Anoop Kumar (born Kalyan Kumar Ganguly; 24 March 1926 – 20 September 1997), was an Indian actor who appeared in over sixty-five Bollywood films.
Personal life 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.
Career 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.
Death 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.
Filmography Hindi Films Year Film RoleNotes1950NishanaDebut film; appeared as elder brother & lead actor Ashok Kumar's body double.KhiladiFirst proper role, appeared alongside elder brother Ashok Kumar who played the lead.GaunaFirst film as the leading man, director Amiya Chakraborty rechristened him as Anoop Kumar with this film.1952RaniVidyasagar1953Firdaus1954SamajAppeared alongside elder brother & lead actor Ashok Kumar.1956Sajani1957BandiDr. Madan ChaubeyAppeared alongside elder brother Ashok Kumar & younger brother Kishore Kumar.Dekh Kabira RoyaMohanJeevan SaathiAppeared alongside elder brother & lead actor Ashok Kumar.SherooAppeared alongside elder brother & lead actor Ashok Kumar.1958Chalti Ka Naam GaadiJagmohan Sharma (Jaggu)Appeared alongside elder brother Ashok Kumar & younger brother Kishore Kumar who also co-produced it.1959Chacha ZindabadRameshFashionable WifeNatwarNaach GharAppeared alongside elder brother & lead actor Ashok Kumar.Nai RaahenAppeared alongside elder brother & lead actor Ashok Kumar.1961Dark StreetJhumrooRameshJungleeJeevanKismet Palat Ke DekhKrorepatiHimmat Rai1962BezubanAppeared alongside elder brother & lead actor Ashok Kumar & nephew Aroop Kumar Ganguly.1964Kashmir Ki KaliChander1965Bahu BetiGurudasBheegi RaatKunwarUncredited; Appeared alongside elder brother Ashok Kumar.MahabharatUttara's brotherShreeman FuntooshRanjanAppeared alongside younger brother & lead actor Kishore Kumar.1967Hum Do DaakuJagguAppeared alongside younger brother & lead actor Kishore Kumar.Jab Yaad Kisi Ki Aati HaiUstadRaat Aur DinDr. Kumar1968Dil Aur MohabbatAnoop1969Ansoo Ban Gaye PhoolShyam RaoAlso co-producer; appeared alongside elder brother Ashok Kumar.1970Prem PujariKulbhushan1972Amar PremRakhi Aur HathkadiVikramAppeared alongside elder brother Ashok Kumar.Victoria No. 203MuraliAppeared alongside elder brother Ashok Kumar.1973AnhoneeAn inmate at mental instituition1974MajboorThe frightened aeroplane passengerGuest appearanceNirmaanSameer1975Chori Mera KaamPolice ConstableMutthi Bhar Chawal1976Ek Se Badhkar EkSecurity guardAppeared alongside elder brother Ashok Kumar.Kitne Paas Kitne DoorMrigayaa : The Royal Hunt1977Proxy1978Anmol TasveerAppeared alongside elder brother Ashok Kumar.Chor Ho To AisaChor Ke Ghar ChorInspectorAppeared alongside elder brother Ashok Kumar.1980NeeyatGuest appearance1982Chalti Ka Naam ZindagiJagmohanAppeared alongside elder brother Ashok Kumar & younger brother Kishore Kumar who also produced & directed it.Tumhare BinaDivakar1983Farz Ki KeematKaya PalatInspector1984Love MarriageChaurangi1986Bhim BhawaniTelevision film; appeared alongside elder brother Ashok Kumar.1987GayakJawab Hum DengeJagmohanAppeared alongside elder brother Ashok Kumar.ParivaarDinesh1989ClerkMukherjeeAppeared alongside elder brother Ashok Kumar.Mamta Ki Chhaon MeinAppeared alongside elder brother Ashok Kumar & younger brother Kishore Kumar who also produced & directed it.1991Maut Ki Sazaa1992Dushman ZamanaSecurity guard1993Aasoo Bane Angaarey1995Rock DancerHotel ManagerSajan Ka DardLodge Manager
Bengali films Year Film Role Notes1958Lukochuri Appeared alongside younger brother & lead actor Kishore Kumar who also co-produced it.
Television Year Film Role Notes1986-1987Dada Dadi Ki Kahaniyan 1989Bheem BhawaniBhawaniAppeared alongside elder brother Ashok Kumar.1996Ek Raja Ek RaniShopkeeperGuest appearance
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