Ashok Kumar (13 October 1911 – 10 December 2001), born
Kumudlal Ganguly and also fondly called
Dadamoni, was an Indian
film actor who attained iconic status in
Indian cinema. He was honoured in 1988 with the
Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the highest national award for cinema artists, by the
Government of India and also received the
Padma Bhushan in 1999 for his contributions to
Indian cinema. He is considered to be one of India's finest ever actors, playing leading, negative and character roles with equal panache.