Born Syed Hassan Ali Zaidi born on 23rd September 1902 in a conservative Muslim family in Lucknow.
He played a small role in a film in Lucknow called Shadows of Death in 1930/31, the director Debaki Bose picked him from the crowd and asked him to come to Calcutta who then cast him in his film Puran Bhakt; as Puran Bhakt for New Theatres in 1932. At the time East Bengal had a lot of communal tension with West Bengal and film distributors were insecure about a Muslim actor playing Puran Bhakt might cause disturbance to the state in an already sensitive environment, and just before its release decided to give him a ‘screen name’ - Kumar. The director Debaki Bose was of a princely background and his full name was Kumar (meaning Prince) Debaki Bose; he decided that since Hassan Ali was playing the role of a prince (Puran Bhakt), he should be given the name ‘Kumar’. After this Debaki Bose never used the title Kumar as part of his name.
Puran Bhakt was a such a huge success and Kumar became a sensation, since then it became a name most actors who became or wanted to become stars used as a screen surname, changing its connotation of princely status to that of a film star.
Kumar then became a successful film actor and moved to Bombay where he worked with many film studios.
The producer and director Mehboob Khan of Mother India 1957 (the first Indian film to be nominated for the best foreign film at the Academy Awards) - got his break as a film director due to Kumar’s recommendation. Mehboob Khan’s first film was called Judgement of Allah 1935 starring Kumar and Sitar Devi played a dancer in a cameo role. This film was a big success.
Kumar subsequently acted in many films directed by Mehboob Khan like Watan 1938 (again starring Sitars Devi) and Najma 1943 that also starred Ashok Kumar and Sitara Devi. He also acted in Mehboob Khan’s last film, Son of India 1962 by which time Kumar had become a character actor and played the role of the father of the leading lady.
New actresses were introduced alongside Kumar, one such actress was Pramila (Esther Victoria Abraham) who acted in 3 films alongside Kumar; Mahamaya 1936, Our Darling Daughters 1936, Sarla 1936 for Imperial Movietones. They then became a real life couple, got married and started their own production banner - Silver Films. They produced many films and started the concept of casting multiple big stars. Their film Jhankar 1942 starred Kumar, Pramila, Gope, Chandramohan, in 1943 Bhalai starred Prithviraj Kapoor, Sitara Devi, Kumar and was directed by S. Nazir (K. Asif’s uncle), K. Asif was assistant director and costume designer for this film. Dhoon 1953 starring Motilal, Nargis, Raj Kapoor, Kumar, Pramila and had music scored by Madan Mohan and was directed by Kumar. The last film under this banner called Bahan 1960 directed by Kumar, starred Meena Kumari, Sanjay and had music by Madan Mohan.
K. Asif who then became a director producer in his own right cast Kumar as the sculptor santrasht in the film Mughal e Azam 1960 and the song zindabad was picturised on him. Interestingly Kumar and Pramila’s son Haidar Ali was the story writer of the film Jodhaa Akbar 2008 which was a prequel to the film Mughal e Azam, Haidar Ali was also the main character in the song khwaja mere khwaja.
Kumar also acted, produced and directed films like Touba and after emigrating to Pakistan in 1963.
He died in 1981.