Ashok Kumar, born Kumudlal Kunjlal Ganguly, also known as Dadamoni, was a renowned persona in the Indian film industry. This legendary actor had shown equal skill for both leading roles and character roles in his acting career. He stands apart as an icon of the Hindi cinema in the 20th century. His style of acting is believed to have a naturalistic flair. He was honoured with Dadasaheb Phalke and Padma Bhushan awards for his immense contribution towards Indian film industry. In 2013, Government of India introduced a stamp in the name of Ashok Kumar.

Personal Life of Ashok Kumar
Kumudlal Kunjlal Ganguly was born on 13th October 1911 in the district of Bhagalpur of Bihar. His father Kunjlal Ganguly was a lawyer and his mother Gouri Devi hailed from a wealthy Bengali family. He completed his education from the renowned Presidency College in Kolkata. His brother Kishore Kumar and Anoop Kumar are also renowned film actors. His sister Sati Devi tied the knot with Sasadhar Mukherjee. The three brothers together appeared in the film called "Chalti Ka Naam Gadi" in 1958.

Film Career of Kumudlal Kunjlal Ganguly
Ashok Kumar is popularly known in the world of Hindi film industry as `Dadamoni`, which affectionately signifies `elder brother`. In the year 1936 he started his career in Mumbai with the production house named Bombay Talkies Production in the film "Jeevan Naiya". It was by sheer coincidence that Ashok Kumar got to play the lead role in this movie when the lead actor was found to have eloped with the female lead Devika Rani, who was also the director`s wife. It was at this time that the director called up his laboratory assistant Ashok Kumar and told him to play the lead role. Thus began the six-decade long acting career of Ashok Kumar. His next venture in the same year with Devika Rani in "Acchut Kanya" set him up for the big league. In the following years both the actors starred in many films together including "Izzat" in 1937, "Savitri" in 1937, and "Nirmala" in 1938.

Ashok Kumar"s other films named "Kangan" in 1939, "Bandhan" in 1940 and "Jhoola" in 1941 are also considered to be milestones in his acting career. According to the prevalent custom he used to sing his own songs then. He credited himself with several hits in the following years including most famously "Main Ban Ka Panchhi". After this Kumudlal Kunjlal Ganguly aka Ashok Kumar started to adopt more traditional theatrical style of acting and developed his natural style. It was in "Kismet" in 1943, in which he created a record by portraying the character of an antagonist for the first time in the Indian cinema.

Ashok Kumar also ventured into the art of production during the final years of the Bombay Talkies company, which included the famous movie "Mahal" in the year 1949. In this film he starred against the famous actress Madhubala. In the 1950s, he mostly portrayed the roles of cigarette-smoking criminals or police officers and in the period of 1960s he shifted to the roles of parents, grandparents, suave criminal and dirty old men. In the later part of the 19th century he acted in very few films and occasionally appeared on television. Ashok Kumar is also credited for anchoring the first Indian soap opera "Hum Log" and also made his appearance in the most unforgettable role of "Bahadur Shah Zafar". The last film in which he acted was "Aankhon Mein Tum Ho" in the year 1997. His remarkable film career records more than 275 films. Along with that, he has done more than 30 Bengali dramas in Kolkata. Kumudlal Kunjlal Ganguly died on 10th December 2001 in Mumbai due to heart failure.

Honours to Kumudlal Kunjlal Ganguly
Ashok Kumar has been honoured with several awards and recognitions and they are:

Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1959)
Filmfare Best Actor Award, Rakhi (1962)
Bengal Film Journalists` Association - Best Actor Award (Hindi), `Gumrah` (1963)
Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award, Afsana (1966)
Filmfare Best Actor Award, Aashirwaad (1969)
National Film Awards for Best Actor, Aashirwaad (1969)
Bengal Film Journalists` Association - Best Actor Award (Hindi), Aashirwaad (1969)
Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India`s highest award for cinematic excellence (1988)
Star Screen Lifetime Achievement Award (1994)
Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award (1995)
Padma Bhushan (1998)
Awadh Samman by the Government of Uttar Pradesh (2001)
`Special Award" by Star Screen Awards` (2007)

Filmography of Ashok Kumar
Some of the most popular films, in which Ashok Kumar has been praised the most, are:
Achhut Kanya (1936)
Janmabhoomi (1936)
Bandhan (1940)
Jhoola (1941)
Anjaan (1941)
Kismet (1943)
Mahal (1949)
Parineeta (1953)
Bhai-Bhai (1956)
Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi (1958)
Howrah Bridge (1958)
Kanoon (1960)
Dharmputra (1961)
Ummeed (1962)
Grahasti (1963)
Gumraah (1963)
Chitralekha (1964)
Mamta (1966)
Hatey Bazarey (1967)
Jewel Thief (1967)
Aabroo (1968)
Aashirwad (1968)
Intaquam (1969)
Victoria No. 203 (1972)
Choti Si Baat (1975)
Mili (1975)
Anand Ashram (1977)
Safed Jhooth(1977)
Khatta Meetha (1978)
Khoobsurat (1980)
Shaukeen (1982)
Bhago Bhut Aaya (1985)
Mr. India (1987)
Sangram (1993)
Mera Damad (1995)

Kumudlal Kunjlal Ganguly as Director/Producer/Other Crew The legendary actor has also tried his skills in direction and producing and some of his popular productions as director and producer are:

Surabhi Yaamangal (1986) - Director
Lal Chunariyaa (1983) - Producer
Khubsoorat (1980) - Other crew
Mahal (1949) - Producer
Eight Days (1946) – Director