Kishore Kumar wasn't eccentric: Amit Kumar

Mumbai: Unlike his music maestro father, Kishore Kumar, the 59-year-old Amit Kumar does not want to sing for Bollywood films anymore. Instead, he is happy creating music for his personal albums within the cosy confines of his home.

Eight months ago, when filmmaker Anurag Basu sent his assistant to meet Amit regarding a biopic on his father, he approved the script, but made it clear that he only liked the beginning and the end of it. The singer talks to HitList about Ranbir Kapoor playing the legendary singer and why he believes Kishore Kumar was not eccentric.

What's happening with the biopic on Kishore Kumar?

From Ashok Kumar, Kishore Kumar to Amit Kumar...meet the family of awesome Kumar brothers
Bollywood actor Ashok Kumar's father Kunjalal Ganguly was a lawyer by profession. His mother Gouri Devi belonged to a wealthy Bengali family.
Ashok Kumar has two brothers Anoop and Kishore, and a sister Sati Devi.
Ashok Kumar had a troubled marriage with Shobha Kumar and both of them parted ways after a few years.
Ashok Kumar has a son Arup and three daughters Bharati, Rupa and Preeti.
Ashok Kumar's youngest daughter Preeti Ganguly acted in many films. She is best remembered for her comic role as Freni Sethna in 'Khatta Meetha'.
Ashok Kumar's daughter Rupa Ganguly got married to Bollywood actor Deven Verma.
Ashok Kumar's brother Kalyan Kumar Ganguly, better known as Anoop Kumar was also a Bollywood actor. Though he acted in more than 75 films, his best was 'Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi' with his brothers.
Kishore Kumar was the youngest in his family and probably the most successful as well.
Ashok, Anoop and Kishore's sister Sati was married to Sashadhar Mukherjee (second from left). He played a major role in bringing Ashok Kumar to the film industry.

Sashadhar Mukherjee was actor Joy Mukherjee's father and actress Kajol's grand father.
Singer, actor, director, musician and producer Kishore Kumar was a multi-talented man.
Apart from his work, his personal life also kept him in news. Kishore Kumar got married four times.
In 1950, Kishore Kumar married Bengali singer and actress Ruma Guha Thakurta (second from left). Their marriage ended in 1958.
Ruma and Kishore hadd a son together, Amit Kumar (R) who's also a singer now.
In 1960, Kishore Kumar tied the knot with Bollywood actress Madhubala.
As Madhubala was a Muslim, the couple faced a lot of opposition from their families.
Madhubala had a life threatening disease.
Madhubala passed away in 1969.
Kishore Kumar's third wife Yogeeta Bali is also a former actress. They separated just a few years after their marriage.
In 1982, Yogeeta got married to Mithun Chakraborty and they have four children together.
Mahaakshay Chakraborty, Yogeeta's eldest son is also a film actor.
Kishore Kumar got married to Leena Chandavarkar in 1980. The couple have a son together, Sumit Kumar.
Kishore Kumar passed away in 1987 at the age of 58. (Picture courtesy: Mid day)
Ashok Kumar's grand daughter Anuradha Patel is also an actress. Her husband Kanwaljeet Singh is also a known TV and film actor.
Kishore Kumar's son Amit with Anuradha Patel.

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$Kishore Kumar wasn\'t eccentric: Amit Kumar$

Unlike his father Kishore Kumar, the 59-year-old Amit Kumar does not want to sing for Bollywood anymore.

Anurag Basu's assistant met me eight months ago with the script. Basu wasn't present at the meeting. Even Leena Chandavarkar (Kishore's fourth wife) was not feeling well so I went through the script and approved it. I liked only the beginning and the end. My father was no Tom, Dick or Harry and that is the reason his biopic can't be made in just one meeting. The production team will be able to tell when exactly the film will be released.

Apart from being talented, your father was an eccentric person...

He was not an eccentric person. The media labelled him like that. He was a great artiste, a very simple man and humble. Even if he was eccentric, it was not wrong because my daddy always used to say 'Duniya kehta main pagal aur main bolta duniya pagal'.

Is it true that you were keen to sing a song in this film?

No, it's not true. Anurag wanted me to sing but I rejected the offer. I don't feel like singing for any film. The new generation of singers should get a chance to sing.

Ranbir Kapoor is slated to play Kishore Kumar. How do you feel about it?

Great. He is a very talented actor.