listening to his brother Anoop Kumar’s Austrian records.
Was a big fan of Alfred Hitchcock films.
Sang 327 duets with Lata Mangeshkar. Only Mohammad Rafi sang more duets with Lata 440.
Along with Kalyanji Veerji Shah, introduced electronic music to Bollywood.
His best friends in the film industry were Rahul Dev Burman and Rajesh Khanna. The trio worked together in 32 films.
Declared that if offered a film with Rajesh Khanna and another lead hero, he would lend his voice only to Rajesh Khanna in duets between the two heroes. All solos on Rajesh Khanna would have his voice.
Was the highest paid Indian playback singer from 1970 to 1987.
International singer Robert Kishore named himself after his idol Kishore Kumar. Robert was famous for the song Tropical Fantasy 1982.
Brother of actors Ashok Kumar and Anoop Kumar.
In the film Zamana 1985, he sang solos for both Rajesh Khanna and Rishi Kapoor, but specified that he would sing only the lines of Rajesh Khanna’s character in duets. Mohammed Aziz and Shailendra Singh became Rishi Kapoor’s voice for the duets.
Died on the birthday of his eldest brother Ashok Kumar.
Grand uncle to model and actor Abhijeet Sanyal son of Anoop Kumar’s daughter.
First wife Ruma Guha Thakurta was the niece of Satyajit Ray.
Great granduncle of actress Kiara Advani through brother Ashok Kumar’s great granddaughter.
Nephew Aroop Kumar Ganguly acted under the name Aroop Kumar son of Ashok Kumar.
Grandniece Shaheen Jaffrey is a model and beauty queen, daughter of actress Bharti Jaffrey and Hamid Jaffrey Ashok Kumar’s daughter.
Niece Bharti Jaffrey is an actress who married Sayeed Jaffrey’s brother Hamid. She is the grandmother of Kiara Advani.
Step granddaughter Vrinda Kumar born 1995, daughter of Amit’s wife Rima from her previous marriage.
Great grandnephews Sidhartha Singh and Aditya Singh are children of granddaughter Anuradha Patel and Kanwaljeet Singh.
Starred in the shelved film Pyar Zindagi Hain 1980, produced by Kishore Kumar and featuring Leena Chandavarkar.
Sang bhajans in films like Mere Jeevan Saathi, Amar Prem, Choti Bahu, Palay Khan, Naya Din Nayi Raat, Door Gagan Ki Chhaon Mein, Humsafar 1953, Swami Dada, Do Premi, Abdullah, and Rampur Ka Lakshman.
Grandnephew is fashion photographer Rahul Patel, son of Bharti Jaffrey from her first marriage.
Grandnephew Rohit Patel is son of Bharti Jaffrey from her first marriage, brother of Anuradha Patel.
Grandnephew Tushar Arup Kumar Ganguly works at Svan Marine Solutionz Private Limited and is married to Girija Iyer Gangoly.
Great grandnephew Mishaal Advani is son of Ashok’s granddaughter Geneieve Advani daughter of Bharti Jaffrey.
Grandnephew Mihir Gangoly is drummer of the band The Eleventh Hour in Bangalore and works at Top Storey Building Management Systems.
Granduncle of actress Anuradha Patel, whose mother is Bharti Jaffrey.
Great grandnephews Nirvaan Gangoly and Dhruv Gangoly are children of Rishi Ganguly and Mita Ganguly.
Granduncle to actor Sahil Jaffrey, son of Bharti Jaffrey and Hamid Jaffrey.
Step granduncle of beauty queen Shaheen Jaffrey, stepdaughter of Bharti Jaffrey.
Uncle of Aroop Kumar Ganguly and late Preeti Ganguli.
Father of Amit Kumar and Sumeet Kumar.
Sang 245 songs for Rajesh Khanna, 202 for Jeetendra, 131 for Amitabh Bachchan, and 113 for Dev Anand.
Has a son named Sumeet from his marriage with Leena Chandavarkar.
Starred in the shelved movie Jamna Ke Teer 1976, starring Ashok Kumar, Yogita Bali, music by Kishore Kumar, produced and directed by Ashim Kumar.
Total 2678 songs in Hindi across his career, with 563 songs composed by R.D. Burman.
Acted, produced, and directed the shelved film Hum Hain Rahi Matwale in the 1960s, starring Kishore Kumar and Anoop Kumar.
Cousin of singer, actor, composer Arun Kumar Mookherjee.
Performed a stage concert in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada in 1978.
Great grandnephew Varun Patel is son of grandnephew Rohit Patel.
Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about Kishore Kumar.
Celebrities similar to Kishore Kumar — same craft, ranked by reach.
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