Anoop Kumar

• Name — Anoop Kumar • Born — 24 March 1926 • Birthplace — Khandwa, Central Provinces and Berar, British India (present-day Madhya Pradesh, India) • Died — 20 September 1997 • Place of death — Mumbai, Maharashtra, India • Occupation — Actor, painter & producer • Children — 1 • Relatives — See Ganguly family • Birth Name — Kalyan Kumar Ganguly • Years Active — 1950–1996

Kalyan was born into a Hindu Bengali family in Khandwa, Central Provinces and Berar (now in Madhya Pradesh). His father, Kunjalal Ganguly (Gangopadhya), was a lawyer, and his mother, Gouri Devi, came from a wealthy family. He was the second-youngest of four siblings, the other three being Ashok Kumar (the eldest), Sati Devi, and Kishore Kumar (the youngest). He married Manjula Banerjee alias Dheera, daughter of Mohit Kumar Banerjee, the diwan to the Maharaja of Murshidabad, and Kunjabala Mukherjee, on 18 November 1948.

After marriage, Kalyan arrived in Bombay (now Mumbai) with his newly wedded wife for his honeymoon when suddenly he was asked to stand in as double for his elder brother Ashok Kumar in Nishana (1950). He soon got a role alongside his elder brother in Khilari (1950). His performances eventually got the eyes of Amiya Chakraborty who cast him in the lead role in his film Gauna (1950) opposite Usha Kiran and Purnima Das Verma, alongside giving him his screen name Anoop Kumar. He then played both side and lead roles in several films but did not attain much success like his brothers Ashok Kumar or Kishore Kumar. Throughout his career, he collaborated with his brothers multiple times. He also produced the film Aasoo Ban Gaye Phool (1969). Kumar is best remembered for his role in the movie Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi. He and his brother Ashok Kumar acted in the 1986 Doordarshan detective serial Bheem Bhawani.

Kumar died on Saturday, 20 September 1997 following a cardiac arrest. He was 71 and survived by four daughters and a son. At 4:15 AM that day, he died of his fourth heart attack in the Aryogyanidhi hospital, Juhu, North West Bombay, where he was admitted the previous Saturday (13 September). The last rites were performed by his son Arjun on Saturday afternoon at the Juhu crematorium. Amit Kumar, Leena Ganguly and Asha Parekh were among those present. However, 85-year-old Ashok Kumar could not attend the funeral due to illness.

• Year — Film — Role — Notes • 1986-1987 — Dada Dadi Ki Kahaniyan • 1989 — Bheem Bhawani — Bhawani — Appeared alongside elder brother Ashok Kumar. • 1996 — Ek Raja Ek Rani — Shopkeeper — Guest appearence

• Year — Film — Role — Notes • 1950 — Nishana — Debut film; appeared as elder brother & lead actor Ashok Kumar's body double. • Khilari — First proper role, appeared alongside elder brother Ashok Kumar who played the lead. • Gauna — First film as the leading man, director Amiya Chakraborty rechristened him as Anoop Kumar with this film. • 1952 — Rani • Vidyasagar • 1953 — Firdaus • 1954 — Samaj — Appeared alongside elder brother & lead actor Ashok Kumar. • 1956 — Sajani • 1957 — Bandi — Dr. Madan Chaubey — Appeared alongside elder brother Ashok Kumar & younger brother Kishore Kumar. • Dekh Kabira Roya — Mohan • Jeevan Saathi — Appeared alongside elder brother & lead actor Ashok Kumar. • Sheroo — Appeared alongside elder brother & lead actor Ashok Kumar. • 1958 — Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi — Jagmohan Sharma (Jaggu) — Appeared alongside elder brother Ashok Kumar & younger brother Kishore Kumar who also co-produced it. • 1959 — Chacha Zindabad — Ramesh • Fashionable Wife — Natwar • Naach Ghar — Appeared alongside elder brother & lead actor Ashok Kumar. • Nai Raahen — Appeared alongside elder brother & lead actor Ashok Kumar. • 1961 — Dark Street • Jhumroo — Ramesh • Junglee — Jeevan • Kismet Palat Ke Dekh • Krorepati — Himmat Rai • 1962 — Bezuban — Appeared alongside elder brother & lead actor Ashok Kumar & nephew Aroop Kumar Ganguly. • 1964 — Kashmir Ki Kali — Chander • 1965 — Bahu Beti — Gurudas • Bheegi Raat — Kunwar — Uncredited; Appeared alongside elder brother Ashok Kumar. • Mahabharat — Uttara's brother • Shreeman Funtoosh — Ranjan — Appeared alongside younger brother & lead actor Kishore Kumar. • 1967 — Hum Do Daaku — Jaggu — Appeared alongside younger brother & lead actor Kishore Kumar. • Jab Yaad Kisi Ki Aati Hai — Ustad • Raat Aur Din — Dr. Kumar • 1968 — Dil Aur Mohabbat — Anoop • 1969 — Ansoo Ban Gaye Phool — Shyam Rao — Also co-producer; appeared alongside elder brother Ashok Kumar. • 1970 — Prem Pujari — Kulbhushan • 1972 — Amar Prem • Rakhi Aur Hathkadi — Vikram — Appeared alongside elder brother Ashok Kumar. • Victoria No. 203 — Murali — Appeared alongside elder brother Ashok Kumar. • 1973 — Anhonee — An inmate at mental instituition • 1974 — Majboor — The frightened aeroplane passenger — Guest appearence • Nirmaan — Sameer • 1975 — Chori Mera Kaam — Police Constable • Mutthi Bhar Chawal • 1976 — Ek Se Badhkar Ek — Security guard — Appeared alongside elder brother Ashok Kumar. • Kitne Paas Kitne Door • Mrigayaa: The Royal Hunt • 1977 — Proxy • 1978 — Anmol Tasveer — Appeared alongside elder brother Ashok Kumar. • Chor Ho To Aisa • Chor Ke Ghar Chor — Inspector — Appeared alongside elder brother Ashok Kumar. • 1980 — Neeyat — Guest appearence • 1982 — Chalti Ka Naam Zindagi — Jagmohan — Appeared alongside elder brother Ashok Kumar & younger brother Kishore Kumar who also produced & directed it. • Tumhare Bina — Divakar • 1983 — Farz Ki Keemat • Kaya Palat — Inspector • 1984 — Love Marriage — Chaurangi • 1986 — Bhim Bhawani — Television film; appeared alongside elder brother Ashok Kumar. • 1987 — Gayak • Jawab Hum Denge — Jagmohan — Appeared alongside elder brother Ashok Kumar. • Parivaar — Dinesh • 1989 — Clerk — Mukherjee — Appeared alongside elder brother Ashok Kumar. • Mamta Ki Chhaon Mein — Appeared alongside elder brother Ashok Kumar & younger brother Kishore Kumar who also produced & directed it. • 1991 — Maut Ki Sazaa • 1992 — Dushman Zamana — Security guard • 1993 — Aasoo Bane Angaarey • 1995 — Rock Dancer — Hotel Manager • Sajan Ka Dard — Lodge Manager

• Year — Film — Role — Notes • 1958 — Lukochuri — Appeared alongside younger brother & lead actor Kishore Kumar who also co-produced it.