From working in a juice shop to becoming the owner of T-Series and receiving threats from the underworld... such is the story of 'Cassette King' Gulshan Kumar

The fame that Gulshan Kumar earned in the music world is perhaps not in anyone's fate even today. It was because of this fame that he was called the 'Cassette King'. Gulshan Kumar used to run a juice shop with (Gulshan Kumar biography early life T-Series founder) his father in the early days. After this, he left his job and opened a cassette shop in Delhi where he used to sell cassettes of songs at cheap rates. If 'Cassette King' Gulshan Kumar were alive, he would have been celebrating his birthday, but some people did not like his success, and he was shot dead by firing 16 bullets at him in front of a temple. The story of Gulshan Kumar's success is no less than a film story. (Gulshan Kumar films produced list)

'Cassette King' used to work in a juice shop

Gulshan Kumar, who once paid the highest tax, used to help his father in a juice shop during his childhood. But after this, he left his job and opened a cassette shop in Delhi. From here, (Who killed Gulshan Kumar details), Gulshan got interested in business, and with this income, he did many good works. Gulshan Kumar set an example by donating a part of his wealth for social service. He established a bhandaar in Vaishno Devi, which even today provides free food to pilgrims.

T-Series company started

In the 80s, 'Cassette King' Gulshan Kumar laid the foundation of a music company called T-Series. Which later became the country's largest music company. Gulshan Kumar's hard work was behind this. It is said that at a time when a cassette was sold for 25 to 30 rupees, Gulshan Kumar used to sell his cassettes for 15 to 17 rupees. Gulshan Kumar wanted to become the king of the music industry with (Gulshan Kumar son Bhushan Kumar succession) full sincerity, and luck was helping him. In just 10 years, Gulshan Kumar took the business of T-Series to 350 million. He launched many evergreen singers like Sonu Nigam, Anuradha Paudwal, and Kumar Sanu.

When there was a threat from the underworld

Do you know that in 1992, 'Cassette King' Gulshan Kumar was the highest taxpayer in India. Due to this, underworld don Abu Salem asked Gulshan Kumar to give him 5 lakh rupees every month. Gulshan Kumar refused to accept his offer and said that he would (Gulshan Kumar top music hits produced) organise a Bhandara at Vaishno Devi by giving him this much money. In those days, the terror of D Company was increasing in the industry.  

Murder committed on August 12, 1997

12th August, 1997 is considered a black day for the Hindi music industry. On this day, at around 8:30 am, Gulshan Kumar had gone to the temple to offer prayers, where he was shot dead. Gulshan Kumar was shot 16 times, one after the other, (Mogul-The Gulshan Kumar Story film details) in front of Jiteshvar Mahadev Temple in Andheri. He died on the spot. According to a story in India Today, on that day, 42-year-old Gulshan Kumar was coming from the temple, chanting rosary, carrying puja material in his hand. The temple was less than a kilometer away from Gulshan Kumar's house. Gulshan Kumar was coming out of the temple after offering prayers when he felt the barrel of a gun on his back. He saw a man in front of him with a gun in his hand. 

As soon as Gulshan Kumar could say something, he was fired upon with a gun 16 times. He was hit by 16 bullets in his neck and back. Gulshan Kumar's driver kept throwing urns at the killers to save his master, but the killers did not stop. They also shot at the driver's leg, due to which he got injured there. He died in no time. At that time, Gulshan Kumar's death shook the whole country. According to the information, (Gulshan Kumar death cause murder mystery) Abu Salem had given the responsibility of killing 'Cassette King' Gulshan Kumar to sharpshooters named Dawood Merchant and Vinod Jagtap. On 9 January 2001, Vinod Jagtap confessed that he shot Gulshan Kumar. In the year 2002, Vinod Jagtap was sentenced to life imprisonment. Vinod Jagtap is still in jail, but Dawood Merchant escaped during his release on parole in 2009 and fled to Bangladesh.

People also ask about Gulshan Kumar

What’s the latest tribute to Gulshan Kumar in 2025?

T-Series marked a huge milestone—Gulshan Kumar’s devotional track Hanuman Chalisa crossed 2 billion YouTube views, and his son Bhushan Kumar hosted a langar in his honor, continuing the tradition of serving food to devotees. 

How big is T-Series today compared to when Gulshan started it?

T-Series has grown massively: from a cassette shop to a global music giant with over 300 million YouTube subscribers and a dominant share in India’s music industry. 

Are there any recent developments in Gulshan Kumar’s biopic project?

The much-anticipated biopic Mogul – The Gulshan Kumar Story, originally set to star Akshay Kumar, has seen delays due to family reservations about the script. 

How does the legacy of Gulshan Kumar’s devotional services live on?

His son, Bhushan Kumar, has continued the tradition by organizing langars and devotional events—just like Gulshan used to, particularly after the Hanuman Chalisa hit a landmark. 

Any 2025 articles reflecting on Gulshan Kumar’s impact?

Yes—LiveMint ran a detailed 2025 feature tracing his journey from juice-seller to music mogul and contextualizing how his bold pricing and devotional focus disrupted an industry. 

Who was Gulshan Kumar?

Gulshan Kumar Dua (1956–1997) was the founder of Super Cassettes Industries—later T-Series—and a game-changer in Bollywood’s music and film production. 

How did T-Series begin?

He started by selling affordable devotional and cover-song cassettes in the 1980s, disrupting the market with low prices and grassroots distribution. 

What were T-Series’ breakthrough successes under him?

The soundtrack of Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (1988) and the blockbuster Aashiqui (1990) established T-Series as a music powerhouse. 

What happened to Gulshan Kumar?

On August 12, 1997, he was tragically assassinated outside a temple in Mumbai—an event believed to be tied to underworld pressure and rivalries. 

Who runs T-Series now?

After his death, his son Bhushan Kumar and brother Krishan Kumar took over. The label has since grown into India’s largest music and film company. 

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