Bollywood Garam: 13th of October 2011 is marked as the 100th birth anniversary of the legendary actor Ashok Kumar, who had once become the first super star of the Indian film industry. However, the celebrations are kept in a low profile as the birth anniversary coincides with the death anniversary of his brother Kishore Kumar.
Bharti Jaffrey, the eldest daughter of Kumar, who also runs the Ashok Kumar Foundation, has organized a series of events to observe the day. Jaffrey said that they have planned an art exhibition in the month of November, where the painting of the actor will be displayed.
It was actor Iftikar, who had encouraged Kumar in to painting. The daughter of the veteran had said that she was surprised that the Industry had actually forgotten the birth anniversary of the actor.
Jaffrey added that the Mumbai Film Festival which begins on 13th October has no mention of the actor and could at least screen one film of the actor. Ashok was a homeopath had practiced it for 45 years. The actor was also a chess player and an astrologer. Jaffrey had recalled that he used to treat patients on Sundays and also some of the celebrities from the industry. On 10th December 2001, Kumar had died at the age of 90 due to heart failure.
