Dadamoni: The Life and Times of Ashok Kumar

Ashok Kumar (1911-2001), fondly known as Dadamoni, is one of the great icons of

Hindi cinema. This warm, intimate biography traces his remarkable journey, from

reluctant actor to Bollywood's first superstar and, in his later years, a much-loved

presence on national television.

Born in Bhagalpur (then in the Bengal Presidency), Ashok Kumar was enthralled by

the 'bioscope' as a child. In his twenties, he quit his law studies and came to Bombay

to become a film director. But life-rather, Himanshu Rai, the founder of Bombay

Talkies-had different plans for him. Despite the director's reservations, he was cast

in the lead role opposite Devika Rani in the 1936 film Jeevan Naiyya when the original

hero went missing. The same year, Ashok Kumar was paired with Devika Rani again

in Achhut Kanya, which was a blockbuster. The transformation of the accidental

hero into a charismatic star-actor had begun. Over the next six decades, he proved

himself to be a master of the craft, playing cop and thief; genial grandfather and sly

matchmaker; villain and hero; heartbroken lover and suave rake with equal ease in

numerous films, including Kismet, Mahal, Parineeta, Kanoon, Gumrah, Chalti Ka Naam

Gaadi, Aashirwad, Mamta, Jewel Thief, Khoobsurat and Khatta Meetha. But as Nabendu

Ghosh writes, Ashok Kumar's world was much larger-he was also a charming

conversationalist, mentor, homeopath, astrologer, painter, linguist, limericist and,

above all, loyal friend and devoted husband and father. This book is also a mini-history

of the early decades of Bombay's Hindustani cinema, and its pages are rich with

little anecdotes featuring legends like-besides Devika Rani-Saadat Hasan Manto,

Sashadhar Mukherjee, Leela Chitnis, Dilip Kumar, Dev Anand, Meena Kumari and

B.R. Chopra. Sarojini Naidu and Jawaharlal Nehru make brief appearances too, as

does Morarji Desai.

For anyone interested in Hindi cinema of yesteryears-in its cosmopolitanism,

camaraderie and charm-this thoroughly engaging book is a must read.