Nostalgia

The ‘khatta meetha’ affairs: When Kishore Kumar got candid about his wives

Amod Pandit

August 4, 2017
2:31 pm
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When Kishore Kumar got candid about his wives

Kishore Kumar’s old interview on his wives

Kishore Kumar and Ruma Guha Thakurta

"She was a very talented person but we could not get along because we looked at life differently. She wanted to build a choir and a career. I wanted someone to build me a home. How can the two reconcile? You see, I'm a simple minded villager type. I don't understand this business about women making careers. Wives should first learn how to make a home. And how can you fit the two together? A career and a home are quite separate things. That's why we went our separate ways." [sic] With Ruma, Kishore had one son named Amit Kumar, who later turned a well-known playback singer in Bollywood.

Kishore Kumar and Madhubala

"She was quite another matter. I knew she was very sick even before I married her. But a promise is a promise. So I kept my word and brought her home as my wife, even though I knew she was dying from a congenital heart problem. For 9 long years I nursed her. I watched her die before my own eyes. You can never understand what this means until you live through this yourself. She was such a beautiful woman and she died so painfully. She would rave and rant and scream in frustration. How can such an active person spend 9 long years bed-ridden? And I had to humour her all the time. That's what the doctor asked me to. That's what I did till her very last breath. I would laugh with her. I would cry with her." [sic] Madhubala died on February 23, 1969, shortly after her 36th birthday.

Kishore Kumar and Yogeeta Bali

"That was a joke. I don't think she was serious about marriage. She was only obsessed with her mother. She never wanted to live here." [sic] The next question following this about his third marriage to the actress was asked that Yogeeta had said (after their separation) that he would stay up all night and count money. To which, he replied saying, "Do you think I can do that? Do you think I'm mad? Well, it's good we separated quickly." [sic] After separating from Kishore Kumar, Yogeeta Bali married actor Mithun Chakraborty.

Kishore Kumar and Leena Chandavarkar

"Leena is a very different kind of person. She too is an actress like all of them but she's very different. She's seen tragedy. She's faced grief. When your husband is shot dead, you change. You understand life. You realise the ephemeral quality of all things. I am happy now." [sic] With Leena, Kishore's second son Sumit Kumar was born.

The multi-talented Kishore Kumar may be no more, but his melodious voice remains eternal. Considered to be one of the most successful playback singers of the Hindi film industry, his songs are still played in the background and appeal to every mood and occasion. Today, its his 88^th birth anniversary, and we have stumbled upon an old interview that was rare and unique in its own way. Perhaps, it was rare for the fact that the singer had opened up and shared his feelings and thoughts over all his four wives like never before. It is a well-known fact that Kishore Kumar had married four times. Still, in this interview when asked about his personal life and the reason why it has been so turbulent, he replied saying that he likes being left alone. Following this, he talked about his wives, Ruma Guha Thakurta, Madhubala, Yogeeta Bali and Leena Chandavarkar. (Also Check: In Pictures: Kishore Kumar’s lesser known movies as a director)

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This old interview with Pritish Nandy was first printed in the year 1985. Here are Kishore Kumar’s statements from his interview:

Amod Pandit

Quiet, resonant, and creative, he can be seen immersed in his own world, and puts in his heart and soul into the one passion that he has, Bollywood. His line for survival? Feel happy to be a part of it.