Why Did 'Dadamuni' Ashok Kumar’s Hands Start Trembling?

It was around 9:30 in the morning. The Bombay Talkies studio was buzzing with activity — Himanshu Rai's new film Jeevan Naiya was about to begin shooting. For this film, he had cast a fresh face as the lead actor — his name was Ashok Kumar.

When Ashok arrived on set, Himanshu Rai was surprised to see him. Ashok had gotten a rather uneven haircut. Without wasting time, Rai called the hairdresser and asked him to cover the mess with a wig. But before that could happen, a hesitant Ashok approached Rai and said, “Sir, I’d like to say something…”

With Rai’s permission, Ashok softly spoke, “I’ll do the film, but please don’t make me do any scenes where I have to put a necklace around the heroine’s neck or hug her. I won’t be able to do it.” Rai smiled and assured him, “There’s no such scene.”

However, once Ashok returned to the set after makeup, he was in for a shock. His first shot was with Devika Rani — Himanshu Rai’s wife and one of the biggest superstars of that era. The director explained the scene: all he had to do was put a gold chain around the heroine’s neck. But as Ashok approached her with the chain in hand, his heart began pounding. Nervous and overwhelmed, he rushed to the bathroom.

After some time, he returned and the shot resumed. His hands were trembling as he tried to put the chain on Devika Rani, but it got tangled in her hair. The next time, the director let the shot continue despite the hiccups. Ashok, flustered, ended up pulling the chain so hard that it unraveled her hair. The director could only hold his head in disbelief.

The truth was, Ashok Kumar was nervous for two reasons — first, the film’s leading lady was his boss’s wife. Second, before entering films, his mother had warned him sternly, “Stay away from girls.”

Ashok Kumar’s Film Journey & Notable Works

Ashok Kumar’s real name was Kumudlal Ganguly. He made his acting debut in 1936 with Jeevan Naiya. Later that same year, he gained immense popularity with Achhut Kanya, opposite Devika Rani.

Some of the landmark films in his career include:

• Kismet (1943): This film became a box office phenomenon and earned Ashok Kumar the title of “superstar.”
• Milan (1946), Mahal (1949)
• Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi (1958): A classic comedy with his brothers Kishore Kumar and Anup Kumar.
• Aashirwad (1968): This performance earned him the Filmfare Award for Best Actor.
• Other memorable films include Khoobsurat, Shararat, and Mr. India.

Honors & Legacy

Ashok Kumar was honored with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award — Indian cinema’s highest honor — in 1988.
The Government of India also awarded him the Padma Bhushan.

Ashok Kumar is remembered not just as a brilliant actor but as a symbol of dignity and grace in Indian cinema.

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